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BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD 



Civ ARK County 

OHIO 



ILLUSTRATED 



The people that take no pride in f/ie noble aehieven/enfs of reinoic amcsiors -wiU never aeJii 
anything "^vorth\ to he remembered zvitk pride bv remote generations. — Macaut.av. 



NEW YORK AND CHICAGO: 
Thk S. T. Clarke Publishing Compa> 



.^^" 



PREFACE, 




I Hi greatest of English historians, Macaulay, ami one of tlie most 
biilliant. writers of tlie present century, has said : ''The history of a 
countrj' is best told in a record of the lives of its people." In con- 
formity with this idea, the Biographical Record has been prepared. 
Inslead of going to musty records, and taking therefrom dry statistical 
matter that can be appreciated by but few, our corps of writers have 
gone to the people, the men and women who have, by their enterprise 
and industry, brought this county to a rank second to none among 
those comprising this great and noble State, and from their lips have the story of their life 
struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be presented to an intelligent 
public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy tlie imitation 
of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by industry and 
economy, have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited advantages for securing 
an education, have become learned men and women, with an influence extending throughout 
the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who have risen from the lower walks of 
life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have become famous. It tells of those in 
every walk in life who have striven to succeed, and records how that success has usu- 
ally crowned their efforts. It tells also of those, who, not seeking the applause of the 
-world, have pursued the " even tenor of their way," content to have it said of them, as Christ 
said of the woman performing a deed of mercy — "They have done what they could." It 
tells how many, in the pride and strength of young manhood, left the plow and the anvil, the 
lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and profession, and at their country's 
call went forth valiantly " to do or die," and how through their efTorts the Union was 
restored and peace once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every 
woman is a lesson that should not be lost upon those who follow after. 

Coming generations will appreciate this volume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from 
the fact that it contains so much that would never find its -way into public records, and which 
would otherwise be inaccessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work 
and every opportunity possible given to those represented to insure correctness in what has 
been written ; and the publishers flatter themselves that they give to their readers a work with 
few errors of consequence. In addition to biographical sketches, portraits of a number of 
representative citizens are given. 

The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. 
For this the publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some 
refused to give the information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. 
Occasionally some mernber of the family would oppose the enterprise, and on account of such 
opposition the support of the interested one would be withheld. In a few instances men 
never could be found, though repeated calls were made at their residence or place of business. 



December, 1902. 



The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co, 



INDBX, 



I'A(iE 

Ackermann. J. C 761 

Ackerson, T. C 196 

Adams. J. E 146 

Agnew, P. J 377 

Aldrich, A. R 656 

Andei*son, David 432 

Anderson, James 641 

Arthur. Samuel 769 

Athy, T. R 666 

Athy. j. W 36s 

Atkinson. Levi . . . 459 

Baird. W. J 759 

Baker. Adam 734 

Baldwin, Frank 52 

Baldwin, Jonah 823 

Baldwin, Henry 23 

Baldwin, Rachel W 691 

Baldwin, William SS 

Ballentine, David 449 

Ballentine, J. V 73 

Bancroft. P. E 346 

Banta, W. E 623 

Barrett. E. L 663 

Battin, S. R 334 

Bauer, C. A 181 

Bauer, Michael 311 

Beach, T. D 767 

Beck. R.J 333 

Becker, J. A 413 

Beckley, A. J 37 

Berger. W. H 246 

Berry, G. \V 3D0 

Bigler, C. H : 325 

Bird, F. J.... 373 

Bird, Silas Van 695 

Blose, J. H 732 

Best, C. E 421 

Botley. R. H :.. 613 

BowUis. C. J 316 

Boun. Alfred 260 

Bradhury. H. P 561 

Bradbury. W. H 563 



PAGE 

Brain Family, The 619 

Brening, C. E 770 

Bretney, C. V 450 

Briggs, Charles 304 

Brooks, A. N 473 

Bryant, W. H 742 

Buch waiter, E. L 73s 

Burk, J. W 103 

Burnett, W. R 176 

Bushnell. A. S 18 

Bymaster, G. W 800 

Calvert, R. G 45 

Calvert, T. L 389 

Carr, S. H 153 

Chapman, John 75 

City Pumping Station, The.. . ,S99 

Clark, C. M 667 

Clippinger. J. C 224 

Coberly, D. U 635 

Colvin. Chase 434 

Conard. Enos 250 

Conklin, William 221 

Copenhaver, W. E 368 

Cosier, H. A 174 

Cotes. A. E 302 

Crabill, James 788 

Crabill, W. H 387 

Craig, J. B 172 

Grain, C. R 274 

Grain. J. B 717 

Creager. T. J 775 

Cftgar, E. F 16 

Curtis, J. C 710 

Dalie. J. G 574 

Dalie. J. H 466 

DeardorfT, J. M 443 

Dick. John 262 

Dicus. J. A 789 

Diehl, William 718 

Dillahunt, P. A 595 

Dillahunt. W. S. G 780 



PAGE 

Dinwiddle, E. C 399 

Dye. E. A 216 

Ebersole, Daniel 755 

Eichelbarger, J. T 462 

Elder, Robert 47 

Elifritz, B. 353 

Elliott, J. S 36 

Engle, J. H 782 

Erter, Frank , 54 

Erter, Henry 382 

Evans, J. M 572 

Farr. T. G lOl 

Ferree, D. A 655 

Fink, Andrew 610 

Finney, James 145 

Foley, James 104 

Follrath, George 526 

Follrath, Henry 528 

Foos, G. S 236 

Foos. R. H 129 

Foster, J. S 502 

Fox, M. M 781 

Frankensteins. The 818 

Frey. G. H., Sr 93 

Frey. I. W 631 

Card. E. J 289 

Gard, J. S 320 

Garlough Family, The 336 

Garrard, Joseph 487 

Gasser. C. A 241 

Geiger, H. R r. 84 

German. Peter 560 

Gladfelter, W. S 485 

Goodfellow, Manley 798 

Gordon, D. T 680 

Gotwald. L. A 60s 

Graham, W. H 624 

Gram, W. J 580 

Grant, A. W 724 

(".•-im. E. E 124 



INDEX. 



PAGE 

Grisso, J. N 230 

Hagan, Addison 200 

Hagan. F. M 294 

Hahn. A. K 310 

Hall. J. W 164 

Haninia, .\. W 697 

Hamma. I. G 699 

Harris, F. G 673 

Harris, G. H 545 

Harris, W. M 632 

Harshman. J. S 48 

Harwood. T. E 57 

Hatfield. F. L 235 

Hatfield. James 194 

Hatfield, M. A 244 

Heckcrt. C. G 64 

Heffelfinger, J. E 519 

Hempleman, G. F 404 

Hess. T. M 645 

Higgins, P. J 557 

Hinkle. Joseph 479 

Hockman, S. R 423 

Hollenbcck, D. W 121 

Homan, James 733 

Horr, C. A 99 

Houghton. Samuel 452 

Hughes. W. H 326 

Hunter, Eli 700 

Huntington, G. W 26 

Hypes, O. F 212 

Irwin, W. J.! 136 

Jenkins, J. W 766 

Jenkins. S. S 677 

Johnson, James 646 

Johnson. James. Jr 173 

Johnson. J. E 257 

Johnson, Robert 11 

Juergens, C. A 204 

Kay. C. H 542 

Kay. C. S 126 

Kay. Isaac 538 

Keifer. R. F 186 

Keifep. J. \V 28 

Keller, J. C 210 

Kelley. R. T 233 

Kelly, O. S 76 

Kelly. O. W 122 

Kershner, Hezekiah 200 

Kidder. W. S 752 

Kills. J. M 81 

King. David. Sr 625 

Kitchen, E. J 500 



PAGE 

Kitchen. J. S 155 

Kizcr, Thomas Ill 

Knote. J. M 378 

Kriegbaum, Nicholas 278 

Krotz, A. S 323 

Kuqua. Christian 536 

Kyle. F. J 179 

Lafferty. S. J 39° 

Lantz, R. X 3S0 

Layton, L. M 763 

LeFevre, Daniel 65 

l.eflfel, Henry 555 

Leffel. John 406 

Leffel, Joseph 600 

Leffel, J. M 433 

Leffel. J. M 687 

Leffel, J. P 424 

Lenhart. Adam 715 

Leuty, John 375 

Leiity, J. L 699 

Little, J. D 795 

Littler. J. R 270 

Long. C. M 5S8 

Ludlow, John 821 

Ludlow, J. W 372 

Liise, S. T 480 

Luse. \V. H 511 

lynch. G. C 343 

L>«n. H. C 644 

Lyon. J. C 642 

MacGregor, .Alexander 116 

Marshall, J. M 529 

Martin, Christian 223 

Martin. J. W 280 

Mason. Jonathan 163 

Mnst, P. P 592 

Mattinson, Charles 184 

Mattinson, Thomas, Jr 209 

Mnttinson, Thomas, Sr 206 

Mattinson, T. E 47 

Maxwell, J. L 119 

McClure, J. E 392 

McConkey. .Alexander 661 

McGilvray. C. F 291 

McGregor, Frank 113 

McGrew, T. F 59 

Mclntire, E. K 254 

McKillip, Daniel 364 

McLaughlin, J. T 264 

McMillen, G. 602 

Mellinger, H. S 520 

Mellingcr, J. H 727 



PAGE 

Merritt, C. H 165 

Miller. A. C 711 

Miller, E. D 687 

Miller. Irvine 460 

Miller, J. C 492 

Miller, J. N 495 

Miller, O. H 267 

Miller, S. M 668 

Milligan, M. L 96 

Mills, F. H 24 

Mills. John 708 

Mills. R. R 720 

Mills, T. D 130 

Mills, William. Jr 731 

Minear, N. 226 

Minnich. C. W 76S 

Moore, William 362 

Moores, W. B 232 

Moorman, J. H 470 

Mower. J. K 66 

Miulholland, J. H 476 

Myers, D. A 554 

Myers, Eliab 783 

Myers, W. D I54 

Nave, J. C 290 

Nave, J. G 475 

Nave. J. P 568 

Nave, J. T; 59i 

Nave, T. F 760 

Nawman. Henry 517 

Neff, Turman 386 

Necr, David 745 

Nichelson. John 57^ 

Nichols. CM 65 

Normand. J. M 392 

North, J. B 464 

North. J. P 501 

North, O. R 472 

CVBrien. J. C 568 

O'Brien. R. E 152 

Olds, D. H ,366 

Otstot. George 786 

Otstot, W. T 96 

Over. L. F 524 

Over. Madison 351 

Overholser. .Abraham 74° 

Owen. W. H 271 

Paden. WO II5 

Parker. A. B 463 

Patric, C. E 614 

Patric. Lewis 603 

Patton, A. C 213 



INDEX. 



PAGE 

Patton, W. S 215 

Payne, W. F 331 

Pearson, Joseph 587 

Peet. T. B 821 

Perrin Family, The John 189 

Perrin. John 191 

Perrin. J. 1 192 

Pierson, John 579 

Poole, WilHani 512 

Potter, A. M 72 

Powell, W. C 396 

Prince, B. F 793 

Printz, S. W 679 

Rabbitts, Charles ISO 

Rabbitts, J. H 149 

Ramsey, C. S 215 

Ramsey, Josiah 282 

Rankin, H. M 416 

Rankin, John 628 

Rankin, J. F 631 

Rankin, S. B 630 

Rankin, W. H.. Jr 442 

Rankin, W. H., Sr T 436 

Ranch, John 622 

Rawlings, D. W 820 

Rayner, T. S 514 

Rebert, Andrew 689 

Reddish, John 456 

Reynolds, J. H 785 

Ridgely, C. T 772 

Ridgely, J. T 410 

Rind, R. C 640 

Rocke!, O. J 60 

Ross, E. W 584 

Roush, Charles 530 

Rontzahn, L. F 273 

Royet D. S 567 

Rnssell. Hugh, Jr 676 

Rnssell. M. C 534 

Riithrauff, J. M 822 

Sadlier, J. G 314 

Schaefer, H. L 445 

Schindler, Charles 599 

Schindler, P. A 597 

Schindler, P. A 819 

Schumacher, Christian 6og 

Schuster, C. A 43 

Scott, W. A 743 

Seever, I. N 447 

Seggerson, John 627 

Seitz, Jacob 141 

Sellers. H. H 255 



PAGE 

Seys, H. H 142 

Sharp, Thomas 820 

Shaw Family, The 401 

Shawd. William 483 

Shipman, J. A .' 753 

Shorey, W. L 674 

Sidley, W. H 298 

Sieverling, W. H 636 

Sintz, George 525 

Skillings, Lewis 797 

Slack, A. J 552 

Smith, Amos 690 

Smith, A. H 683 

Smith, A. H., Jr 686 

Smith, S. W 777 

Smith, W. R 820 

Sparrow, J. B ^^Z 

Spence, D. W 3IS 

Spence. G. A 746 

Spence, John 13 

Sprague, D. A 161 

St. Charles Borromeo Church. 608 

Staley, P. A 498 

Steele, Marshfield 202 

Stelzer, August 461 

Stewart, David 38 

Stewart, Eliza D 86 

Stewart Family, The 648 

Stewart, H. P 544 

Stewart, O. N 414 

Stewart. P. M 242 

Stewart, R. N 655 

Stewart. W. C 523 

Stroud, Charles 430 

Swanger, Thomas 660 

Syman, L. L 15 

Taft. .\. F 219 

Tavenner, B. F 577 

Tavenner. W. E 579 

Taylor, Zachary 543 

Thatcher. David 819 

Thomas, C. E 712 

Thomas, J. H 106 

Thomas. T.J 384 

Thomas. W. S 156 

Tliiimpson. R. S 288 

Thomson, J. B 411 

Tliorpe. R. H 547 

Tindall. Robert 694 

Todd, C. E 551 

Todd, W. B 549 

Torrance, F. P 482 

Toulmin. H. K 426 



PAGE 

Trinnner. Michael 356 

Turner. G. D 509 

Tuttle. Isaac 132 

Tuttle. J. 133 

Tyner. H. H 548 

Ultes, Carl 183 

Unglaub. C. W 140 

Vananda, C. H 62 

Van Horn. J. G 27 

Voges. Herman, Sr 533 

Wade. Hamilton 383 

Walker, J. C 728 

Walker. R. P 134 

Wallace. George 8ig 

Warner. W. W 302 

Watkins. D. S 611 

Weast. G. A 696 

Weaver. J. S 284 

Weaver, W. L 822 

West. Eli 791 

Whitaker. H. 125 

Whiteley. William 252 

Wickham. Henry 488 

Wildasin. C. 166 

Wildman. William 312 

Williams. E. W 75i 

Williss F. W 170 

Wilson. Michael 344 

Wilson. T. W 531 

Wingate. T. R T 565 

Winger, Amaziah 40 

Wise. William 659 

Wood. C. A.. 581 

Wood. R. 1 739 

Wood. William 7n 

Woodward, R. C 820 

Woosley, Benjamin 638 

Woosley, Thomas 757 

Woosley. W. S 639 

Wright. L. M 134 

Wyant. J. F 24s 

Xanders. William 70 

Yarnell, D. L 283 

Yeazel. Jacob 725 

Yeazel, W. E 665 

Yeazell. C. 516 

Yeazell, J. A 671 

Yeazell, J. W 714 

Yeazell, W. D 675 

Yeazell. W. M 681 

Young. L. L 419 



'^:i^ 



e^'^r^^- 






BIOGRAPHICAL. 



ROBERT JOHN SOX. 

Robert Johnson was born in Springfield 
township, Clark county, Ohio, January 20, 
1832, a son of James and Helen (Johnston) 
Johnson. The father was born near Pet- 
tigo. County Donegal, Ireland, of Scotch 
ancestry, and at that time the surname was 
spelled Johnston. He grew to maturity and 
was married in his native land. In 1824 he 
crossed the Atlantic to the United States, 
coming direct to Clark county, Ohio, where 
he purchased a farm of one hundred acres 
south of the city of Springfield. This he 
improved and made his home throughout 
his remaining days, his death occurring in 
1872. while his wife passed away in 1869. 
The}" were members of the ^lethodist Epis- 
copal church. 

Robert Johnson, the fiftli in order of 
birth of their eight children, was educated 
in the district schools near his home, and on 
the 2 1 St of April, 18.19. removed to Spring- 
field, where he became an apprentice to the 
carpenter's and joiner's trade, receiving 
forty dollars and beard for his first year's 
service and sixty-two dollars for the second 
year's work. Before he attained his ma- 
jority he laid off and built unaided a double 
flight of continued rail stairs, a thing which 



had not been previously done in Springfield. 
He, at tliat time, in partnership with his 
brother, James Johnson, took a contract for 
the erection of a house at a cost of fifty-five 
hundred dollars. He followed contracting 
and building until 1865, when he went to 
the Pennsylvania oil fields, where tire recent 
discovery of oil and the development of wells 
had given rise to a new influstry which was 
proving a profitable one and was destined to 
play an important part in commerce. 

For two years Mr. Johnson successfully 
continued in business there, operating under 
the firm name of Law, Johnson & Company, 
and then disposing of his oil interests in 
1867, he returned to Springfield, where in 
September of that year he joined .Amos 
\\'hiteley, \\'. W. \\'ilsnn, J. W. Taylor. 
Walter Craig, William H. Oglevee and 
oth.ers in the organization of the Champion 
Machine Company, which was formed for 
extending the business of the manufacture 
of Champion reapers and mowers that were 
then being made by the firm of Whitely. 
Fassler &• Kelly. The first board of direc- 
tors of the new compau}- was composed of 
Ano'S \\'hiteley, W. W. Wilson, Robert 
Johnson, Walter Craig, Thomas McKee, O. 
S. Kelly and William H. Oglevee. Mr. 
Johnson was elected secretary and superin- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tendent and acted in those capacities tor tit- 
teen year<. In 1873 the Champiim Malle- 
able Iron Company was f(jrnied fcr the 
manufacture of malleahle iron for the three 
concerns — the Champion IMachinc Coni- 
panv, Whiteley, Fassler & Kelly and Ward- 
ner, Mitchell & Company, and of the new- 
company Mr. Johnson l>ecame a director 
and the secretary. Its shops were built east 
of Linden avenue and the liusiness insti- 
tuted on a successful basis. In 1874 the 
three concerns named aliove organized the 
Ear & Knife Company ior the purpose of 
manufacturing cutter bars, knives and sec- 
tions and continued to do a very extensive 
business until 1884, Mr. Johnson also act- 
ing as the secretary and as a director of that 
company, which built the factory now owned 
and operated by the Foos Gas Engine Com- 
pany. In 1 88 1 he disposed of his interests 
ill the Champion Machine Company, the 
Cliamiiiiin Malleable 'Iron Company and the 
Champion Bar & Knife Company and in 
1882 he became connected with the upluiild- 
ing of the city in another direction, for in 
that year he erected a block on ]\Iain street 
q>l»site the First Presbyterian church, still 
known as the Johnson block. In 1883 he 
acquired an interest in the manufacturing 
concern of Mast, Foos & Ct-mpany. of which 
he was cho.sen vice-president, acting in that 
capacity for fourteen years. 

On the 1st of November. 1883. Mr. 
Johnson was instrumental in inaugurating a 
business which has proven of the greatest 
benefit to the city as well as the individual 
stockholder, contributing greatly to the in- 
dustrial activity and in consequence to the 
commercial prosperity of Springfield. .As- 
sociated with E. L. Buchwalter, C. E. Pat- 
ric. Richard IT. Rodgers, Charles S. Kay 
and others, he bought out Thomas, Ludlow 



&■ Rodgers and organized the Superior Drill 
Company for the purpose of extending the 
manufacture of Superior grain drills, which 
had already won favor and patronage on the 
market. The company was incorporated 
with a capital stock of two hundred and 
fifty thousand dollars, and ■Mr. Johnson be- 
came the first vice president and has served 
continuously in this position. The first 
directors of the company were E. L. Buch- 
walter, Robert Johnson, C. E. Patric, 
Tliomas'F. McGrew and Charles S. Kay. 
The business was extended until it outgrew 
the original quarters on Limestone street 
and in 1898 the original factory in which 
Mr. Johnson had beai interested as a mem- 
ber of the Champion Machine Company, at 
the corner of Gallagher and Monroe streets, 
was purchased, and with the increased facil- 
ities the business was extended until it now 
cnrplovs five times the original capital and 
gi\-es employment to about five hundred 
men, it being now the second in extent and 
importance of any manufactory of the city. 
In i8q2 Mr. Johnson acquired an interest in 
the Hoppes Manufacturing Company, a con- 
cern enjoying an excellent reputation for the 
character of its goods all over the country, 
and of this company Mr. Johnson is the vice 
president and director. He is also a stock- 
holder and director in the Springfield Ctvil 
iK: Ice Company, which was the first com- 
pany to manufacture artificial ice in this 
city. He is financially interested in the 
Foos Gas Engine Company, now occupying 
the old works of the Champion Bar & Knife 
Company, engaged in the manufacture f)f 
gas and ga.soline engines, many of which 
have lieen shipped to various Euroi)ean 
countries as well as to all sections of the 
United States. Of this company Mr. John- 
son was formerly the vice i)residcnt and is 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



now a director. For some years he was a 
director of the Springfield National Bank, 
and in 1902 he erected a fine brick and steel 
department store on High street between 
Limestone street and Fountain avenue, five 
stories in height, one hundred feet front and 
one hundred and forty-five feet deep, this 
iTeing the first steel skeletou structure of the 
city. 

Mr. Johnson has always beai a Republi- 
can in politics, but never an aspirant for 
office, altliowgh he served as a mentber of the 
city council for the third ward from 1882 
until 1886 and was president of council one 
temi. 

In Clark county Mr. Johnson was mar- 
ried to Adelaide T. Humphreys, a daughter 
of William Humphreys, and they ha\e six 
living children : Effie. now the wife oif K. 
]M. Burton; Nellie, the wife of Randolph 
Co'leman; Frank C, who is assistant mana- 
ger of the sales department of the Superior 
Drill Company; Clara, the wife of A. M. 
McKnight, of New York city; Jessie, the 
wife of Luther L. Buch waiter, of Spring- 
field; and Ben P., who is with the Superior 
Drill Company. The parents are members 
of the High Street Methodist Episcopal 
church, of which Mr. Johnson has been a 
trustee for some years. For fifteen years he 
has been a trustee of Ferncliff cemetery; is 
also an active member of the Associated 
Charities, and in i8g8 was one of the in- 
corporators of the Methodist Home for the 
Aged, located at Yellow Springs. Tlie in- 
terests which have made claim upon his time 
and co-operation have been varied for any- 
thing which tends to the betterment of con- 
ditions for mankind or the improvement oif 
the city receives his endorsement and as- 
sistance. His efforts in industrial fields 
have been particularly beneficial to Spring- 



field. At the time he became interested in 
manufacturing very little business of that 
character was carried on here and he has 
witnessed the entire and the splendid growth 
of manufacture here, while in the city's prog- 
ress in this direction he has been a most 
potent factor, — the dominant spirit in many 
enterprises whose value to the commercial 
activity of Springfield cannot be overesti- 
mated. His keen foresight, utilization of 
oi^portunity and executive force have en- 
abled him to formulate and execute many 
plans wdiereby the avenues of trade have 
been broadened, while Springfiekl has 
gained prestige as a priiducti\e center that 
places it far ahead of many cities of greater 
size in the L'nion. 



JOHN SPENCE. 

Widi the farming and stock-raising in- 
terests of Pike township John Spence is 
connected. He was born in this township 
March 21, 1824, and is therefore one of the 
oldest native sons of Clark county still liv- 
ing within its borders. His paternal grand- 
father, Oliver Spence, died in England. He 
was of both Scotch and English ancestry 
and engaged in herding sheep on the wide 
prairies of England. The parents of our 
subject were William and Elizabeth 
( Wo-nes) Spence, 'both of whom were na- 
tives of Yorkshire, England, and there 
spent their childhood days. After their mar- 
riage ajid the birth of their eldest soai, 
James, they sailed for America, believing 
that they might have better opportunities 
for securing a home of their own and gain- 
ing a comfortable competence in this land. 
The vear 1817 witnessed their en-igration 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and fi r a lime they lived in Cincinnati. Mr. 
Spence had only ten dollars when he arrived 
in that city, but he at once sought eii.ploy- 
nient and worked there as a common latorer 
for two years. In 1820 he came to Clark 
coimty. taking up his alxxle here on Christ- 
mas clay of that year, upon the farm which 
is now occupied by his girandson. George 
Spence. He became well-to-do and as time 
passed made extensive and judicious invest- 
ments in real estate until he was the owner 
of ir.ore than two hundred and forty acres 
of land in Clark county : three hundred acres 
in Kentucky : and four hundred and twenty- 
eight acres in Indiana, near to Muncie and 
Decatur. He also had an eighty-acre tract 
in Michigan and the inccjnie from these vari- 
ous farms supplied him with all the comforts 
and many luxuries of life. 

In his family were thirteen children, 
twelve of whoni reached years of maturity: 
Jame.-', who was dr(jwned in the (Jhio ri\er; 
Matthew, who died at the age of twenty- 
four years ; Mark, who died leaving one son, 
George ; Simon, who died at the age of 
thirty years, leaving four children: John, 
whose name intr&xluces this review ; Wlilliam, 
who died when more th;m forty years of 
age, leaving one child who is now Mrs. Jolin 
Hollis, of Addison, Ohio; George, who was 
an attorney of Springfield and at his death 
left a son, George, who is now in-California; 
Timothy, who resides in Iowa and has sev- 
eral children ; Mary Ann, who died in child- 
hood : Maria, who became the wife of 
Henry .Schell and is now deceased: Jane, 
who n.arried Samuel Pierce, of Ivnoxville, 
Iowa, bv whom she has three children: 
Ellen, who became Mrs. Scott and at her 
death left only one child: Elizabeth, who is 
married and" lives in Jolict, Illinois, and has 
two children. 



John Spence, who was the fifth in order 
of birth, spent his boyhood days upon the 
home farm, being reared amid the wild 
scenes of frontier life, for during his boy- 
hoo<l Clark county was still a frontier dis- 
trict. .\1! around stretched the green for- 
ests, the woodman's ax having not yet felled 
the great trees and prqjared the land for 
cultivation. There were few roads yet con- 
structed and those that had been cut through 
the forests were not in very good condition. 
Ir was long distances to mill and market and 
the farn ers largely depended upon the prod- 
ucts from their places for ever}-thing needed 
for the family use. The pUoIic school sys- 
tem of the county had not then been insti- 
tuted and John Spence therefore attauled 
a subscription school for about thirty days 
each year w hen the weather was so bad that 
it [Hxnented him from doing farm work. 
In the log scbf.Kil building with slab seats 
and a writing desk formed by- a slab placed 
upon wooden pins driven into the wall. Mr. 
Si)ence pursued his studies. In one end of 
the r™:)m was a large fireplace. The meth- 
ods of instruction were ahr.ost as primitive 
as the furnishings of the room. Mr. Spence 
aided his father in carrying on the work oi 
tlic lion e farn: until twenty-one years of age. 
alter which be beg-an working by the month 
as a farm band. He also learned the ccKiper's 
trade in a shop on the home farm and fol- 
lowed that for several years. He became 
an expert workman and n.ake as many as 
sixteen barrels in a single day, when he had 
to prqjare the luml>er from the rough. 

On the 3d of July. 1853. ^^^- Sjicnce was 
married tO' Miss Louisa Bade)', and they be- 
came the parents of four children, but one 
died in early childhood and another at the 
age of thirteen years. Two sons, Marcellus 
and Warren, are still livine- and both are 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



iT.arried. The irother also passed away and 
2kli. Spence afterward married Mrs. Hen- 
rietta Crawtis, ncc Daffenbach. Three chil- 
dren were 'born of tliis union, of whom two 
are still living: Arminta, and Arwilda. 
The latter married J. P. Wall and is 
li\ing in Muncie, Indiana. Mr. Spence and 
his second wife lived together for about 
th.irteen years and then she, too, was called 
to the home beyond. 

In his political views Mr. Spence has 
been a stanch Republican from the organiza- 
tion of the party. He cast his first vote 
for Taylor in 1848 and in 1856 depotsited 
his -ballot for John C. Fremont. At the time 
of the Morgan raid into Ohio he was elected 
cnptain of what was known as the Flatfoot 
Company and v, ith his C(;mmand went to 
Xenia. Througho'Ut his entire life his atten- 
tion has been largely given to his farm work, 
which he has carried on continuously and 
e\en yet he superintends the cultivation of 
his land although he has passed the seventy- 
eighth milestone on life's journey. He is 
' ne of tlie ho-nored and venerable residents 
1' his township, his upright life having 
_;:!inL'd f'T bin: the respect of those with 
\v hum he has come in contact. 



LOUIS L. S'YMAX. M. D. 

.•\n:ong- the successful n^edical practi- 
tioners of .Springtield who have left the 
ranks of the many to stand among the suc- 
cessful few is Dr. Syman. who was born in 
Cleveland. OBiio. June 5. 1871, and is a son 
<=f F. K. and Rebecca E. (Goldsmith) 
Syman. The f.'ither engaged, in business in 
Cle\-cland for a raimber of years and can:e to- 
Spi i-'gfield in 18;"^. where he est;ildished a 



music and jewelry store. He is now num- 
bered aiv.ong the old and respected citizens 
of the city and occupies a leading position 
in commercial circles. He votes with the 
Republican party but has hatl no tim.e or de- 
sire to seek office. In his family vvcre nine 
sons, but one of the number died in early 
childhood. The others are: Charles, who 
is engaged in the jewelry business in Den- 
ver, Colorado': David, who is associated in 
business with his father; Louis L., O'f this 
review; Fred, wbo is with his brother in 
Denver ; Albert and Edwin, who are travel- 
ing salesmen for The Champion Chemical 
Con-pany; Arthur, who is in a railway clear- 
ing house at Buffalo, New York ; and Ben- 
jamin, who is a student ,at Starling Med- 
ical College. 

Dr. Syman, having completed the gran:- 
niar school course, matriculated at Witten- 
berg College, where he pursued a regular 
course to the, junior year, when he entered 
Brown University, at Providence, R'lode Is- 
land. Oi the coirpletion of his collegiate 
work lie returned to Springfield and became 
connected with journalistic intere.-ts, being 
at different times associated with the Ga- 
zette, the Democrat and the Republic- 
Times. When the Sun was organized he 
at once became a member of the staff of that 
paper, serving as city editor. He remained 
for a time in his position and then went 
to Marion, Indiana, acting as city editor of 
the Leader. He also assisted in starting the 
Marion News. He then returned to this city 
and took up his position with the Sun. but 
determining to devote his energy to the 
practice cif medicine, in 1895 he became a 
student at Starling Medical College, of 
Columbus. Ohio, where he was graduatetl 
in the spring of i8c;8. In that year Dr. 
Synan rctrrned to Spiingfiekl and became 



i6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



associated in the practice with liis preceptor, 
Dr. L. E. Xiles, with wliuni he remained for 
three years, when Dr. Niles retired. Since 
that time he has been alone, devoting his 
entire attention to his professional duties, 
which have constantly increased and have 
L-eciire of a more and more important na- 
ture. He has now a very lucrative practice, 
drawing his business from, a good clasS of 
citizens. In iiSgg he was made township 
physician and health ofhcer but afterward 
resigned. He is now chief surgeon of the 
Detroit Southern Railway and local surgeon 
for the luie Railroad, and is a membei" of 
tlie Ohio State Medical Society, the Ameri- 
can Medical Association, the Clark County 
Medical Society iuid the International As- 
.sociation of Railway Surgeons. He is also 
a regular contributor to medical journals, a 
fad which indicates that he ranks high in 
his profession, making his influence of value 
to the medical world. He is also the house 
l)hvsician of the .Arcade Hotel, and is dis- 
trict surgeon for the Brotherhood of Loco- 
motive Engineers and Firemen and is 
medical examiner for various fraternal 
lodges. 

Dr. Synian was narricd in l)ela\'an, llli- 
ni-is. in 1898. to ^liss ISertha Reinheimer. 
who was l;urn in Delavan and was a daugh- 
ter of the n:ayor of that place. The Doctor 
belongs to Clark Lodge. 1-. & A. M.; 
Spring-field Chapter. R. A. M. ; and Spring- 
field Council. R. & S. :\[. He also holds 
membership with Springfield Lodge, \o. 
51. B. P. O. E.. and with the Chi Phi fra- 
ternity. In manner Dr. Syman is entirely 
free fr<;m I'Stentation or display, InU he de- 
serves connrendation for his success and at- 
tainn"ents in a professional way. There is 
no man who h.as a greater regard for the 
ethics of his profession and is very courte- 



ous to his professional brethren. He is a 
representali\-e of high ideals in his line and 
he is honored and respected in every das- 
of societv. 



EDWIX F. CREGAR. 

Edwin F. Cregar, a prominent represc;;- 
tative of the building interests of Spring- 
field, doing business as an architect, stands 
among the leaders in his line. He has tlie 
noble example of his father to inspire and 
encourage him, for Nathaniel Cregar was 
one of the most capable and successful archi- 
tects of this part of the state. He was born 
September 29, 1823, in Hagerstown. Mary- 
land, and died June 15. 1885. Tlie paternal 
grandfather was a carpenter and Nathaniel 
Cregar seemed to have inherited his mechar.- 
ical genius and as tlie years passed became 
a well known architect and builder. In the 
year 1846 he left the place of his nativity, 
going to Cincinnati, where he completed the 
carpenter's trade and also his study of archi- 
tecture, although in later years he was con- 
tinually broadening his knowledge by read- 
ing and research. In the fall of 1847 '^^ 
came to Springfield and entered upon his 
building career here, continuing in this line 
of industrial activity until his death. He 
made the plans and superintended the con- 
struction of many of the finest buildings in 
this part of the state. He superintended the 
building of the original water works and 
was suijerintendent of the construction of 
the countv courthouse and of the first high 
school building of Springfield. Many struc- 
tures w hich he erected are still standing and 
are monuments to his enterprise and skill. 
He carried on general contracting and build- 
ing, as well as architectural wo-k. and his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



splendid success arose from thorough under- 
standing of mechanical principles, his faith- 
fulness to the terms of a contract, close ap- 
plication and his unquestioned honesty. He 
was one of the organizers of the Indepen- 
dent Rover Fire Company of Springfield, 
was captain of a hose company and for ten 
years was its secretary. This fire company 
won great renown and made a most credit- 
ahle record. 

In 1830 Nathaniel Cregar was married 
in Springfield toi Miss Catherine Smith, who 
was horn in Warren county, Ohio. August 
15. 1827. a daughter of \\'illard Smith, who 
was engaged in tJie manufacture of paper 
an.d is still living in Springfield. By her 
marriage she became the mother of five chil- 
dren, of whomi Mary B., the first horn, died 
at the age of three years. Charles A., born 
April 8, 1S58, was an architect associated 
with his father in business until 1885. at 
which time he became his father's successor 
and continued his counectir-n with his de- 
partment of business acti\-ity until his own 
death, on the 8th of July. 1896. He pur- 
sued his literary education in the public 
schools and aftenvard attended a technical 
school at Indianapolis, Indiana. Lulu mar- 
ried I.. V. Lynch and died July 9. 1898. 
Edwin F. is the subject of this review. 
Frank M.. !>orn November 30. i860, in 
Springfield, is a carriage painter. The fa- 
ther was never an aspirant for office but was 
a leader in local Democratic circles and he 
had strong faith in the principles of his 
party and exercised marked influence in its 
ranks. He was always a supporter of church 
and charitable \\ork and as a citizen was 
deeply interested in everything pertaining to 
the general good. His attention, however. 
was chiefly given to his profession, in which 
he won distinction and creditable success. 



his superior ability placing him in the front 
ranks among the architects of Ohio. 

Edwin F. Cregar, whose name intro- 
duces this record, was born in Springfield 
January 9, 1855, and pursued his education 
in the public schools. After putting aside 
his text books he worked with his father for 
about two years and in 1874 went to Cin- 
cinnati, where he entered the Mechanics' In- 
stitute, pursuing a full course in architecture. 
This he completed in 1876 and then returned 
to Springfield, beginning work with his fa- 
ther, and in 187S he went to Topeka. Kan- 
sas, where he followed his trade, remaining 
there until the death of his father in 1885. 
He then returned to Springfield and became 
associated with his In'other Charles, the 
business being carried on under the firm 
style of Cregar Brothers until i8gfi. whei/ 
the elder brother died. Our subject thus 
assumed the management of the business of 
the firm and has since been very successful 
in his work. He has furnished plans and 
specifications for all kinds of work and 
draws much of his patronage from a radius 
of one hundred miles. His business has 
been built up tlirough his own efforts and 
ability, and he enjoys the confidence of a 
wide circle of friends. He has always fully 
sustained the dignity of his profession and 
has lieen very successful. While associated 
with his lirother they furnished the plans for 
the city building, St. Raphael's church, for 
the Henry block,- for the Third Presby- 
terian church, the St. John's Evangelical 
Lutheran church, the United Presbyterian 
church, the first Zimmerman building and 
many other buildings, including business 
Ijjocks and residences throughout the city 
and surrounding country. 

In 1 88 1 Mr. Cregar was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Amanda \\'ilhelm. of Spring- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



field, who was born in Harshmansville, Ohio, 
in February, 1863, and unto them lias been 
born one son. W'ilHam R., whose birth oc- 
curred October 29, 1881. He is a gradu- 
ate of tlie public schools and is now associ- 
ated with the R. G. Dunn & Company 
Agency at Denver. Colorado. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Cregar is 
a r^emocrat and has been a delegate to coun- 
ty conventions, but the honors and emolu- 
ments of office have had no attraction for 
him. A man of strong individuality and in- 
domitable purpose, one who has attained to 
a due measure of success in the aft'airs of 
life and whose influence has ever been ex- 
erted in the direction of progress and the 
right, this native son of Springfield well de- 
serves mention in the history of Clark 
countv. 



ASA SMITH BUSHXELL. 

Like the Roman matron of old the states 
of the Union present their illustrious sons 
as their jewels. In no land are individual 
merit and accomplishment so widely recog- 
nized as worthy of public honor, and the 
record which the American nation holds in 
greatest regard is that of the man whose 
prominence, success and position are 
achieved through individual effort and high 
character. Distinguished as one of the emi- 
nent and influential men of Ohio, Hon. A. 
S. Ij?ushnell is well known because of his 
connection with an important business en- 
terprise and because of his political promi- 
nence. His course has ever been such as to 
sustain the dignity of political lab. r and 
service and his public career has been an 
honor to the state which has honoreil him 
with the oitice <if chief executixc. He has 



also displayed ability to handle commercial 
and industrial transactions of magnitude 
and is to-day connected with an enterprise 
which is known throughout the country, 
especially in agricultural circles and tf) those 
engaged in kindred lines of business. Ani- 
mated by a spirit of enterprise and progress 
in bu'iness, of loyalty and patriotism in 
public life, Asa Smith Bushnell has won and 
retained the respect, confidence and good 
will of people throughout the nation in all 
walks of life. 

]\Ir. Bushnell was born in Rome, Oneida 
comity, Xew York, on the i6th ()f Septem- 
ber, 1834, and comes of Xew England an- 
cestry that had to do with the shaping of the 
colonial policy and the early history of the 
country. Jason Bushnell. his grandfather, 
was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, 
serxing first in the company of Captain 
Charles Miel, General Waterbury's brigade, 
and subsequently with Washington's Army 
at Tarrytown. - Connecticut was the ances- 
tral home of the family through many gen- 
erations and it was at Lisbon, that state, on 
the jtii of I'ebruary, 1800. that Daniel Bush- 
nell, the father of our subject, was born. 
His residence in Xew York covered a num- 
ber of years and Ohio became his place of 
abode in 1845. J" the meantime he had 
married Miss Harriet Smith, the wedding 
being celebrated ]\L-irch 9, 1825. For many 
years the father was a resident of Cincinnati 
and from there removed to Oberlin, Ohio, 
which was his home at the time of his tleatli. 

At the age of sixteeix years Asa S. Bush- 
nell became a resident of the city in which 
he was destined to bear an imjiortant part 
in the work of promoting commercial act- 
ixity and prosperity as well as in shaping 
its political record. The advantages of his 
youth were not unlike those enjoyed by 




ASA S. BUSHNELL. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



other young men of the period. He had oIj- 
tained a common-school education and de- 
termined to advance in the business world 
he eng-erly a\-ailed himself of e\-ery oppor- 
tunity that would lead to honorable pro- 
motion and success. For three years he was 
employed as a salesman in a dry-goods store 
and then became bookkeeper for the firm of 
Leffel, Cook & Blakeney, there remaining 
until the spring of 1857, when he accepted a 
jiosition with Warder, Brokaw & Child, 
manufacturers of mowers and reapers. In 
the succeeding fall, however, he gave up that 
jiosition to enter upon an independent busi- 
ness career as a partner of Dr. John Lud- 
low in the conduct of a drug store. For 
ten years he was connected with that line of 
trade and then became identified again with 
the work of manufacturing mowers and 
reapers with the firm with whicli he had 
formerl}- been associated. This time, how- 
ever, he became a partner in the enterprise 
under the firm style of Warder, Mitchell & 
Company, and has since been a controlling- 
factor in the business, the splendid success 
of whicli is largely attributable to his enter- 
prise, his close attention and his sound l)usi- 
ness judgment, which readily grasps a sit- 
uation, recognizes opportunity and utilizes 
the means at hand in extending the scope of 
the business. Changes have occurred in the 
partnership but the present firm of Warder, 
Bushnell & Giessner Company is known by 
re]nitatinn throughout the length and 
breadth of the land and its exports have also 
made the name of the hmise familiar to a 
consideralile extent in trade circles in for- 
eign lands : in fact the products of the house 
are sent to e\-ery country where improveil 
methods of agriculture are known. Mr. 
Bushnell has been president of the company 
since 1886 and the growth of the business. 



which has reached mammoth proportions, 
is largely attributable to his capacity for 
controlling commercial affairs of beadth 
and magnitude. Other business enterprises 
of Spi-nfigeld ha\-e profited by his labor, his 
counsel and liis control. He is the president 
of the First National Bank and the Spring- 
field Gas Company and has been actively or 
financially interested in many other busi- 
ness enter]3rises of importance to the city. 
In early manhood '\\x. Bushnell was 
married. In September, 1857, he wedded 
Aliiss Fllen Ludlow, a daughter of Dr. John 
Ludlow, of Springfield, and they became the 
parents of two daughters and a son : Mrs. 
J. F. McGrew, Mrs. H. C. Diamond and 
John L. Bushnell, In the first years of his 
married life Governor Bushnell left his lit- 
tle family to respond to the nation's call for 
aid, prompted by a spirit of patriotic de\-o- 
tion to the Union cause. With firm belief 
in the supremacy of the national government 
he began raising troops fcjr the field, the 
command being organized as Company E. 
of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Regi- 
ment of Ohio Infantry. He was made its 
captain and with the command oi General 
David Hunter served in the Shenandoah 
valley in 1864. His interest in his fellow 
comrades of the blue has since been a salient 
characteristic of liis career and he is an 
active and valued member of Mitchell Post. 
No. 45, G. .-V. R.. of Springfield. His re- 
ligious belief is indicated by his member- 
ship in the Protestant Episcopal clnu-ch and 
further evidence of the springs of conduct 
in his life is his relationship with the Ma- 
sonic fraternity. Avhich is based upon the 
brotherhood of man and inculcates princi- 
ples of mutual helpfulness, charity and kind- 
liness. He is a Knight Templar, is also a 
member of the consistorv and has attained 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tlie tliirty-thinl degree of the Scottish 
rite. 

It is seldnni found that a man of the 
mental ken. tlie extended interests and the 
luimanitarian spirit of Asa S. Buslmell is 
not deeply interested in the political situa- 
'.ion of his countr_\-. Politics Ijecomes mure 
than a question of the riglit of franchise 
and the success (jr defeat of indi\-idual can- 
didates ; to men accustomed to control im- 
portant interests and to look upon life from 
a broad standpoint, political questions as- 
sume their national relation to other affairs 
of life as affecting the w'elfare of the country 
not only for the present but also through 
direct influence upon the future. It was but 
natural that Mr. lUishnell should become a 
factor in the piilitical field of Ohio. Strong 
in support of his convictions, fearless in his 
advocacy of any measure which he believes 
to be right no one has had reason to question 
his position concerning any vital issue. His 
capacity for business also indicated to party 
leaders what might be his power as an act- 
ive factor in promoting Republican suc- 
cesses in Ohio. While he has never hedged 
himself about with undue reserve, his de- 
meanor is always dignified and such a man 
could nut but 1)0 an honur as well as a power 
in his ]x'irt_\-. ami the ]5(ilitical career of 
(jovernur I'ushnell is such as has reflected 
credit ujKin iiis state. He became a local 
leader and his ser\ices were then sought in 
the broader field of state politics. In 1885 
he became chairn^'an of the Republican state 
executive committee and his ability to mar- 
shal and direct forces was one of the potent 
elements in securing the Rcimblican \ictory 
of that year. In i88fi he was ajipoinled 
cjuartermaster general of the state, serving 
for a term of four years. In 1887, whon the 
state convention convened, he was nomi- 



nated by acclamation as the candidate for 
lieutenant governor, but declined tlie prof- 
fered honor and in 1889 he refused to 
accede to his party's earnest request that he 
accc])t tlie nomination ff)r governor. Has 
amhiliun was nut in the line uf political 
hunurs ;uid he has e\-er been cuntent to pcr- 
furm his duties towartl city, state and na- 
tion in the honorable capacity of a private 
c.itizcn. Again in i8()i he was spoken of in 
connection with the nomination for gover- 
nor, which, however, went to Major \N'ill- 
iam McKinlex', uf whum Mr. Bushnell was 
a must ardent ailherent. In 189J he was 
sent as a delegate to the Republican national 
convention and has been a member of each 
body of this character which has met in 
recent years. Several times he refused the 
nomination for congress and his nomination 
for the governorship, in IMay. 1893. came 
without solicitation, hut the party and tlie 
public recognized his fitness for the office 
and no higher token of confidence, appre- 
ciation, trust and good will could have been 
given him by the people of the state than 
was shown in his election when, 1?\- a vote 
of ninety-two thousand six hundred and 
twenty-two, he was given a larger majority 
than was ever won 1)_\- another candidate 
fur governor in the state with the excep- 
tion of that given to John Brough, the war- 
governor of Ohio. His administration was 
like his campaign, dignified, free from petty 
])atrisanshi]) and characterized by practical 
dex'otion to the weal of the commonwealth. 
He was inaugurated on the 13th of January, 
1896, as the fortieth governor of Ohio, and 
liis course as chief executive gave general 
satisfaction not only to liis own party but 
to the state at large. He- was re-elected in 
the fall of 1897 by a good majority and en- 
tered upon his second term the following 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



23 



January, serving in all four years. The 
many times that he has refused pohtical 
lienors proves conclusively that self-aggran- 
dizement has ne\'er been the motive power 
in his political work, l)ut that a devotion to 
his country and the principles in which he 
believes has been the mainspring < if his po- 
litical activity. It would be difhcult to des- 
ignate one characteristic as the leading one 
in the life recortl of Asa S. Bushnell for 
lliere are none of the great departments of 
action bearing upon the country's progress 
and advancenient which have not received 
his endorsement, his sympathy and his sup- 
port. The city of Springfield has been es- 
pecially benefited by his labors in its behalf. 
The churches, the schools, the business in- 
terests, the social conditions, the aesthetic 
and the moral culture have all received im- 
petus from his helpfulness. No sense of 
self-laudation has promoted this but a de- 
\otion to the general good and a broad- 
minded interest in improvement in keeping 
with the world's advancement. In his so- 
cial life he is known for his kindly, genial 
nature, quick to recognize true worth and to 
give friendship and regard in appreciation 
I if character. 



HEXRY C.-VLDWTX, M. D. 

Dr. Henry Baldwin, a well kno-wn physi- 
cian O'f Springfield, represents gne of the 
pioneer fan: dies of this city, where he was 
born on the 17th uf July, i860. His pater- 
nal grandfather, Jonah Baldwin, was a. na- 
tive of Virginia and in the opening years of 
the nineteenth century took up his abode in 
Ohio, establishing his home in Springfield 
in i8o2. After a short time he returned to 
the Old Dominion and brought his family 



to Springfield in 1804, settling oai what is 
noiw the east side of Main street, east of 
Limestone street. During the pioneer de- 
velopment O'f the city he pro'\-ed a potent 
factor in establishing its policy and in its 
growth. A leader of public thought and 
action, his influaice was felt in pohtical cir- 
cles and along lines directing the intellectual 
and moral proigress of the community. AfT 
ter locating here he served a,s justice of the 
peace foT a number of years, his decisions 
being strictly fair and impartial. He mar- 
ried Miner\-a Xeedham, a daughter of Dr. 
William A. Needham, who came to Spring- 
fiield in 1814, practicing in this city and in 
Clark county. The conditions which met 
a physician at that time were very different 
to tliose of the present day. Hardships and 
trials knoiwn oarly to the people of the fron- 
tier were to' be met and continually faced 
by him who devoted his attention to the al- 
le\-iation of human suffering. Streams had 
to be forded and there were no roads biut 
bridle paths or verj' often only the old Indian 
trails. Most of the settlers were widely 
scattered, and braving the storms of winter 
and die heat of summer, the pioneer physi- 
cian made his way toi each home in which 
his services were needed, his calls often de- 
manding great personal sacrifice. For soane 
time Dr. Needham was a resident of what 
is now known as Lagoaida, but the place 
was then called Pillville because of tlie Doc- 
tor's residence there. He established the 
first drug store in Springfield and for .many 
years conducted it, but e\'entually it was sold 
to the LudlO'W family who carried on the 
business until 1896 and it was not until 
1898 that the old store building was torn 
down. It was situated (ai [Main street on 
the southwest corner (if the first alle\- east 
of Limestone street. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Henry Baldwin, Sr., the father of tlie 
Df>ctiir. is a native of Clark county, liis 
birth having occurred upon a fami in Reas- 
ant township in 1830. His boyhood days 
were spent in the usual manner of fanner 
lads of that period. On coming to 
Spring-field he entered the employ of his 
brother Joseph, who was conducting a dry 
goods store, and remained with him in the 
capacity of salesman until the death of the 
brother, after which, he continued the busi- 
ness <;n his own account until 1880, when 
lie disposed of his interests to other parties 
and has since been living in retirement. He 
married Maria Dawson, of Uniontown, 
Pennsylvania, in which place she was l)orn 
and reared. She was the daughter of John 
DaA\son and granddaughter of Nicholas 
Dawson, one of the pioneer settlers of Ken- 
tucky, who went to that state at a tim.e 
when most of the population lived in forts 
r>n account of the hostilities of the Indians. 
Nicholas Dawson married Violet Little- 
ton, of Fairfax, \^irginia. She was a niece 
of Lord Fairfax and a daughter of iLartha 
^^'ashin.gton. with wiiom she often corre- 
siKiaided, many of the letters of the wife of 
the illustrious father of his country being 
now in the possession of the Dawson family. 
Nicholas Dawson and his wife spent their 
last days in Springfield and were Imried in 
the old Columbia street cemetery. 

Dr. Henry Baldwin, both as boy and 
n-an. has been a resident of the city which 
is still his home and in the public schools 
he l;egan his education which was continued 
until his graduation on the completion of 
the high school course. He prepared for his 
profession as a student in the office of Dr. 
?-. M. Buckingham, of this city, and in the 
Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, 



where he was graduated with the class of 
1883. 

The Doctor was married in 1897 ^o Miss 
Lucretia Mathers, of Sydney, Shelby coun- 
ty, Ohio, a daughter of John ^Mathers, a 
prominent lawyer of that place, and a 
granddaughter of Judge Hugh Thompson, 
of Sydney, who was one of the distinguish- 
ed jurists of Ohio at an early day. Dr. 
Baldwin and his wife have a little daughter. 
Elizabeth Mathers. 

Fraternally the Dix'tor is a Mason, his 
membership being with Clark Lodge, No. 
101, F. & A. ^r.. of which he is past mas- 
ter; and Spring-field Chapter, No. 48, R. A. 
M. He is al«o a member of the young men's 
Literary Club of Springfield. For one term 
he was a n-ember of the school board of the 
city, has also served as city physician and 
is now a memljer of the Mitchell Thomas 
Hos])ital staff. He belongs to the Clark 
Countv Medical Society, the Ohio State 
Medical Society and the .\merican Medi- 
cal .Association, while in the first nan'ed he- 
has served as president. 



FR.XNK II. MILLS. 



Frank II. Mills, a well known factor in 
commercial and political circles of Spring- 
field, was lx>rn in Green township, Clark 
county. June 20, 1861. and is a son of Jacob 
N. and Harriet (Rupert^ Mills, both of 
whom are residents of Springfield. The fa- 
ther was a farmer by occupation for many 
years, but in 1873 came to this city and es- 
tablished a grocery store, which he con- 
ducted for a number of vears, but is now 
living retired. Mo.se< Mills, the grandfather 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



25 



of our subject, was a native of Xew Jersey 
and becan:e the founder of the fan-.ily in 
Clark county, locating upon a farm in Green 
town'ship at an early period in the develo'p- 
nient of this portion of the state. He pur- 
chased land from the g< ivernment and there- 
upon made his home until his death. His 
son Jacoib was die }-oungest of eight children 
and is the only one now living. He was 
born in 1824, and his wife was born in 1827. 
Both were educated in the early schools of 
the comity and have witnessed marked 
changes in methods since that day. In the 
early '80s Jacob ]\lills served for two years 
as a member of tlie city council of Spring- 
field but has ne\-er been a politician in the 
sense of office seeking, preferring to per- 
form his duties as a private citizen. Both 
he and his wife are consistent and faithful 
men-Jl>ers oi the Methodist Episcopal church. 
Unto them ha\-e been born three sons aiid 
four daughters, but two daughters and a 
son died of cholera in 1851. when they were 
small children. The others are : America, 
wife of Henry \\'o>lford. of Cedarville, 
Ohio; Charles, who is agent for the Oslxjrn 
Machine Company of Louisville, Kentucky ; 
Florence, the widow of' Robert C. Rensberg, 
of Springfield ; and Frank H. 

The last named pursued his education in 
the district schools until the family removed 
toi Springfield, when he became a student in 
the pujlic schools here. After putting aside 
his text bookf he secured a position in the 
carriage shops of David \\'est and followed 
that business for a time. He was afterward 
employed by Mr. Bancroft, entering his es- 
tal)lishment in May. 1882. That he is one of 
the most trusted representatives of the 
hoiuse as well as one of the most capalaie 
workmen is indicated by the fact that he has 
since been connected with the hrn\ 



In 1895 in this city 2\lr. Alills was united 
in marriage -to Cora B. Miller, daughter of 
Charles T. Miller, now deceased. Her fa- 
ther engaged in merchandising here and was 
a ;\'ery successful business man. Of Oer- 
m.an descent. ]\Irs. Alills was born in Spring- 
field and was one of five children : Amelia, 
the deceased wife of Albert Hohl, of New 
York city; Anna, the wife of Charles T. 
Wallace, of Springfield, Ohio; Clara, the 
wife of George Clark, of Cleveland, Ohio; 
George, who is a machinist of Springfield ; 
and Cora, the wife of our subject. All are 
high school graduates of Springfield. 

In his political affiliations Mr. ^tlills is 
a Republican and is recognized as a leader 
in the ranks of his party, taking an active 
interest in its growth and success. He has 
frequently been a delegate to the city and 
county conventions and has put .forth every 
effort in his power to secure Rq^ublican vic- 
tories. In 1898 he was elected to the 
city council and was re-elected in 1901, 
thus representing the second ward for four 
years. He was an active member of various 
committees and' the chairman of ser\'eral and 
he exercises his official prerogatives in sup- 
port of all progressive measures for the gen- 
eral good. At the county convention of 
}ilarch, 1902, he was nom/inated for the 
office of county recorder and elected the fol- 
lowing November. He is quite prominent 
in social and fraternal circles, belonging to 
Moncrieffe Lodge, K. P.. in which he was 
master of exchequer in 1890, and is a mem- 
ber of Division No. 6, of the uniform rank; 
the Junior Order of American Mechanics ; 
Logan Castle of the Knights of the 
(i6lden Eagle; and Ccimmercial Camp, 
M. ^^'. A. His wife holds n.embership with 
the First Presbyterian church and ]\Ir. Mills 
contributes liberallv to church and charitable 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



work. He is a self-made man for when he 
left school he started out upon his business 
career empty-handed and his advancement 
has been acquired entirely through his own 
capal)ility, his fidelity and close application. 
He has purchased some valuable property, 
and this is a monument to his enterprise and 
diiip-ence. 



GEORGE W. HUXTIXGTOX. 

George W. Huntington, a resident far- 
mer of Mad River township, was bom No^ 
xenvber 13. 1839. in Springfield, upon a 
farm owned by his father. His maternal 
grandfather was Hugh Kirkpatrick. one of 
the earliest residents of the city of Spring- 
field. He tof>k up his abode there when the 
present metropolitan city was but a village, 
and it became his home in 181 1. his house 
standing in the southwestern portion of the 
city. William Huntington, the father of 
our subject, was bom in Franklin county, 
Pennsylvania, June 15, 1800, a son of Na- 
thaniel Huntington, whose birth occurred 
either in Vermont or Connecticut. After 
arri\ing at years of maturity he married 
Martha Kirkpatrick, who was born Deceni- 
l)er9, 1808. in Flemingsburg, Kentucky, and 
was a daughter of Hugh and Rachel ( Kel- 
ley) Kirkpatrick. In June, 1835, William 
Huntington came to Ohio with his mother 
and her family. I'rom that time until his 
death he remained a resident of Clark coun- 
t>-. He passed away near Springfield on 
the 1 8th of December, 1886, having long 
survived his wife, who died on the i/th of 
May, 1862. In their family were five chil- 
dren, namely, George W., of this review; 
Ann. the wife of Arthur Forljes, by whom 
she has four children : Hugh, who married 



Hannah Pierce and has six children; Sam- 
uel, who was the twin brother of Hugh and 
died at the age of twaity months; and 
Rachel, the wife of Edwin McClintock. 

The father left his farm in Springfield 
when our subject was alx)ut fifteen years of 
age and Ix>ught another farm farther from 
the town. The family lived upon that place 
until our subject was alx)Ut twenty-five years 
of age, when the father purchased the farm 
uiwn which George W. Huntington is now 
li\ing. It reir.ained the home of William 
Huntington for three years, after which he 
removed to Springfield, where he died. 

George \\'. Huntington was reared under 
the parental roof in the usual manner of 
farmer lads of the period. His educational 
pri\-ileges were thase afforded by the coun- 
try public schools, and in the fields he worked 
from the time of early .spring planting until 
after the crojjs were harvested in the 
autumn. In 1870 he was united in marriage 
to Mrs. Anna Hill, a widow, and a daugh- 
ter of Charles and Catherine (Snyder) 
Swaney. in whose family were the following 
children : Anna, Charles, Emma, Ella and 
Rachel. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Huntington 
were Ixmi three sons : Willie, born June 
1 5. J871, died five days later. Clifford, born 
January 12, 1873, has engaged in scho;)l 
teaching and is now a student in the State 
University. For five years he was eir.ployed 
as a teacher in the high school at Fairfield. 
He was graduated in Anti<x:h College witii 
the class of 1896. at which time the degree 
of Bachelor of Science was conferred u]X)n 
him. In 1902 he was graduate<l in the 
State University with the degree of Bach- 
elor of Philosophy and he took a fellow- 
ship in econon.ics. Elmer, lx)rn February 
3, 1876, died Xoveniljer 6, 1889. 

Mr. Huntington was reared in the politi- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



cal faith of the Republican party, casting his 
first presidential vote for Lincoln in 1864, 
and no'W g-i\-es his support to the Prohibi- 
tion party. He has never been an office 
seeker, but was a candidate on the Prohibi- 
tion ticket for county slieriff. He represents 
one of the old families O'f the county and is 
well knoAvn as a worthy and representative 
citizen of this portion of Ohio. 



JOSEPH GILBERT VAX HORX. 

Joseph Gilbert \'an Horn is connected 
with industrial and agricultural interests in 
Clark county and is a representative' busi- 
ness man, wide-awake and progressive. He 
is now engaged in the manufacture and sale 
of hardwood lumber and also follows farm- 
ing, owning and operating a tract of land of 
fifty acres, one mile east of South Charles- 
ton. He was born near Harrisville, Harri- 
son county, Ohio, about twelve miles "from 
\\'heeling, August 31, 1850. and is a son of 
Edward and Eliza (Gilbert) Van Horn. 
His father was a native of Bucks county, 
Pennsylvania, was reared upon a farm and 
was about fifteen years of age when he 
came to Ohio in company with the grand- 
father of our subject, Christian Van Horn, 
who settled in Harrison county. There Ed- 
ward \'an Horn was married, and when his 
son Joseph was about four years old the 
grandfatlier and the father both removed to 
Cedarville, Ohio. After two years the latter 
remo\-ed to McDonough county. Illinois, 
where he remained until the fall O'f i860, at 
which time he ])ecame a resident of Cedar- 
ville. Ohin, and in 1862 he offered his ser- 
vices to the government, enlisting in the 
Tenth Independent Battery, Light Artillery. 
With that command he continued until hon- 



orably discharged in 1865. He participat- 
ed in the siege of Vicksburg, went with Sher- 
man to Chattanooga, thence to X'ashville 
under command of General Thomas, and af- 
ter the battle at that place was sent to Sweet 
Vater Valley, where the regiment was sta- 
tioned until after the close of hostilities. Mr. 
\^an Horn spent his remaining days in Ce- 
darville, passing away in 1895, at which 
time he was laid to rest in the Cedarville 
cemetery by the side of his wife, who passed 
away in 1892. 

Joseph G. \'an Horn of this re\-iew re- 
cei\'ed a common school education. His 
father was in limited financial circumstances, 
and he had to begin to make his own way in 
the world when but a boy. In his youth he 
worked at farm labor for ten or twel\-e dol- 
lars per month and his earnings went to the 
support of the family until after he had at- 
tained his majority. He farmed and worked 
in the timber regions, making his home in 
Cedarville. When abont twenty-five years 
of age he began to buy timber, which was 
cut for ties, and gradually he overcame the 
difficulties and obstacles in his path to suc- 
cess. Soon after his marriage he entered 
the employ of Zwick & Greenwall. and for 
four years purchased timber for them. Dur- 
ing that time he saved some money, and on 
the expiration of that period he entered into 
partnership with D. S. Er\-in. of Cedar\-ille, 
in the manufacture and sale of hardwood 
lumber. Tliis relation was maintained until 
1899, ^vhen Mr. Van Horn purchased the 
mill which he now owns. This mill has 
been located at different places, wherever 
timber could be purchased. For eight years 
it has stood about one mile east of South 
Charleston, in Madison township. 

On the 22nd of September. 1881. Mr. 
Van Horn was united in marriage to Miss 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Sarah C. Milbuni. a daugiiter of Aaron and 
Celinda ( Bozarth ) Milburn. They have a 
fine residence which was erected by Mr. Van 
Horn in 1894. and the farm comprises fifty 
acres of well developed land. In 1897 Mr. 
Van Horn entered into partnership with 
George Thorpe in handling thorough-bred 
Norman draft stallions and also fast trotting 
and pacing horses. He has seven stallions, 
all kept at South Charleston. He started 
in this business with one horse. This was 
a charitable act in order to give a poor man 
a business opportunity, but he has kept in 
the business and has foimd it a profitable 
source of income. 

In his political affiliations Mr. \'an Horn 
is a Republican and has supported the party 
since casting his first presidential vote for 
Grant in 1872. He has never been an office 
seeker, but as a citizen is pitblic-spirited and 
progressive. He attends anil supports the 
Methodist Episcopal church of South 
Charleston, of which Mrs. Van Horn is a 
member. .\t one time he held membership 
with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
at Xenia. but afterward transferred his mem- 
bersliip to the lodge in Cedarville. and later 
to South Cliarleston. He is a self-made 
man who started out in life a poor boy with 
no capital, but he realized that success may 
l',e gained through industry, economy and 
honesty, and these ciualities have proved the 
foundation u])nn which he has reared the 
superstructure i>f his prosperity. 



J. W.VRRKX KEIFER. 

The name of J. Warren Keifer has long 
figured in the annals of this country. It is 
found in connection with the history of juris- 
])rudence in Ohio and in connection with the 



military records of the land. It is found 
upon the records of congress, and he is the 
only resident of Ohio that has been honored 
with the speakership in the national house 
of representatives. .\n enumeration there- 
fore of the distingui.shed men of Ohio would 
be incomplete were there failure to make 
prominent reference to the subject of this 
review, whose course has reflected credit 
and honor upon the state which has honored 
him. -At the bar his comprehensive under- 
standing of the principles of jurisprudence 
and his masterly presentation of a cause 
have gained him fame as a lawyer of marked 
al)ility: on the field of battle he showed 
thorough knowledge of military tactics and 
strategy and a loyalty and ilevution to duty 
that gained him promotion, and he was 
Inevetted brigadier-general, also major-gen- 
eral by the President for gallantry on the 
field; but still other honors awaited him in 
this land where the road to public distinc- 
tion is that of public usefulness and merit. 
In the affairs of state, as taken aside from 
the extraordinary conditions of warfare, 
there are demanded men whose mental ken 
is as wide and whose generalship is as ef- 
fective as those which insure successful 
manouvering of armed forces by the skilled 
commander on the field of battle. The na- 
tion's welfare and prosperity may be said to 
hinge as heavily upon individual discrimi- 
nation and executive ability in the one case 
as in the (Jther. It re(|uires a master mind 
to luartial and organize the forces for po- 
litical pur])oses and produce the best results 
by concerted effort, and such a leader is 
fijund in General J. Warren Keifer, whose 
statesmanship and love of country, guided 
by wise judgment in securing results, made 
him a leader during his service in the halls 
of congress. 




GEN. J. WARREN KEIFER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Well may Clark county be proud to call 
this man her son. He has never known 
another home. He was born on Mad river, 
in this county, January 30, 1836, and while 
!iis interests, public and pri\-ate, have some- 
times called him elsewhere he has always 
maintained his deep affection for this local- 
ity and its people and the tie has been 
strengthened \\\X\\ the passing years. His 
parents were Joseph and Mary (Smith) 
Keifer. The father was born at Sharps- 
l)urg-. ^Maryland. December j8, 1784, and 
the year 181 2 witnessed his arrival in Clark 
ciiunty, Ohio. He was a farmer and civil 
engineer and in this pioneer district he fol- 
lowed his dual occupation, taking an active 
part in reclaiming the wild land for the uses 
of the white man. He bore an active and 
h.elpful part in. the work of early improve- 
ment and progress here and continued a 
resident of the county until his death, which 
occurred April 13, 1850. His wife was 
born in what is now Cincinnati (Columbia), 
Ohio, January 31, T7Q9, and died at Yellow 
Springs, this state, March 23, 1879. She 
was of English lineage and about 1790 her 
ancestors removed from New Jersey to what 
was tlien the Northwest Territory-. 

The boyhood of Joseph Warren Keifer 
was not unlike that of most boys of the 
period. .\t the usual age he entered the 
public schools and later continued his stud- 
ies in .\ntioch College. In the meantime 
he had acquainted hi«iself to a considerable 
extent with American history and especially 
that of his own locality for he lived amid 
historic localities. Here were many famous 
Indian battle-fields; on a neighboring farm 
( in a Piqua Indian village) was born the 
Indian chieftain, Tecumseh. Mr. Keifer, 
as a boy, found great delight in wandering 
among these places and picking up informa- 



tion concerning their early struggles, which 
established the su]3remac_\- of the white race 
as masters of the rich district. jVs 
he advanced in years he continually broad- 
ened his knowledge by reading and investi- 
gation, and from an early age kept in view 
his purpose of one day becoming a member 
of the bar. In 1853 he taught a term of 
country school which was his first regular 
employment, aside from duties of the home 
farm. While assisting in the labors of field 
and meadow he dex'oted his leisure hours 
through three years to reading law, and in 
185^) took an advanced step in the line of 
his ambition to become a member of the bar 
h\- entering the oflice of the law firm of An- 
thony &- Goode, of Springfield, there re- 
maining as a student until his admission to 
the bar. January 12, 1858. 

For- forty-faur years General Keifer has 
been a member of the Springfield bar. His 
was the usual experience of the young law- 
yer who begins practice at a bar where are 
many older and more experienced men, 
whose reputations have already been estab- 
lished and wdiose cleintage is assured, but 
be i)iissessed persistency of purpose, laud- 
al)le ambition and strong mentality, and 
gradually he worked his way upward, prov- 
ing his power to successfully cope with the 
intricate problems of jurisprudence. Early 
in his professional career his labors were 
interrupted by military service for the coun- 
try became involved in Civil war. ' He had 
kept informed concerning the growth of 
sentiment and the progress of events in the 
south, and his love of liberty and his de- 
votion to his country increased as oppres- 
sion and rebellion were more strongly mani- 
fest below the Mason and Dixon line. The 
echo from Simiter's guns went sounding 
and resounding throughout the land and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



General Keifer was among the first to offer 
his services to the government, enlisting on 
the 19th of April, 1861. A contemporary 
hiographer lias written of his military his- 
tory as follows : "He was commissioned 
major of the Third Ohio Infantry, April 27, 
1861, for three months, and June 12, 1861, 
for three years. He took part in the battle 
of Rich Mountain J"ly 1 L 1861. the first of 
the war; the same year he participated in 
engagements in Cheat Mountain and Elk 
AX'ater, West Virginia; in Xovember his 
regiment was attached to General Buell's 
army; February 12, i8r.2, he was commis- 
sioned lieutenant-colonel of his regiment 
and was present at the capture of Bowling 
f'ireen. Kentucky;' Nashville, Tennessee; 
and Huntsville and Bridgeport, Alabama. 
Ai)ril 30, 1862, he led the first expedition 
into Georgia and performed an important 
service in the destruction of the salt-peter 
works at Xickajack cave. He returned to 
Louisville with General Buell's command; 
was made colonel of the One Hundred and 
Tenth Ohio Infantry, September 30, 1862; 
was assigned to General !Milroy"s division 
in West Virginia, and placed in command 
o! a brigade and the post at Moorefield ; was 
in the battle of Winchester, Virginia. June 
1863, where he was twice wounded; July 
9, 1863. lie was assigned to the army of the 
Potomac in the Third Army Corps in pur- 
suit of General Lee's army, and took part in 
engagements at Wapping Heights July 23, 
1863 ; in. August, 1863, he was sent with his 
command to aid in the suppression of the 
draft riots and in enforcing the draft in 
New York city and Brooklyn ; rejoined the 
army in the field in September and bore a 
pmiuinent part in the battle of Mine Run, 
Nii\ ember 2J. ^^(^^2)^ 'ind in other minor en- 



gagements; March 24, 1864, he was trans- 
ferred to the Sixth Army Corps and at the 
battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, was 
wounded by a musket ball which shattered 
both bones of his left forearm, disabling him 
until August 26, when he resumed command 
of his brigade, at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, 
l>enig the Second Brigade, Third Division, 
Sixth Army Corps, and with his arm still 
in a sling commanded his troops in the hard- 
fought battles of Oi^equon, Fisher's Hill 
and Cedar Creek in the Shenandoah Valley ; 
at Opequon he was wounded b>- a shell, his 
horse being shot under him; at Fisher's 
Hill he, with out orders, led his brigade in 
the assault on the fortified left flank of the 
enemy and captured many prisoners and 
guns : at Cedar Creek he commanded the 
Third Division, .Sixth Army Corps, and 
for his distinguished gallantry and the en- 
ergy and discretion there evinced was 
brevetted by President Lincoln a brigadier- 
genera! and by him assigned to duty with 
that rank. In December. 1864. with ..his 
corps he rejoined the army of the Potomac 
in front of Petersburg and was actively en- 
gaged on the left of the fortified line ; March 
25, 1865, he led a successful assault upon 
the enemy's outer line of works and was 
complimented in general orders; April 2, he 
charged v.ith his division in the final assault 
which carried the main works and resulted 
in the capture of Petersburg and Richmond ; 
April 5, his command aided in, cutting off 
the retreat of Lee's army and forced it to 
give battle on the 6th at Sailor's Creek ; the 
wnigs of the army (General Keifer com- 
manding the left) being forced forward 
( notwithstanding the fact that the eneiuy 
had broken the center line), surrounded and 
effected the capture oi above six thousand 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of the enemy, including Generals Ewell. 
Kershaw, Custis Lee, Barton, Corse, Hnnton 
and other officers of high rank. 

One of the incidents of the war, thrill- 
ing and full of adventure and showing the 
true spirit of military heroism and presence 
of mind, is worthy of representation here. 
Immediately succeeding the surrender of 
the six thousand Confederates, and while as- 
sisting in the re-formation of the troops, in- 
formation reached General Keifer that a 
hody of the enemy was concealed in a wood 
on his right. He rode in person into the 
woods to reconnoiter and came suddenly 
n.pon the Confederate troops lying on the 
ground, evidently ignorant of the surrender 
which had just taken place. The density of 
the wood, approaching night and the smoke 
of the battle saved the General from instant 
identification as a I'nion officer. To attempt 
to withdraw was instant death, and sur- 
render never entered his mind. Seeing that 
the troops were awaiting and expecting a 
command he rode forward and wheeling his 
horse shouted, "Forward!" and led the 
enemy as his own troops, waving his sword 
toward the recent scene of battle. The 
command was instantly obeyed and the 
faster he rode the faster the enen:y foJloiwed 
after, until the edge of the wood and the 
better light led to the discovery of his iden- 
tit}-, when he was the mark for many mus- 
kets, and would have been shot but for the 
command of the Confederate officers, who 
pre\"ented their men from delivering their 
fire. General Keifer escaped to his own 
troops and leading them in a charge upon 
the enemy secured the surrender of the en- 
tire brigade of Confederates, which was 
composed of marines little used to land ser- 
vice, commanded by Commodore J. R. 
Tucker and Captain John D. Semmes. 



Tucker and Semmes both claimed to have 
saved General Keifer's life by preventing 
their troops from firing upon him and as an 
act of gratitude he used his influence to ob- 
tain the parole from Johnson's Island of 
these ofillcers, who, having deserted from the 
United States Navy, were not entitled, un- 
der then existing orders, to that clemency. 

"General Keifer joined in the pursuit 
and capture of General Lee's army, and was 
brevetted major-general 'for gallant and 
distinguished serxice during the campaign 
ending in the surrender of the insurgent 
commander. General R. E. Lee." His corps 
was sent south to aid in the capture of Gen- 
eral Joe Johnston's army in North Carolina, 
and learning at Danville of the contemplated 
surrender, he, with a piirtion of his stafif, 
pushed across the country fifty miles to wit- 
ness it. He was thus present at the capitula- 
tion of both General Lee's and Johnston's 
armies. 

"A career beginning in April. 1861, and 
closing June ly, 1865, when he retired from 
the army to resume the practice of law at 
Springfield, briefly outlined, has l.nit few 
parallels ; without military education or ex- 
])erience, without influence or wealth, merit 
and distinguishd ability earned the highest 
rank in the service. For over four years he 
was, except when disabled from wounds, in 
active service in the field and at the front. 
His purpose in entering the army — the 
preser\-ation of the L'nion — was accom- 
plished, his life works in arts of peace was 
before him and upon it he entered with the 
same energ\' and enthusiasm that hatl made 
his military career so glorious. His return 
to civil life was followed by success at the 
bar, where he soon acquired an extensive 
practice. In 1866, he was tendered a com- 
mission as lieutenant-colonel of the Twentv- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sixlln I'nited States Infantry upon the un- 
solicited recommendations of Generals 
Grant and Meade, but declined it." 

.\ftcr the cl<ise of the war General 
Keifer resumed the practice of law and the 
duties of civil life. Before the outbreak of 
hostilities he had established a home of his 
'■wn and on the 22i\ of March, i860, had 
married Miss Eliza Stout, of Springfield. 
They became the parents of three sons: 
J. Warren, Jr.. who is engaged in farming 
in Nebraska; William W. and Horace C., 
who are associated with their father in the 
practice of law in Springfield; also one 
daughter, Margaret E., now deceased. 

The practice of his profession has been 
the real life work of Mr. Keifer, who from 
the time of his return from the army has 
steadily maintained a foremost jxjsition in 
the ranks of the legal fraternity in this part 
of Ohio. His fidelity to his client's inter- 
ests is proverbial, yet he never forgets that 
he owes a higher allegiance to the majesty 
of the law. His diligence and energy in the 
preparation of his cases, as well as the earn- 
estness, tenacity and courage with which he 
defends the right as he understands it, chal- 
lenges the admiration of his associates, yet 
he has never sought forensic triumph when 
it had to be gained by lowering his standard 
of manhood or degrading the dignity of his 
profession. He has a ready command of 
English and is an orator, whose ability has 
maile him sought outside the strict path of 
his profession. He has addressed many 
public gatherings on momentous questions 
and notable (jccasions and his eloquence is 
not the least of his many gifts. On the oc- 
casion of a state reunion of the sailors and 
soldiers of Ohio, held at Xewark, July 22. 
1878, the anniversary of the death of Gen- 
eral Mcfhersdu, General W. S. Sherman. 



President Hayes and cabinet. General Gar- 
field and other distinguished men being pres- 
ent, he deli\ered an address entitled "Ohio's 
Contribution, Sacrifice and Service in the 
War." He has ever been actively interested 
in the cause of the soldiers since his partici- 
pation in the war and has served as a mem- 
ber of the Department of Ohio of the Grand 
Army of the Republic. A\'hile filling that 
ofiice in 1868 he organized the board of con- 
trol for the establishment of the Soldiers and 
Sailors' Orphans' Home, at Xenia, of which 
the state assumed control in 1870, making 
General Keifer one of its trustees, in which 
capacity he served from April 15, 1870, un- 
til March 5, 1878. From 1873 he has been 
a trustee of Antioch College and in the same 
year he was made the president of the La- 
gonda National Bank of Springfield, in 
which capacity he has served almost contin- 
uously since. 

Perhaps, however, the work which has 
drawn the attention of the country to Gen- 
eral Keifer more than anything else which 
he has ever done is that which he performed 
while a member of congress. Not long after 
the close of the Civil war he became an im- 
portant factor in Ohio politics and from 
1868 until 1870 was a member of the state 
senate, where he served on several import- 
ant committees, including the judiciary and 
municipal corporation committees. He was 
an active working member of the senate and 
was the author of a number of laws, some of 
which found their way upon the statutes of 
other states. He introduced an amendment 
to the replevin law providing special safe- 
guards for heirlooms and other property not 
possessing general marketable value. In 
1 876 he was made a delegate to the Repub- 
lican national convention, and the same year 
was elected to consrress. where he served 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



3 5 



continuously from March 4, 1877. ""'i' 
March 4. 1885. On the 5th of December, 
1881. he was chosen speaker of the house, 
(Forty-seventh Congress) and fihed that 
position until the 4th of March. 1883. It 
\\as an honor well deserved and his course 
sliowed that he well merited the confidence 
reposed in him by the party leaders, many 
I if whom were among the most distinguished 
men of the nation. He is not only the first 
and only Ohio man ever chosen to the 
speakership but he also enjoys the distinc- 
tion of being the first speaker to enforce the 
rule of closure, his ruling having been 
adopted in the house giving to the speaker 
the right to cut off obstructive or dilatory 
motions. He displayed marked knowledge 
of parliamentary proceeding and his rulings 
were always, just and impartial, winning 
liim the commendation of even the opposi- 
tion. Xo parliamentary decision of his was 
overruled by the house. He was the first 
to ad\'ance in the direction of doing away 
with an old order of things wh.ich allowed 
the minority to prevent the action of the 
house on pending measures by dilatory mo- 
tions or by refusing to vote to prevent a 
(juorum. He ruled such motions out of 
order, and favored the counting of a quor- 
um ( the late Speaker Reed then not agree- 
ing with him) when a sttfficient number 
were present for this purpose. He labored 
untiringly for the welfare of the nation 
without a thought as to policy where the 
right or the country's good was involved. 
He is a statesman who has studied long and 
deeply the c[uestions concerning national 
]:)rogress and improvement and who places 
the coup.try's weal before personal aggran- 
dizement or party power. He is, however, 
an earnest supporter of Republican principles 



and since his retirement from nftice has 
labored earnestly and effectively to promote 
the cause of Republicanism, delivering many 
addresses on the leading political cjuestions 
throughout Ohio and other states of the 
Union. Hiis life of public activity and use- 
fulness has extended over a long period, be- 
ginning with, his service on the battle-fields 
of the south, and no man of national fame 
has been more fearless in conduct, faultless 
in honor or stainless in reputation than Jo- 
seph Warren Keifer. 

When the war with Spain was declared 
in April, 1898. General Keifer. then sixty- 
two years of age and actively engaged in 
ihe practice of law in Springfield. Ohio, was 
appointed by President [McKinley and un- 
animously confirmed by the senate, a majijr- 
general of volunteers, this being the highest 
rank then known in the United States Army. 
He was the only man from civil life in the 
northern states appointed to that rank, in 
that war, though he had not had a military 
education ; his military record in the Civil 
war earned him this distinguished recogni- 
tion. He served in command of troops 
(Seventh Army Corps) principally from 
Texas, Alabama, Louisiana and South Caro- 
lina, at Miami and Jacksonville, Florida : 
also at Savannah, Georgia, from which place 
he embarked about sijcteen thousand men 
for Culja, principally to the vicinity of Hav- 
ana. iMan}' who served under him and were 
on his staff \vere sons of ex-Confederates, 
and not a few of the officers had served in 
the Confederate Arm}-. General John B. 
Gordon's son, Hugh H., and General J. E. 
B. Stuart's son, J. E. B. Stuart, served on 
his staff. He established his own "head- 
quarters at Buena Vista, just r.utside of 
Havana. He commanded the United States 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



military forces which entered and took pos- 
session of that ancient capital cit\', January 
I. 1899. 

The war beino; over and the occupancy 
of Cuba by the United States Volunteers 
ended, he was mustered out of military ser- 
vice in May, 1899. when he again returned 
to the practice of law in Springfield, which 
he has since continued, taking much inter- 
est in political campaigns, state and national. 
He has also given much attention to litera- 
ture and writing. Tlis political history of 
".Slnver\- and Four Years of War," though 
principally written in 1895-6, was com- 
pleted, by adding some account of the Span- 
ish War, and published by the Putnam's 
(Xew ^^^ork). in 1900. He was the first 
commander-in-chief of the Spanish War 
Veterans, now a large and fli.urishing or- 
ganization. 



JOHN S. ELLIOTT. 

Insurance interests of Springfield have 
ad\anced to enormous proportions in the past 
fifteen years, and at the present time consti- 
tute one of the leading departments of busi- 
ness activity. Special enterprise and ability 
always tell in business, and this is particu- 
larly so in tlie line of fire insurance. Com- 
petition is particularly keen and the wide- 
awake and alert underwriter is the one who 
obtains the largest share of public patronage. 
Prominent among the insurance men of 
Spring-field and of Clark county, and a nota- 
ble representative of this line of business, is 
John S. Elliott, who since 1877 has insured 
a large number of buildings against loss 
through fire. He also is an agent for all 
lines of insurance and has met with credita- 
ble success in his chosen field of labor. 



Mr. Elliott was born near the village of 
Sudlersville, in Queen Anne county, Mary- 
land, December 9, 1854, a son of John 
S. and Martha A. (Sudler) Elliott, both 
of whom were torn in Maryland of old fam- 
ilies and were educated in the early schools 
there. The father followed the occupation 
of farming and died in his native county. 
Unto him and his wife were born seven chil- 
dren, of whom one daughter died at the age 
of twenty-one years, while tlie others are al! 
li\ing. Two sons are engaged in the 
insurance Inisiness in rhiladel]jhia, while the 
other members of the family are representa- 
tives of farming interests in the east. 

John S. Elliott of this review pursued a 
comm.on school education in his native coun- 
ty, and when a young man accepted a clerk- 
ship in a dry goods store there. In the year 
187,1 he came to Ohio, 1< eating in G^eene 
county, where he was employed as a farm 
hand for a year by ^f. V. Morris. In 1874 
he entered the A. D. Wilt Miami Business 
College at Dayton, Ohio, where he pursued 
a complete c^nmercial course. He then 
came to Springfield and for .one year was 
engaged in clerking for J. \\'. Murphy, after 
which he became an insurance solicitor for 
D. R. Hosterman. In 1876 he removed to 
Xenia, where he opened a local office, and 
in 1877 he returned to Springfield and fol- 
lowed the insurance business for a time. l-i 
1885 he purchased an agency and has since 
met with very creditable success in his un- 
dertakings. He is the president and general 
manager of the general fire insurance agency 
of the J. S. Elliott Con'.pany, which is incor- 
porated under the laws of Ohio for twenty- 
five thousand dollars, and is district agent for 
the Mutual Life Insui-ance Company of Xew 
York. He represents all large fire insurance 
companies and does a strictlv union business. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



3? 



representin.t;' fire, life and accident insurance 
companies. He has devoted liis entire time 
and energy tO' the building up of his present 
extensive business and has the best individ- 
ual agency in the state of Ohio. Since 1884 
he has been located in the Mitchell building. 

On the 6th of September, 1877, in Day- 
ton. Ohio, Mr. Elliott wedded Mary W. 
Boyer, who was born in that state and was 
a daughter of O. P. Boyer, of Dayton. She 
died December 20, 1884, leaving two chil- 
dren : Lida B., the wife of Charles C. Lim- 
backer, of this city ; and John Oliver, who 
\\as born in August, 1882, and is now in 
his father's office. Both are graduates of 
the public schools of Springfield. In Janu- 
ary, 1886, Mr. Elliott was again married, 
his second union being with Nora E. Wood, 
a native of Springfield, and a daughter of 
Samuel R. and Margaret Wood. Her fa- 
ther was a farmer in early life and afterward 
became a n:achinist. He is now deceased, 
but his widow is yet living. Three children 
have been born oif the second marriage of 
our subject : Margaret, born in December, 
1887; Benjamin P., in March, 1891 : and 
Allen G., on the 4th of December, 1897. 

Mr. Elliott was president of the board of 
public affairs of Springfield for three years, 
and by reappointment he served for another 
term of four years, being the Democratic ad- 
visory member. He has been a delegate to 
the city, county and state conventions of the 
Democratic party, and although he has 
ne\-er sought office some have been conferred 
upon him. He belongs to Anthony Lodge, 
Xo. 455. P. & A. M. ; Springfield Chapter, 
R. A. M. : Springfield Co-uncil, No. 17, R. 
it S. M. ; Palestine Commandery, No. 33, 
K. T. : Rose Croix Lodge, No. 18, of the 
Scottish rite o.f Dayton ; and the Consistory 
of Cincinnati. He is also a memlier of Anti- 



O'ch Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He holds 
membership relations with Red Star Lodge, 
K. P. ; the Benevolent Protective Order of 
Elks: Springfield Lodge, No. 2,2,- I- O. O. 
F. ; and Mad River Encampinent, No. 16, 
Knights of Khorassan ; and the United Com- 
mercial Travelers' Association. He is also 
a charter member of the Lagonda Club, and 
was one of the original directors. He is a 
charter member of the Commercial Club, and 
also of the board of trade. He belongs to 
the State Underwriters' Association of Ohio, 
and his wife is a member o^f the Second Pres- 
byterian church. Mr. Elliott is deeply in- 
terested in every act that tends to develop 
the city and to promote its progress. He 
was appointed iDy Mayor Goodwin as one of 
the original trustees of the MitchellThomas 
hospital, and remained upon the board until 
it came under the control of the board of 
public affairs, by act of the legislature. In 
connection with O'. S. Kelly he raised the 
money to pay ofif the indebtedness of the 
hospital. Patriotic and public-spirited, he 
has labored along safe lines for the substan- 
tial upbuilding of Springfield, and is known 
here for his genuine worth in public affairs 
as well as for his enterprise and honesty in 
business. 



ADDISON J. BECKLEY. 

.\(ldison J. Beckley is a wholesale and 
retail dealer in coal and ice in Springfield. 
He now occupies a -prominent and honor- 
able position in commercial circles here and 
to this he has advanced through earnest, 
persistent effort. He was born in Danville, 
Indiana, July 7, 1857, his parents being 
James S. and Elizabeth f Christie) Beckley. 
The father was a nati\e of Virginia and the 



38 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mother of Kentucky. On leaving the soutli 
they located in the vicinity of Danville, In- 
diana, where they spent the greater part of 
their remaining days, and both died in In- 
dianapjlis. 

Addison J. Bcckley. whose name forms 
the caption of this article, spent his boyhood 
days in the state of his nativity and pursued 
a literary education in Danville, Indiana, 
completing a high school course, afrer which 
he entered upon a commercial course in In- 
dianapolis. Thus well fitted to enter busi- 
ness life he took up the study of telegraphy 
in his native state and whai he had ac- 
f[uircd a knowledge of the art he accepted 
a position as operator in the Union Station 
of Indianapolis. Soon afterward he ac- 
cepted a position with the Indiana, Bloom- 
ington & Western Railroad at the general 
oftices, continuing there until Octolier, 
1882, when he came to Springfield and ac- 
cepted the position of storekeeper and 
timekeeper for the Ohio Southern Rail- 
way, acting in that capacity until 1887, with 
lieadquarters in this city. He next became 
freight agent for the Indiana, Bloomington 
& \Vestern Railroad and for the Ohio South- 
ern Railroad, as joint agent, and was re- 
tained in that position until 1895, when he 
resigned to engage in an independent busi- 
ness venture. He began dealing in coal and 
ice, entering into partnership with Warren 
D. Myers, under the firm name of Beckley & 
M\-ers. Their business prospered from the 
beginning, and soon they became, extensive 
dealers in these commodities. They now 
have a very large trade, emplo\-ing from 
twenty-five to thirty men. and about an 
equal number of wagons are used in the con- 
duct of their business. Their trade is both 
wholesale and retail, with ofiice on Lime- 
stone street and large yards on the corner 



of Mechanic and Washington streets, hav- 
ing connection at each place with the Big 
Four Railroad. 

In'1887 Mr. Beckley was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Clara Huben, a native of 
Springfield, and a daughter of Henry and 
Louise (Rohrer) Huben, who were old cit- 
izens of this place and highly respected by 
all. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beckley has been 
born one son, Henry A. 

In his political affiliations the subject of 
this review is a Democrat and in 1901 was 
appointed by Mayor ^lilligan a member of 
the advisory board of public afifairs to fill 
the vacancy caused by the resignation of 
J. S. Elliott' and on the expiration of the 
term was re-appointed for a term of two 
years, and during that time took a very ac- 
tive interest in the improvement of the city. 
]Mr. Beckley is also a director of the Mer- 
chants & Mechanics Building & Loan As- 
sociation, with which he has been thus iden- 
tified since its organization in 1892. Prom- 
inent in the ranks of the Masonic fraternity, 
he holds membership in Anthony Lodge. 
Xo. 455, F. & A. M.; Springfield Chapter. 
Xo. 48. R. A.':\I.: Springfield Council. Xo. 
17, R. & S. M.; and Palestine Conmanderv. 
Xo y^, K. T. 



DA\TD STEWART. 

More than two-thirds of a century ag", 
on the farm where he now lives. David Stew- 
art first opened his eyes to the light of day. 
his birth occurring August 20, 1833, in 
Green township. He is a son of James and 
Jane ( Elder) Stewart. His father was born 
and reared in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, 
and was there married, after which he came 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



39 



with his wife to Ohio, hving for a time in 
Hamilton county, whence he removed to the 
farm upon wiiich our subject now Hves, in 
1814. Here he became the owner of seven 
hundred acres of land. He was a very in- 
dustrious man. and through his untiring la- 
bor and careful cnntrol of his business af- 
fairs he accumulated a comfortable com- 
petence, which supplied him with all the com- 
forts of life during his later years. He lived 
to the advanced age of seventy-six years, 
passing away in April, 1857. In the family 
were ten children, all of whom reached ma- 
ture }-ears, with one exception, while six are 
still living. Elijah died in this county. Ann 
Ingram became the wife of James Cowan, 
l>y whom she had one son. James, who is 
now living in Green township. Her second 
husband was David Torrence. by whom she 
had two children who are yet living. Her 
third husband was Samuel Barnett. with 
whom she is now living in Xenia. James 
F. is a resident of Yellow Springs. ]\Iary 
P. is the wife of David ]\Iillen. of Xenia. 
Eliza became the wife of Harvey Jobe and 
is now deceased. John E. is a resident of 
• Xebraska. Susannah died in early woman- 
hood. David is the next of the family. 
Sarah Adeline became the wife of .Willian 
Bancroft, by whom she had one child, Stew- 
art Bancroft. She afterward married \M11- 
iam C. Ci'others, and there were no children 
b\- the second union. Her third husband is 
J. \\'. jNIarshall. and the\- are miw li\-ing in 
Xenia. 

David Stewart, whose name introduces 
this record, grew to manhood upon the old 
home farm. He attended school when it 
was not necessary to assist in farm work, 
but his educational privileges were some- 
wliat limited, as his services were so often in 
demand in field and meadow. After his 



father's death he continued to live with his 
mother and care for her. The former passed 
away in 1857. and the latter in 1863. In 
the meantime I\Ir. Stewart was married, on 
the iith of January, 1859. in Green town- 
ship, to Aliss Laura ^^IcKeehan. who was 
born near Fredericktown. [Maryland. Five 
children have been born of this union : Car- 
rie E., who is acting as her father's house- 
keeper ; Estella, who became the wife of John 
Brough Rife and lives in Greene county with 
their two children, ]\lerrill and Cecil : Anna 
]May is the widow of Carg-ill ^lorton, and 
they have one child, Grace. James ]\Ic- 
Keehan is a resident of Xenia. David Ed- 
win, the youngest, is engaged in dealing in 
horses. 

Mr. Stewart of this review inherited one 
hundred and thirty acres of land, to which 
he has added until his possessions now aggre- 
gate two hundred and ten acres. He has 
remodeled and improved the buildings upon 
his place, and his farm is now .attractive in 
apjiearance and well equipped with modern 
accessories. In i86_|. he proved liis loyalty 
to the I'nion by enlisting in the Xational 
Guard, with which he was^ealled out for one 
hundred days' service. He was in \\"est 
Virginia, doing guard duty during that peri- 
od. In politics he is a Republican, and for 
seven consecutive terms he served as town- 
ship trustee, }et he has never been a poli- 
tician in the sense of office seeking. Reared 
in the faith of the United Brethren church, 
he afterward became a member of the Pres- 
byterian churcli of Clifton, with which he 
now holds membership, and in which he has 
long lieen a trustee. In 1873 he was called 
upon to mourn the loss of his \\ife. a most 
estimable lady, who died in that year. Since 
that time his daughter has acted as his house- 
keeper. Mr. Stewart is well known in the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



county of his nativity, havings a wide ac- 
quaintance, among whom he numhers many 
•stanch and earnest friends. 



AMAZIAIJ WINGER. 

Faithfulness to duty and strict adher- 
ence to a fixed ]nn"pose in life will do more 
to advance a man's interests tlian wealth or 
advantageous circumstances. The success- 
ful men of the day are they who have 
planned their own advancement and have ac- 
complished it in spite of many obstacles and 
with a certainty that could have been at- 
tained only through their own efforts. This 
class of men has a worthy representative in 
Amaziah Winger, who began life amid un- 
favorable circumstances and has steadily 
worked his way ujiward until he occupies an 
enviable position in industrial circles, being 
superintendent and one of the stockholders . 
of the Superior Drill Company. 

Mr. AN'inger was born in Lancaster 
cotnity, Pennsylvania. September 13, 1835, 
upon a farm, and is a rejjresentative of one 
of the old families of the Keystone state, 
coming of Holland Dutch and Swiss an- 
cestry. I'he representatives of the name 
are \-ei"y numerous in Pennsyhania. The 
parents, Jacob and Catherine (Trout) Win- 
ger, were both natives of Pennsylvania, the 
former born in 1810 and the latter in 1809. 
They rema'ncd in the state of their nativity 
until 1837, when they came to Springfield, 
Ohio, and here the father engaged in car- 
pentering and building for many years, be- 
ing well known in building circles. He pos- 
sessed natural mechanical ability and was 
an expert workman, llis death riccurred in 



1886. and his wife pased away in 1890. 
They were the parents of ten children. 
six of whom are yet living, while three of 
the number died in early childhood. Heze- 
kiah was a soldier in the Civil war for four 
years, going to the front with Mason's 
Zouaves, of the Second Ohio Regiment, 
but died in Springfield in 1865. The others 
are — Amaziah; Mrs. Catherhie Ramsay, of 
Cheboygan. Michigan ; Mrs. John A. Sites, 
who is a widow living in Denver, Colorado; 
George W.. who is bookkeeper of the First 
Xational Bank of Springfield; John M., 
who is connected with the Sui>erior Drill 
Company; and Mary, the wife of Theodore 
Troupe, a druggist. George was also a 
soldier of the Civil war. having gone to the 
front with' the One Hundred and I'ifty- 
second Ohio Regiment. With the exception 
of our subject all were brirn in Sjjringfield 
and the educational privileges which they 
enjoyed were those afforded by the public 
schools here. 

.Amaziah \\'inger. like the others, at- 
tended the public school of this city, and 
entering uiion his business career he became 
an em))lo}-e in a lumber yard. In 1858 he 
embarked in the same line nf business for 
himself, as a member of the firm of Simp- 
s' m. Yarnell & Company, lumber manufac- 
turers and jobbers, located at the corner of 
A\'ashington and Limestone streets. In 
i8''ij Mr. Winger sold his business interests 
and enlisted in the Lhiion army as a member 
of Comi)any A, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry. He saw service at the battles 
(if Perryville, Stone Ri\er, Chickamauga, 
the Atlanta campaign, and participated in 
the siege of the city, was with Sherman on 
the march to the sea, then took part in the 
Carolina campaign and was afterwaril in the 




^^./c«-j(^£ y^^fkf-^ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



43 



grand review at Washington. He was 
ne\-er wounded or incapacitated for duty in 
an_\- way, and was always found at his post 
of duty as a faithful defender of the stars 
and stripes. He received an honorable dis- 
charge on the 5th of June, 1865, and with a 
most creditable military record returned to 
his home. 

Mr. \A'inger then purchased an interest 
in a lumber business, becoming a member of 
the firm of Hayward & Winger. In Jan- 
uary. 1885, he became interested in the Su- 
perior Drill Company, accepting a position 
as superintendent and has since devoted his 
entire attention to fostering the growth of 
his business, which' has assumed good pro- 
portions and now yields a desirable profit to 
its stockholders. ^Ir. Winger is a man of 
resourceful business ability, and has been 
an active factor in the successful control of 
other enterprises. He was a director of the 
Lagonda Bank._ was one of the organizers 
and one of the first directors of the Mer- 
chants & Mechanics Loan Association, and 
is a director of the Springfield Savings 
Bank. He is also a member of the board of 
trade and has served on a number of import- 
ant committees. 

In this city, in 1867, ^Ir. Winger was 
united in 'marriage to INIiss Mary Crothers, 
wh<i died in 1872. leaving two daughters, 
Frances and Laura, the former a graduate 
of a college in Yonkers, Pennsylvania, and 
the latter of a college in Hollidaysburg, 
Pennsylvania. Li 1S76 Air. Winger was 
again married, his second union being with 
I\Irs. I\Iar_\^B. Tcrbert. the widow of James 
Torbert. She was born in Lebanon, Ohio, 
and is a daughter of James Barr, of that 
place, who removed from Lelianon to 
Springfield and was afterward connected 
with manufacturing interests in Cincinnati, 



insurance business for a time. 

Mr. Winger served as a member of the 
city council for one year and in politics has 
always been a Republican. He belongs to 
Mitchell Post, No. 45, G. A. R., and is also 
a member of the commandery of the Loyal 
Legion, of Ohio. He holds membership in 
Clark Lodge, No. loi, F. & A. M. : Spring- 
field Chapter. R. A. M. ; Springfield Coun- 
cil, R. & S. M'. ; and Palestine Commandery, 
K. T. Both he and his wife belong to the 
Presbyterian church, taking a very active 
part in its work and upbuilding. For a 
number of years he was one of the church 
trustees and is now serving as deacon. He 
is a liberal contributor to charitable work 
and to the Young Mien's Christian AsscKia- 
tion, being particularly interested in the 
latter organization. He has also been a 
generous friend to the Clark Memorial 
Home and his wife is serving- as a member 
of its board of managers and also of the 
board of managers of the Children's Home. 
While he has led a very busy and useful life 
he has realized that the character of a man 
is shown by the use which he makes of his 
financial success and he has freely given of 
his means to various worthy objects, because 
of his deep interest therein. His record as 
a soldier and as a citizen, as a gentleman 
and a man of honor is one worthy of high 
commendation and of emulation. 



CHRISTIAN A. SCHUSTER. 

Since 1874 Christian A. Schuster has 
been closely and actively identified with in- 
dustrial circles in Springfield and his influ- 
ence in public affairs has also been potent. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



At the present time he is serving as a mem- 
ber of the city council, while his business 
relation is that of a member of the firm of 
Peet & Schuster, jjartners in a galvanized 
iron and roofing business of this city. 

Our subject was born in Erie county. 
New York, near Buffalo, on the 8th of 
February, 1848. opening his eyes there to 
the light of day upon his father's farm. He 
is a son of Christian and Elizabeth (Hauck) 
Schuster, both of whom were natives of 
Alsace, Loraine. Germany. The former was 
eighteen years of age when he crossed the 
Atlantic to the new world, while his wife, 
wlio still survives him, is now living near 
Bufi'aln. at llie age of eighty-seven years. 
They were married in this country, located 
upon a farm and amid the surroundings of 
rural life reared their family of seven chil- 
dren, of whom two are now deceased. De- 
wald was killed in the army during the 
Ci\ il war when going with Sherman from 
Atlanta to the sea, and Jacob died in Flori- 
da at the age of twenty-six years. The sur- 
viving members of the family are Magda- 
lena. the wife of Jacob, Janes, who resides 
near Buft'alo; Elizalieth, the wife of George 
B. Walter, who is living in Florida; George 
H., a resident of Goshen, Indiana; Chris- 
tian A. ; and Caroline, the wife of Josiah 
Young, who makes his home in Green 
Springs, Ohio. In the common sch(X)ls of 
Erie county. Xew York, the children were 
educated and were reared upon the home 
farm. The father had firm faith in Repuli- 
lican principles and gave his support to the 
men and measures of the party and ser\ed 
in a few local miner offies. He located in 
Erie county, Xew York, when he could ob- 
tain government land there, which fact is 
an indication that he was one of the first 
settlers. 



Tike the others of the family. Christian 
A. Schuster was educated in the conmion 
schools and remained upon the home farm 
until he was sixteen years of age, when he 
was apprenticed to learn the trade of tin 
and sheet metal worker, in Buffalo. In 
1 866 he came to Ohio, locating first at Fre- 
mont and afterward in Toledo. Subse- 
quently he removed to Goshen, Indiana, fix- 
ing also in Elkhart, and in 1869-70 was in 
Chicago, leaving the latter city in the spring 
of 187 J. He then came to Springfield and 
made a permanent location here, embarking 
in business on his own account in 1874. as 
a partner of T. B. Peet, under the firm name 
of T. B. Peet & Co. That association was 
maintained until the death of the senior 
partner and then the present company was 
incorporated under the firm name of the 
Peet & Schuster Company, of which Mr. 
Schuster has been president and general 
manager since its organization. They d< < 
ail kinds of sheet metal work and roofing, 
and manufacture all classes of products 
needed in their business, including sheei 
metal, tin, slate, tile, iron and composition 
roofings. Their contract work extends over 
a territory embracing both Ohio and Indi- 
ana and they ship their products to variou'^ 
parts of the country. They began business 
on a small scale but the trade has gradually 
grown larger until it has assumed large and 
profitable proportions. Mr. Schitster has 
gi\en his entire attention to the development 
of the business, which, since 1873, has been 
carried on at Xo. jS'i South Fountain ave- 
nue. 

In 1876 Mr. Scluister was united in 
marriage to Miss Mary Kershner, who was 
born in Springfield in 1856 and died in 
1887. " Of the other children, one died in 
infancv and the <nhers are: Rosamond G.. 



i 



'^HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Bertlia E. and Robert C. The first two are 
graduates of tlie high school. In 1890, in 
this city, l\Ir. Schuster was again married, 
his second union being with JuHa Miller, 
who was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, 
in 1864, and died in 1901. They had two 
children: Mary B. and Ruth I\I. 

.\ believer in Republican principles Mr. 
Schuster always supports the men and 
measures of the party by his ballot and upon 
its ticket he was elected to the city coun- 
cil in 1897, aixl has twice been re-elected, 
so that he has ciintinuously served in that 
office. He has been a member of various 
important positions and has put forth earn- 
est and effective efforts for the welfare and 
progress of the community. In 190 1 he 
^er\■ed as president of the city council and 
in the same year was a member of the li- 
brary board of the city. He is a member of 
the Commercial Club ; belongs to Anthony 
Lodge, F. & A. M. ; Springfield Chapter, R. 
A. M. ; Springfield Council, R. & S. M.; 
Palestine Commandery, K. T. : the Scot- 
ish Rite bodies of Dayton, and the Con- 
sistory of Cincinnati. He was one of the 
organizers and charter members of the 
Champion City Guards, of Springfield, and 
is a consistent meml^er of the High street 
Methodist Episcopal church. 



REESE GARRETT CALVERT. 

Reese Garrett Calvert well deserves rep- 
resentation in this volume, because he is one 
of the persistent, most energetic and wide- 
awake merchants of Selma, where he is also 
filling the position of postmaster. He is now 
engaged in dealing in grain, coal, lumber and 



seeds and in this line has built up a business 
whose groiwth has resulted from his earnest 
purpose and honorable dealing. A native 
of Pennsylvania, Mr. Calvert was born in 
Delaware county January .21, 1857, and is a 
.son of Thomas L. and Elizabeth (Paist) 
Cah-ert. He is also a descendant of Cecil 
Calvert — Lord Baltimore — who was the 
founder of the colony of Mainland. 

Hie spent his early boyhood days upon 
a farm and when he was about ten years 
of age he acconpanied his parents on their 
removal to Philadelphia, where he contin- 
ued until he came to Ohio, as a youth of 
eleven years. He made his home with his 
uncle, Joshua Harrison, until 1876. He 
had attended both the public and select 
schools in Pennsylvania, and thus acquired 
a good practical English education. At the 
age of nineteen he began clerking in a gen- 
eral store, owned by the firm of HoUings- 
worth & Company, of Selma, and remained 
in their employ for four years, a fact which 
indicates that he gave excellent satisfaction 
by capable service. He afterward removed 
to West Liberty, Io\\'a, where he engagd in 
clerking until 1883. In that year he returned 
to Clark county and, entering into partner- 
sliip, bought out a store of his former em- 
ployer, the new firm being organized under 
the name of Ca]\-ert, Brother & Company. 
Our, subject and his brother remained in this 
business until 1892, when Reese G. Calvert 
jiurchased his brother's interest. In 1892 
they established a private bank, which was 
conducted until 1894. In the latter year 
the firm divided its interest, ^Ir. \\'ildman 
continuing as proprietor of the mercantile 
department, while our subject took as his 
interest of the business, a grain, coal, lum- 
ber and seed department, and in this line 
of commercial activitv he has since conduct- 



46 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ed a growing trade, yielding to him a good 
income. In tlie year 1883 he was ap- 
pointed postmaster and served in that capac- 
ity until 1892, when he retired from the 
office as he had entered it — with the confi- 
dence and good will of all concerned. In 
1898 he was reappointed to that office and 
has since been the incumbent. In the same 
year he had become ticket and freight agent 
in Selnia for the Pennsylvania Railroad 
Compajiy. 

Mr. Calvert was married at Riclunond. 
Indiana, on the 28th of July, 1885, to iliss 
Ethel Kirk, of that city. She was born in 
the village of Eagletown, Hamilton county, 
Indiana, November 4, i860, and is a daugh- 
ter of Charles W. and Rachel (Hollings- 
worth) Kirk, who on leaving her native 
place removed to Darlington, Indiana, where 
the father entered upon the active practice 
of medicine, continuing there until Mrs. Cal- 
vert was about fourteen years of age. His 
health then ga\e way under his strenuous 
professional duties and he removed to Ko- 
komo, Indiana, where he and his brother en- 
gaged in the practice of dentistry. In 1878 
Dr. Kirk was appointed superintendent of 
an Indian boarding school on the Wyandot, 
Seneca and Shawnee reservation and Mts. 
Calvert began teaching there when she w^as 
eighteen years of age. After two years, 
however, she returned to Indiana and en- 
tered Earlham College at Richmond, being 
there graduated in the class of 1885. In 
1884 her father gave up the superintend- 
ency of the Indian school and returned to 
Richmond for a year's rest. Mrs. Calvert 
frequently visited at her uncle's home in 
Ohio and here had become acquainted with 
the subject of this review as early as 1876. 
About a month after her graduation she 



gave him her hand in marriage. The same 
year her parents returned to the Indian Ter- 
ritory in the interest of the Society of 
Friends and Dr. Kirk retained his former 
position until his death, passing away while 
engaged in active missionary work there. 
He died September 9. 1893, in Shaw- 
neetown, Oklahoma, and was laid to rest 
in the midst of the field where he had 
lalx>red so earnestly and accqjtably. His 
wife still carries on the missionary work 
among the Kickapoo Indians. Dr. Kirk 
was lx)rn in Richmond. Indiana, April 
7, 1836, and was a son of Israel and 
Sarah (Test) Kirk, the former a native of 
Pennsylvania, and the latter of Xew Jer- 
sey. The grandfather of Mrs. Calvert died 
when her father was about fi\e years of age. 
He had been a miller and his mill was de- 
stroyed by fire a short time before his death, 
so that the family was left in somewhat 
straitened financial circumstances, but 
Dr. Kirk managed to obtain a good educa- 
tion through his own efforts and was thus 
qualified for the teacher's profession, which 
lie followed in different schools in early life. 
After his marriage he continued "teaching 
for about two years, when he took up the 
study of medicine and was graduated in the 
Miami Medical College with the class of 
1867. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Calvert have been 
born three children: Cecil Kirk, who was 
born in Selma, Ohio, August 3, 1886; Ed- 
ward Harrison, born January 21, 1889: and 
Rachel Grace, born Xovember 2, 1890. The 
Calvert family is one of prominence in the 
community, widely known, and amid a large 
acquaintance our subject and his wife num- 
ber many warm friends, who hoKl them in 
high rcijard. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



47 



ROBERT ELDER. 

The business interests of Selma find in 
Roliert Elder a worthy representative. He 
is engaged in deahng in general merchan- 
dise and agricuhural implements, carr^-ing 
a. well selected stock, whereby he secures 
from the pubHc a liberal patronage, which 
he justly merits because his business meth- 
ods are honorable and he earnestly desires 
to please his patrons. He was born upon a 
farm in Green township, Clark county, Jan- 
uary 1 6, 1872, and is a son of Robert N. 
and Julia A. (Stewart) Elder. The home 
farm remained his playground in youth and 
was also the training school for his busi- 
ness career, as he learned there habits of 
industry, enterprise and perseverance. His 
literary education was acquired in the coun- 
try schools of the neighborhood and at the 
age of twenty-three years he entered upon 
his mercantile career as a salesman in a 
store. After two years he purchased a half 
interest in the store and in 1899 became sole 
proprietor and is now conducting an exten- 
sive business, which is constantly increas- 
ing owing to his well conducted business af- 
fairs, his keen foresight and executive abil- 
ity. 

On the 14th of September, 1898, ;\Ir. 
Elder was united in marriage in Selma to 
jMiss Rachel Wildman, a daughter of Will- 
iam and Eliza (Harrison) \\'ildman, who 
are residents of Aladison township. They 
ha\-e two children, Robert Xewell, born Sep- 
tember 8, 1899; and Lois, born December 
14, 1900. Mr. Elder is a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, but his wife 
was reared in the faith of the Society of 
Friends. He votes with the Republican par- 
ty, takes an active interest in its w^ork and 
has been a delegate to various conventions. 



He is now a memlaer of the central com- 
mittee for the Selma precinct of Madison 
township. As a citizen he is interested and 
active in the welfare of town and county, has 
serA-ed on school board, as election officer 
and cashier of Ohio State Fair, and his 
worth is widely acknowledged because of 
what he has done in behalf of the gen- 
eral good. 



THOMAS E. MATTIXSON. 

Thomas E. Mattinson, who is engaged 
in general farming and stock raising in 
Madison township, was born in this town- 
ship on the 23d of October, 1849, ^"d h's 
continuous residence here is an indication 
that Clark county offers good business op- 
portunities to its native sons. His parents 
were Matthew and Margaret (Evans) Mat- 
tinson, who removed to the farm upon which 
our subject now resides when he was about 
eight years of age. Here he was reared to 
manhood. He has turned the furrows upon 
man}^ a held and the svm has shone down 
and ripened the grain which he planted un- 
til the golden sheaves were harvested and 
the grain became a marketable commodity. 
The common schools afiforded Mr. Mattin- 
son his education. He was the third in a 
family of six children and bore his part in 
the work of the farm, and also enjoyed 
his share of the advantages provided in the 
home circle. He continued under the paren- 
tal roof until 1881. 

It was on the ist of December, of that 
^•ear, that Mr. ^Mattinson was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Emma Clemans, of Madison 
township. Clark count}', where she was born, 
her parents being William and Catherine 
(Schickendantz) Clemans. There is one 



48 



^HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



cliild oi this marriage. Edwin, who was 
born April 25, 1887. The wife and mother 
(Hed A])ril 19. 190c. and was laid to rest in 
Green Lawn cemetery in South Charleston. 
Mr. Mattinson belongs to the Presby- 
terian church of South Charleston and in his 
political views is a Republican, having con- 
tinually supported the party since he cast 
his first presidential vote for Grant m 1872. 
He ha.s never been an office seeker, prefer- 
ring to give his whole time and attention to 
his business affairs. He inherited two hun- 
dred acres from his father, and his farm is 
now a valuable tract with substantial build- 
ings and modern improvements and in its 
neat and thrifty appearance it indicates the 
careful supervision of a wide-awake and 
enterprising owner. 



T. S. HARSHMAX. 



During his residence in Clark county the 
subject of this biography has gained distinc- 
tive recognition as one of the leading finan- 
ciers and business men not only of Spring- 
field, but of this ixjrtion of the state, having 
shown a marked capacity for the conduct 
of affairs of great breadth. One of his sa- 
lient characteristics is his ability to recog- 
nize favorable opportunities and to utilize 
these for ends of business advancement. He 
is prominently known in connection with, 
electric railway construction and in this way 
has iiDt only added to his own wealth, but 
has i)roven a benefactor to the community, 
for business advancement depends perhaps 
more largely uptm rapid tranportation than 
any other agency f)Utside of the direct line of 
trade. He is today the president of the 
Pavtoi. Spviii-ricl:! \- I'rl.ana F.lectric Rail- 



way Company and has been connected with 
the prosperous conduct of a number of oth- 
er electric lines. Honored and respected 
l.y all. there is 'no man who occupies a 
n^ore honorable position in financial, com- 
n-jercial and industrial circles than does J. 
S. Harshman, not alone on account of the 
great success he has achieved, but also on 
account of his honorable, straightforward 
business policy which he has ever followed. 

Mr. Harshman is one of Ohio's native 
sons, his birth having occurred in the vil- 
lage which tears the family name, in Mont- 
gomery county, January 26, 1863. He is 
a son of George \\'. and Anna V. (Rohor) 
Harshman, both of whom were natives of 
Ohio, the father representing an old Man- 
land faniily that was established in the new 
world by ancestors who came from Germany 
and took up their alxxle in Maryland. Later 
representati\-es of the name sought a home 
in Ohio and became pioneer residents of 
Montgomery county. In early life the fa- 
ther of oair subject was engaged in manu- 
facturing and later turned his attention to 
merchandising. He was largely interested 
in real estate, owning a number of good 
farms in Montgomery and other counties. 
As the years passed he acquired wealth and 
in addition to his landed possessions he won 
an honorable name because of his just and 
straightforward dealings. He died in the 
village of Harshman in i8<)8, respected and 
honored by all who knew him. His career 
excited the adniration of those with whom 
he was associated and at the same time 
gaine<^l for him the confide:ice and good will 
of all. 

I. S. Harshman. will ise name introduce- 
this record, pursued !iis preliminary edu- 
cation in the sch<X)ls of his native village and 
subsa|uently became a student in a select 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sch(X)I. On putting aside liis text books he se- 
cured employlnait under R. D. Hughes, of 
the American Express Conpany at Dayton. 
Ohio, but at the end cf one year resigmed 
Iiis poisition, 'being called home to take 
charge of his father's extensive (business, 
which included the supervisioin of large 
tracts of farming lands as well as the control 
of the linseed oil mill and other milling 
business and of grain supplies. Mr. Harsh- 
man assumed the duty of looking after the 
g-rinding, buying and selling of mill pro- 
ducts and at the same time he was extensive- 
ly engaged in buying and shipping grain. 
He continued in active charge of the busi- 
ness until 1886, when he entered intoi part- 
nership with his brother, Samuel R., under 
the firm name of S. R. Harshman & 
Brother. This relation was maintained for 
four years, at the end of \vhich time the 
sul>ject of this review sold his interest to his 
brciihers and ren:o'ved to Clark county, lo- 
cating in Enon. 

Since that time Mr. Harshman has been 
a factor in trade relations and in the busi- 
ness development o^f his portion of Ohio. 
He became a grain n:erchant of Enon, build- 
ing there an elevator which was afterward 
destroyed liy fire and wdiich he rebuilt in 
1900. In 1893 his attention was attracted 
to the work O'f constructing electric rail- 
way s. He belieA-ed that there was a bright 
ftitrre for that enterprise and was instru- 
mental in securing the right of way for 
the Dayton. Springfield & Urbana Electric 
Railroad. He became the vice president of 
the company and later president and is still 
serving in that capacity. He is also' inter- 
ested in the Columbus, London & Spring- 
field Electric Railway, is president oif the 
company ar.d from its organizatioar has been 
at its head. He is also interested in the 



Springfield & Western Electric Railway 
Company, of which he is the president; is 
president of the Urbana, Bellefontaine & 
Northern Railway Company, and the 
Columbus, Delaware & Marion Electric 
Railway Company. It will thus be seen that 
Mr. Harshman has been a most active factor 
in the establishment and control of electric 
railway lines. This interurban transporta- 
tion has been a marked step in advancement 
along transportation lines and is indicative 
of the progressive spirit which so character- 
izes America. The efforts of Mr. Harsh- 
man have indeed been fruitful and have like- 
wise proven of great benefit to the com- 
munities intOi which his electric railways 
have been extended. The business interest 
that recei\-es his co-operation gained its 
fortune because of his wise council, keen 
discernment and sound judgment. He is 
now the vice president of the Citizens Na- 
tional Bank of Springfield; is the president 
of the Victor Rubber Tire iComipany; is 
interested in the Kyle Art Glass Company 
of Springfield, and was one of its organizers. 
He was also vice president oif the Harshman 
Shoe Manufacturing Company, of Harsh- 
man, Ohio, until the sale oif the factory to a 
Wisconsin concern. What Mr. Harshman 
has accomplished in the world of commerce 
cannot adequately be told in words. It is cer- 
tainly not asserting too much to say oi one 
who can direct and control a business of 
such magnitude, that he must iiossess, aside 
from mercantile foresight and sagacity, the 
happy faculty of reading and judging men, 
unusual powers O'f organization and execu- 
tive ability, in a word, that his must be a 
master mind. And yet, if o-ne shall seek 
in Mr. Harshman's career the causes that 
ha\e led to his success, they will be found 
along the lines of well tried and old time 



52 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



maxims. Honesty and fair dealing, prompt- 
ness, truthfulness, fidelity — all these are 
strictly adhered to. Faithfulness on the 
part of employes is promoted h}- the knowl- 
edge that good service means advancement 
as opportunity opens and that neglect of 
duty will not he tolerated, and is further 
■enhanced bj^ the interest taken by the em- 
ployer in the personal welfare of the deserv- 
ing. 

In 1887 Mr. Harshman was united in 
marriage to Miss Mary Snyder, of Snyder- 
ville, Ohio, a daughter of the late Henry 
Snyder, of Springfield. . Her uncle was one 
of the most highly honored and respected 
citizens of this place and proved a public 
benefactor to the city, making a donation of 
two hundred and sixty acres of land for 
park ])urposes, which is now known as 
Snyder's Park. He married Anna Hertz- 
ler. a daughter of Daniel Hertzler. 
wlio some years ago was n-urdered at his 
home. The marriage of our subject and his 
wife has been blessed with three children : 
Anna S., ("leorge W. and V'irginia V. Mr. 
Harshman votes with the Republican party 
but has never sought or desired office. He 
is not only recognized as a most enterpris- 
ing citizen hut is broad and liberal in his 
views and well versed on all n:atters of 
general interest. His beautiful home stands 
just outside the corporation limits of Spring- 
field and is adorned with all the accessories 
which wealth can secure and refined tastes 
suggest. 



FI^ANK BALDWIN. 

Frank Baldwin, who is filling the posi- 
tion of justice of the peace for Moorefield 
township, is a public officer in whom his fel- 



low townsmen have every reason to place 
their trust and confidence for his loyalty and 
fidelity to duty and his promptness in the 
execution of public obligations have been 
n any times demonstrated. He is a native 
of the township in which he still lives, his 
birtli having occurred September 3. 1841 
just across the Big Four Railroad from hi.- 
present farm on the old family homestead 
which is now occupied by his brother. Will- 
iam Baldwin. His parents were Samuel 
Vance and Catherine (Van Meter) Baldwin. 
The father was a native of Gerrardstown, 
Berkeley county, \\'est Virginia, and was 
about nineteai years of age when he came t' > 
Ohio with his father, Joseph Baldwin, who 
settled in ibxjrefield township. Clark coun- 
ty, then a part of Champaign county. Here 
the grandfather spent his remaining days 
and became the owner of a large tract of 
land. He had owned a tannery in \'irginia 
but traded it for property in this state, and 
in addition to three hundred acres which he 
purchased, he inherited considerable Ian.', 
which came to him from his eldest son. Will- 
iam Baldwin, who had secured a fortune in 
Xew York which he had invested in the 
Ohio real estate and as he died umnarried, 
;it the age of forty-eight years, his proi)erty 
therefore reverted to the family. Samuel 
\'. Baldwin, the father of our subject, spent 
his Ixnhixxl days on the old family home- 
stead, assisting in the arduous task of de- 
\ eloping a new farm. His early education 
acquired in the common schools was sup- 
plemented by study in Oxford. Ohio, and 
when his literary course was con^pleted he 
tcx>k up the study of the law and was ad- 
mitted to the 'l)ar. He had also studied to 
some extent in Indianapolis, but c<impleted 
his course in Urbana. Ohio. Throughout 
his remaining days he was engaged in the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



53 



practice of law except during the period 
when he served as prohate judge. He was 
called to that office at the time it was cre- 
ated and acted in that capacity until his 
death, co*vering a period of twelve or luur- 
teen years. This fact indicates in an un- 
mistakable manner his fidelity to the duties 
of the profession and his fairness in ren- 
dering decisions. In Union township, Cham- 
paign county, he wedded Catherine Van Me- 
ter and they became the parents of seven 
childrai : William, who is now residing in 
Moorefield township, married Emily Reed, 
and has four children. He, too-, prepared 
lOir the bar and engaged in the practice of 
law for a number of years, but is now liv- 
ing retired on the old home place. Josq>h 
H., who married Lyda Skillman, by whom 
he has one child, is living retired in Spring- 
field. Caroline is the wife of ']. W. An- 
der.son, a druggist of Urbana. John Iv., 
whoi joined th6 service in the Civil war as 
a private of Company G, Sixty-sixth Ohio 
\'()lunteer Infantry, was promoted to the 
rank of sergeant and died of pneumonia in 
a hospital at Washington. He had wedded 
Mary M. McCo'rkle and left one son. Frank 
is the next of the family. Jennie died in 
1863, at the age of seventeen years; and 
Mary, who- con-.pletes the family, has also 
passed away. 

Frank Baldwin spent his boyhood days 
in Urbana, his people having removed to 
that cit_\' when he was only about a year 
old. At the usual age he entered the pub- 
lic schools there and was graduated in the 
high school. The question of slavery and 
the attitude of the south regarding it was 
one largely discussed in the family and the 
s])irit of patriotism was dominant. On the 
twentieth anniversan- of his birth Frank 
Baldwin offered his services to the go\er.i- 



ment, joining the boys in blue of Company 
G, Sixty-sixth Ohio Infantry, was promoted 
to the rank of first lieutenant of Company 
1, of the same regiment, and was acting 
quartermaster of the regiment at the close 
of the war. In the meantime he had veter- 
anized and remained with his command un- 
til the cessation of hostilities. He had par- 
ticipated in the engagement of Port Repub- 
lic, in the battles of the Shenandoah valley, 
(ti Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, and 
went with .Sherman when the Union troops 
marched with that gallant leader from' At- 
lanta to the sea coast. He never missed an 
engagement in which his regiment partici- 
pated and was in many of the hardest fought 
battles O'f the war, including the last one, at 
Bentonville, North Carolina. He afterward 
took part in the grand re\-iew in Washing- 
ton, a military pageant yhich has been un- 
equaled in the western hemisphere. On 
several occasions he was struck by spent 
balls, and he sustained a slight wound at 
Peach Tree Creek, but was never disabled 
nor left his command. Man\- times he nar- 
rowly escaped death, his clothing being 
pierced by rebel bullets. Twice he was in 
the hospital at Washington, the first time 
about a week, after which he came home for 
a short \isit. He could not obtain a fur- 
lough, but his colonel took him down town 
and told him to g"o home and stay until he 
had recovered his health, and that he would 
lake care of his record. 

In 1S67 Mr. Baldwin went to Macoupin 
county, Illinois, where he remained for sev- 
eral years engaged in herding cattle. Re- 
turning to Springfield, he was married in 
that city in 1872,10 Miss J. S. Nagley, a na- 
tive daughter of this county, her parents be- 
ing Henry B. and Mary J. (Wright) Nag- 
ley. After their marriage the young cou- 



54 



THE BIUGRAPHICAL RUCUKD. 



pie .S]>ent two years in Indiana, and in 1872 
returned to Clark comity, wliere they have 
since made their hon e. Tlieir marriage 
has 'l)een blessed witli six children : Laura 
C, the wife of J. \V. Anderson, of Spring- 
field, hy whom she has two sons; Helen, 
at home: Mary Janette, who is teaching 
school ; Ruth, who is a graduate of the Ur- 
bana iiigh schofjl ; Frances L., a student in 
Urbana; and Pauline. 

In 1864 ^Mr. Baldwin cast his first presi- 
dential vote for Abraham Lincoln and has 
ever beai an earnest Republican. In 1876 
he was elected justice of the peace and has 
served in that office altogether for about 
eighteen years. During this time he has 
tried many cases and his rulings have never 
been reversed. He has also comproir.ised 
many cases, for he always advises such a 
course rathei' than bring the differences 
into court. W'iiliout tear or favor he has 
discharged the duties of his office and that 
he has the entire counfidence of the public 
is indicated by his long continuance in that 
position. Tliroughout his business career 
he has carried on farming and stock raising 
and is today the owner of a valuable prop- 
erty in M(X)refield township. 



FR \.\K FRTFl 



Frank Erter. who carries on general 
farming in Moorefield township, was torn 
within its borders October 3. 1856, his par- 
ents l)eing John and Xancy (Grube) Erter. 
The father was probably a native of Mary- 
land, and in early life cajre to Ohio with his 
parents who located on Urbana pike, in 
Clark county, where the grandfather rented 
land for a time. I^ter he removed to Logan 
county, where he purchased a farm and there 



resided until his life's labors were ended in 
death. John Erter was probablv married 
before his jxrople remoxed to Logan county. 
He, too, made farming his life work and 1>e- 
came the owner of alxiut three hundred and 
eighty acres of rich land, in the cultivation 
of which he manifested marked industry and 
enterprise so that he won a ver\- gratifying 
competence. In his political views he was 
a Republican and served as a trustee of 
iMoorefield township. His death occurred 
in 1876, while his wife, who was lx)rn in 
1818, still survives him and now resides 
with her daughter, Mrs. John Hare, on the 
Urbana pike, in Champain county. 

Frank Erter, who was the sixth of their 
fair.ily of seven children, spent his lx)yhood 
days upon the home farm and attained a 
common-school education. He assisted his 
father not only in the work of the fields, out 
also in paying otf the indebtedness upon the 
place, and when he had attained his majority 
he took charge of the home farm which he 
operated for a number of years. On the 
J St of May, 1890. in the hone of the bride 
at Xo. 981 Lagonda avenue, in Springfield, 
he married Miss Laura J. Cowan, who was 
born near Pitchin, in Springfield township. 
Clark county. Xovember 7. 1858, a daughter 
of Hugh and Marjorie (Elder) Cowan. 
Her father passed away in February,' 1898, 
I,ut her mother survives and is still living 
<in Lagonda avenue. The home of Mr. and 
Mrs. Erter has been blessed with two sons, 
Harry J., who was born on Lagonda avenue 
in Springfield, April 10, 1892, and Stanley, 
w hose birth occurred on the home farm. July 
20, 1897. 

Mr. Erter innxhascd his present farm 
in 1892 with money which he had 
himself earned, and now has one hun- 
dred and four acres of rich land. Tlie- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



55 



house is one of the old landmarks of this 
portion of the county, but is in a good state 
of preservation. His fields are well tilled 
and he annually harvests good crops which 
result from the care and labor he bestows 
upon his place. Keeping well informed on 
the political issues of the day. as every true 
An.erican citizen should do, he votes with 
the Republican party which he has supported 
since casting his first presidential vote for 
Garfield in i88o. He has never been an 
office seeker, hoiwever, preferring to give his 
entire time and attention to his business af- 
fairs in which he is meeting with creditable 
and gratifying success. 

It will be interesting in this connection to 
note something of the family history of Mrs. 
Erter. Her father, Hugh Cowan, was born 
on the Selma pike, three and one-half miles 
south of the county seat in Springfield town- 
"ship, March 27, 1824, his parents being 
Da\id and Jane ( Steele) Coiwan. David 
Cowan was a native of Pennsylvania and 
during his boyhood removed with his par- 
ents to Kentucky, where he was reared and 
married, coining thence to Oliio. He took 
up his abode on the farm where his son Hugh 
was born in Green township, eight miles 
as the David Cowan farm. There Hugh 
Cowan was reared and in the district schools 
of the neighborhood attained a fair educa- 
tion. He married Miss Marjorie Elder, who 
was born in Green township, eight miles 
south of Springfield, April 17, 1834, a 
daughter of Robert and Nancy (Elder) 
Elder. Her father was bom in Dauphin 
county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, and was a son 
of R(»bert and Ann Elder. Mrs. Erter's 
maternal grandmother was Nancy Elder and 
her family name in maidenhood was the 
same, she being a distant relative of her hus- 
band. She was also born in Pennsvlvania. 



but it is not definitely known whether in 
Dauphin or in Indiana county. After the 
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cowan they made 
their home on the old home farm, living 
there up to the time of the death of Mr. 
Co'wan with the exception of one year which 
they spent in Cass county, Missouri. Not 
liking that locality, however, they returned 
to Ohio and Mr. Cowan passed away on the 
26th of January, 1898. In the family of 
this worthy couple were seven children of 
whom Mrs. Erter is the eldest; David S., 
a farmer of Springfield township, who was 
born June 7, 1861, and married Minnie 
Haley; Agnes, who died at the age of nine- 
teen years; Mary, wife of Bert Sellers, a 
resident of Dayton; Elder, who married 
Katie Prindle, of Ashtabula, Ohio, where 
they are living with their one child, Jane ; 
Harriet B., born January 27, 1872; and 
Grace A., who died at the age of twentv-two 
years. 

Mr. Cowan was a Republican, believing 
firmly in the principles of the party. At the 
time nf the Ci\'il w'ar he became a member 
of tlie state militia, joining the "Squirrel 
Hunters." and went out on the raid against 
General Morgan. He held membership in 
the United Pre.sbyterian church and his was 
an upright, honoirable life in which his fidel- 
ity to the duties of citizenship and to home 
relations and family ties gained him the 
warm regard and respect of those with 
whom he was associated. 



WILLIAM BALDWIN. 

William Baldwin, a retired attorney and 
an honored veteran of the Civil war, now liv- 
ing on the old family homestead in Moore- 



56 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



field township, was born in Urbana, Janu- 
ary II, 1834, his father, Samuel Vance Bald- 
win, owning both the home farm and the 
adjoining property. The family is one of 
long connection with Clark county, for the 
grandfather located here about 1809. He 
took an active part in the work of pioneer 
development, sharing- in tlie arduous task 
of transforming the wild lantl intO' good 
farms, and the work he began has been 
carried <in bv his descendants, the family 
ever 1>eing kmown as a valued and repre- 
sentative one of this portion of the state. 
Samuel Vance Baldwin was an attorney and 
practiced successfully for many years. Be- 
side his home in Urbana he owned the 
farm upon which William Baldwin now re- 
sides. He had here live hundred and twenty 
acres of land and in connection with its 
cultivation he like\vise operated a mill here. 
He also had one thousand acres in Cham- 
paign county, so that his landed possessions 
aggregated almost sixteen hundred acres. 
The mill had been erected before the prop- 
erty came into his possession. Samuel V. 
Baldwin became prominent in public afifairs 
antl was a progressive citizen, co-operating 
heartily in every movement and measure 
whii'h he believed would contribute to the 
general good. He married Catherine Van 
Meter and in their family were eight chil- 
dren, of whom the subject of this review is 
the eldest. 

Upon the home farm and in the city 
home in Ur'bana ^\'illiam Baldwin spent the 
days (if his boyhood and youth. He ac- 
(piired his education in the Urbana schools 
and afterward took up the study of law 
under the direction of Judge Ichabod Cor- 
win, of that city. Later he pursued a course 
of lectures in the Cincinnati Law School, 
was graduated in 1H58 and then liegan prac- 



tice at Urljana, remaining a member of the 
bar at that place imtil 1861, when in re- 
sponse to President Lincoln's first call for 
Union soldiei"s to serve for three months he 
offered his aid to the government and be- 
came the captain of the first company or- 
ganized in Urbana. With his command he 
left that city the day following the one upon 
which Fort Sumter was fired upon. His 
con:mand became Company K, of the Sec- 
ond Ohio Infantry, and was in the first bat- 
tle of Bull Run, but as Captain Baldwin Ind 
been detailed for special service he did not 
]>articipate in that engagement. In August, 
his term of service having expired, he re- 
turned home, but almost immediately he re- 
cnlisted and was comnnssioned second lieu- 
tenant of Company D, Twenty-sixth Ohio 
Infantry. Later he was promoted to first 
lieutenant and afterward became captain of 
Company G, retaining that rank until bre- 
veted major. He was in the service al- 
together for alx)Ut six years, doing garrison 
duty after the close of the war. His last 
service was in command of old Fort SuMi- 
v;m, at the month of die St. Croix. At Mis- 
sionary Ridge he was wounded in the side 
of the head and temporarily disabled while 
making a charge, but later he led his men 
over the breastworks. At the f(x)t of Kene- 
saw Mountain he was shot in the lower left 
thigh, on the 25th of June. 1864, the day 
after General Polk was killed. Major Bald- 
win was then sent to the general hospital 
at Cincinnati, his injury disabling him for 
eight nionths, but as soon as ix>ssible he 
rejoined his regiment at Huntsville, Ala- 
l>ama, this being near the close of the war. 
A short time before the cessation of hos- 
tilities he claimed his discharge, which was 
granted him, but later he was appointed first 
lieutenant of Company C, c)f the Third Regi- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



nient \'eteran Reserve Corps, witli which 
he remained until tlie close of his military 
ser\ices. He had indeed been a loyal de- 
fender of the Union cause and through al- 
most six 3ears he woire the blue uniform 
of the nation, faithfully upholding its banner 
where\-er duty called him. 

Soon after his return home Major Bald- 
w in was married to IMiss Emily Reed, a 
daughter of Joel and Leah (W'eldin) Reed. 
Unto them have been born four children : 
William, who- is now cashier for the Ameri- 
can Express Company, in Columbus, mar- 
ried Susan Cline, of Osborne, Ohio^, and 
has a little son, William Robert. Blanche 
is the wife of James W. Roberts, of Aloore- 
held township, and they have a daughter, 
Blanclie. Leah is the wife oi A. G. Dey, 
manager for the Rogers Iron Company, at 
Spring-field, Oliio. Reed, nineteen years of 
age, is at home. 

At the time of his marriage Major Bald- 
win owned a farm in Champaign county, 
which he afterward sold, removing to Wich- 
ita, Kansas. He built the first house in 
the town, although he was not the first set- 
tler there. Fromi the government he pur- 
chased land and made his home in Wichita 
for seven years. The city grew rapidly and 
he becan:e a prominent and influential fac- 
tor in public affairs. While there he was 
elected citv attorney fi\-e times and he pre- 
pared the charter under which the city was 
organized. He was also elected and served 
as probate judge of Sedgwick county, and 
was elected to represent his district in the 
state legislature and would have been re- 
elected had he not moved to Washington. 
He was alsoi commissioned colonel of the 
Kansas National Militia on Governor Os- 
born's staff. While residing at Wichita he 
received an appointment to a goxernn ent po- 



sition at Washington and resided in • the 
capital city for five years, after which he 
returned to Clark county, where he has since 
lived. He is now retired from the practice 
of the law, his attention being given to the 
supen-ision of his farnning interests in 
Moorefield township. In politics he has al- 
ways been a stalwart Republican where 
n:aiters O'f national imjiortance are involved, 
but at local elections he votes independently. 
His first ballot was cast for General John 
C. Fremont. He became a member of B. 
B. French Lodge, No. 15, F. & A. M., in 
Washington, and by special dispensation re- 
ceived the IMaster Mason degree within 
three days. 



THOMAS EDWARD HARWOOD. 

Thomas E. Harwood is the president and 
business manager of the T. E. Harwood 
Printing & Publishing Company of Spring- 
field. It is nO' uncomn'.on thing in this coun- 
try to meet men who have worked their 
way upward from humble beginnings to po^ 
sitions O'f affluence. Mr. Harwood, from 
tlie humble capacity of journeyman printer, 
has advanced until he stands at the head of 
the Han\-ood Printing & Publishing Com- 
pany and in this position is controlling an 
extensive and important business, including 
the publication of the Gazette, which is the 
oldest existing journal Oif Clark county, es- 
tablished in 1872. There is also a well 
equipped job printing- and binding establish- 
ment and each department of the business 
has become a paying one. 

Thomas E. Harwood was born in Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, May 26, 1846, and is a son of 
Francis Lee and Mary (Coffman) Har- 
wood. The father, a native of Warwick 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



county, Virginia, was a cousin of General 
Robert E. Lee, and during his youth re- 
moved to Newark, Ohio, while subsequent- 
ly he became a resident of Cincinnati, where 
he was engaged in contracting and building. 
-Later in life, howe\'er, he retumed to New- 
ark, where he died in 1862, his wife surviv- 
ing him, aged ninety years. Both were de- 
voted members of the Baptist church, and in 
his political views Mr. Harwood, Sr., was a 
Democrat. 

At the age of twelve years Thomas 
Edward Harwood was apprenticed to learn 
the printer's trade in the office of the 
Advocate, at Newark, then owned by 
Hun. W. 1). ^Morgan, at one time sec- 
retary of state of Ohio. He completed 
his full term of service and subse- 
quently worked as a journeyman in New- 
ark, Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, Ken- 
tucky, and then came to Springfield in 1865. 
Here he secured a similar situation and was 
emjilojed in wnrious offices in that capacity 
until he w as made city editor of the Weekly 
Gazelle, and in 1S73 he purchased the pa- 
per, which was conducted solely as a weekly 
journal for three j-ears, when he also began 
the publication of the Daily Gazette. He 
continued alone in business until he admit- 
ted his son, Frank C, in partnership under 
the firm, name of T. E. Harwood & Son, 
and in 1898 the business was incorporated 
as the T. E. HarwiMxl Printing & Publish- 
ing Company, of which our subject is the 
president. Both, the daily and- weekly Ga- 
zette ra,nk an.ong the leading papers of 
southwestern Ohio, and from 1872 the Ga- 
zette has l>een continuously published, mak- 
ing it the oldest existing paper of the county. 
It is a Reiniblican sheet devoted to the wel- 
fare and interests of the party, and is like- 
wise fouiul as the advocate of everv treasure 



and m.ovement calculated to prove of prac- 
tical benefit to the city along lines of pro- 
gress, reforni and improvement. Not only 
are the meml>ers of the coiupany actively en- 
gaged in the publication of this journal but 
are also devoting their time with success to 
the control of a job printing business and a 
bindery establishment, in both of which they 
have secured a liberal patronage, and these 
interests, combined with the publication of 
the Gazette, returns to the firm an excellent 
income from their investment. 

Mr. Harwood was united in marriage to 
Miss Anna M. Hartstone, a daughter of 
Frederick Hartstone, of Springfield, and the 
marriage, which was celebrated on the 19th 
of October, 1868, has been blessed with ten 
children, eight of whom are still living. 
Frank C, the eldest, is managing editor of 
the Gazette and vice-president of the T. E. 
Harwood Printing & Publishing Company. 
Fred H., who is one of die directors of the 
company, was quartermaster sergeant of the 
Tenth Ohio Regiment during the Spanish- 
American war, and also sergeant-major of 
the Thirty-first Regiment, doing two years' 
senice in the Philippines, and is now* chief 
clerk in the department of works in Manila. 
Lee Edward is sen-ing as city editor of the 
Gazette; Charles A., who until recently 
was a clerk in the office of the Warder, 
Bushnell & Glessner Company, is now in tlie 
office of the International Har\-ester Com- 
pany at Evansville, Indiana. Ralph C. and 
Kenneth S. are students in business colleges. 
Jessie Manton is now the wife of Jolui L. 
Bushnell, of Springfield. Nannie L. ctnn- 
pletes the family. Mr. and Mrs. Harwcxxl 
and their children are memljers of the High 
street Methodist Episcojial church and with 
Ibis denomination he has been identified for 
a number of vears. He has erected for his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



59 



family a comfortaible home on South Foun- 
tain a\-enue, where, with his wife and young- 
er childi'en, he is now living. In his politi- 
cal views he is now a stalwart Rqiublican, 
but early in life was idaitified with the 
Democratic party. He is looked upon as 
a \'alued and helpful supporter oif his party 
and frequently is called as a delegate to the 
state and other conventions. His time since 
entering the Gazette office has been devoted 
to the upbuilding of the paper and in this 
regard his labors have met with some suc- 
cess, for the Gazette is not only the oldest 
existing journal of Clark county, but is rec- 
ognized as one of the leading newspaper 
publications of Spring-field and southwestern 
Ohio. 



THOMAS FLETCHER McGREW. 

Among' the pioneer families of the co^m- 
ty whose early history runs into other coun- 
ties of the state, is the McGrew family. The 
head of this family in Clark coimty is Thom- 
as Fletcher McGrew, who was born in Steu- 
ben ville, Jefferson county, Ohio, April 15, 
1 81 7. Mr. McGrew is the youngest of a 
family of ten children, his father, John Mc- 
Grew, having moved from Westmoreland 
county, Pennsylvania, toi Ohio early in the 
last century. The family driginally came 
from Adams county, Pennsylvania, where 
Robert McGrew, the first member of the 
family to comie to America, settled in 1727. 
In early life Mr. McGrew studied law and 
practiced his profession for a number of 
years, at the same time taking- an acti\e 
part in the politics of his county and state. 

On April 8, 1841, he was married ti> 
Martha Dilworth Judkins, in Smithfield. 
Ohio, the home of the bride, and where some 



of the menlbers of the family still reside. 
Mrs. McGrew was born August 12, 1819, 
and was the daughter of Dr. Anderson Jud- 
kins, a prominent physician of his day, and 
her mother was Catherine Carr Judkins, 
whose father, James Carr, laid out Smith- 
field in 1803' and built the first house in the 
town. The Carrs originally came froni 
Msrylnnd and were prominent people 
among the early settlers of that state. One 
of Mrs. McGrew's sisters married General 
John S. Mason, who for a number of years 
resided in Springfield, Ohio. Mrs. McGrew 
died ou December 10, 1900, and is buried 
in Ferncliff cemetery. 

To Thomas and Alartha McGrew were 
born six children, William A., Samuel F., 
Thomas F., John F., Baldwin and Elizabeth, 
the last named dying in early childhood. All 
the other children are living and all were 
born in Steubenville, Ohio, except Baldwin, 
who was lx)rn in S]3ringfield. Mr. McGrew 
removed to Spring-field in 1856 to accept a 
position vvith the Mad River Valley Branch 
Bank of the state of Ohio, now the Mad 
River National Bank, O'f which institution 
Mr. McGrew is now the president. The eld- 
est son, William A. McGrew, was a 
captain in the war of the Rebellion and 
shortly after his marriage, in 1861, 
to Miss Elizabeth Richardson, he n.O'ved 
to the west and is now a resident of 
Denver, Colorado. Samuel F. McGrew, the 
second son, graduated from Wittenberg 
College at the age O'f sixteai years and after 
a short time became connected with the Mad 
River National Bank, of Springfield, Ohio, 
and is at the present time the cashier of that 
institution. Mr. McGl^ew, while never taking 
a very active part in politics, has held 
a number of important offices in his home 
city and has always manifested a deep in- 



6o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



terest in her affairs. He was married to 
Miss Elizabeth E. Baldwin, in 1869, and 
his family consists of two sons, John B. 
McGrew and Samuel J. McGrew. John B. 
McGrew, the eldest son, is an attorney by 
profession, and is at the present time the 
prosecuting attorney of Clark county. Sam- 
uel J. McGrew, the second son, was an officer 
in Company M, Tenth Ohio Volunteer In- 
fantry, in the Spanish-American war and is 
at the ])rescnt time connected with the Mad 
River National Bank. 

Thomas F. McGrew married ]\liss Clara 
J, Baldwin, and he with liis wife and two 
children, Thomas W. and Clara J. McGrew, 
are li\ing in New York city. John 
Franklin McGrew married Miss Fannie 
Buslmell, and with their two daughters, El- 
len McGrew and Fannie McGrew, are liv- 
ing in Springfield. Mr. McGrew is an at- 
tornev at law and practices his profession 
m his h(Miie city. He at one time repre- 
s-eiited Clark county in the state legislature 
and is at present one of the tnistees of the 
Ohio State Library. Baldwin McGrew, the 
yoimgest son, married Miss ^Mary Elizabeth 
Yi3ung, of Troy, Ohio, and resides in the 
citv of Springfield with his family, which 
consists of one daughter, Miss Ann Kliza- 
l>eth IMcGrew. Mr. McGrew is engaged in 
active business in Springfield and is inter- 
ested in a number of the city"s commercial 
in,-titutions. 



OSCAR J. ROCKEL. 

Oscar J. Riickel. who follows farming 
in German township was ijorn within its 
borders December 26, i860. His parents, 
Henry and I\Iary :\\m ( Richards) Rockel, 
are both still Hving. The father was bom in 



German township, ^larch 14, 1835. and is 
a son of Adam and Mary (Baker) Rockel. 
The grandfather was born in Northampton 
county, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1793. 
and died May 13, 1884, while his wife, who 
was born in Shenandoah county, Virginia, 
passed away April 14, 1886. The great- 
grandparents were Peter and Ann Maria 
(Brown) Rockel, who in 1822 started with 
their family to Ohio. They made the journey 
by wagon, bringing with them their house- 
hold effects. They were the parents of nine 
children, of whom three remained in I'enn- 
sylvania. One of the daughters who came 
with them was the wife of Peter Kern, who 
also accompanied the party. On reaching 
their destination Peter Rockel purchased 
land, which is still known as the Rockel 
farm, just south of Tremont. Tlieie assf>- 
ciated with his sons, Adam and Peter, he be- 
came the owner of one hundred and ninety- 
two acres of land, and of this ninety-six 
acres is now in possession of Henry Rockel. 
the father of our subject, while the remain- 
der is owned by other descendants. Peter 
Rockel, Sr., had followed milling in Penn- 
sylvania, but after locating in Ohio he 
abandoned that pursuit. He was not long 
permitted to enjoy his new home, his death 
occurring about two years after his arrival, 
when he was si.xty-three years of age. His 
wife, surviving him for some time, passed 
away about 1841. 

Adam Rockel, the grandfather of our 
subject, spent his boyhood days on the home 
farm and also worked in his father's mill un- 
til the war of 181 2, when he was drafted 
for service. He went to the front under 
General Henry Sherring. but was never in 
any battle, .\fter the war he was again at 
home in Pennsylvania until 1822, when with 
the familv he came to Ohio. He was mar- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



6i 



ried in Clark county to Miss Baker. A 
shoemaker by trade, for a time he visited the 
people's houses, making- shoes for the dif- 
erent mem1>ers oi the family and he also c;ir- 
ried on farming. He was well educated in 
l30tli German and English and was a con- 
sistent Christian, holding membership in the 
Lutheran chiu'ch and ser\-ing for many }-ears 
as one of its officers. In his political views 
he as a Jacksonian Democrat and though 
he never sought or desired oftice, his fellow 
townsmen insisted on his services and for 
n.any years he occupied the positions of 
townshij:? trustee and township treasurer. In 
his family were five children. Peter, the eld- 
est, married Margaret Shick, by whom he 
had one son, William ]\I. Rockel, an attor- 
ney of Springfield, who was formerly pro- 
bate judge. For his second wife he chose 
Sarah Ilgess. Harriet, the eldest daughter cf 
Adam Rockel, became the wife of Michael 
Shawver and died at her home in German 
township, leaving five children. Henry is 
the third of the family. Mary is the wife of 
Joseph Collins by whom she has five chil- 
dren and their home is in German township. 
William, of McLean county, Illinois, mar- 
ried Hester Heller and they have three chil- 
dren. 

.\dam Rockel pro\-ided his children with 
good educational advantages, thus enabling 
them to get a start in life, ^\'hen fifteen 
years of age Henry Rockel began cutting 
cord wood and by the time he attained his 
majority he had laid up a snug little sum of 
money. He resided with his father until 
his marriage, which took place January 19, 
i860, in German township, Miss Mary Ann 
Richards becoming his wife. She is a 
daughter of John Henry and Susanna 
(I-andis) Richards. Five children have 
been born of this union. Oscar James, of 



this review, being the eldest. Laura died at 
the age of thirteen years and was buried in 
Tremont. Emma is the wife of Abram 
Thomas and lives on the d\(\ Rxockel farm. 
Thejf had three children — Elsie, Grover, and 
Lewis Henry, who' died in infancy. Clara 
is the wife of Charles Shafer, of Springfield. 
Warren A., the }'oungest, married Pearl 
Lorton, by whom he had two- children, both 
now deceased. For his second wife he chose 
Ida Pierson. 

In his politics Henry Rcjckel has always 
been a Democrat since casting his first vote 
for Buchanan in 1856. His fellow towns- 
men recog-nizing his worth and ability, 
elected him to the office of trustee against 
his will, l)ut he would never consent to serve 
after that. He and his family are members 
of the Lutheran church and he is a well 
known and respected farmer of German 
township. 

Oscar James Rockel spent his boyhood 
days on the home farm, acquiring a fair 
common-school education in the neighbor- 
hood. To his father he gave the benefit of 
his services during his boyhood and re- 
mained under the parental roof until he ]jre- 
prred for a home of his own by his n^arri^ge 
in Northampton, Ohio, October 5, 1882, to 
Miss Laura A. Hause, who^, was born in 
Lawren.ce\-ille, German township, January 
30, 1S62, and is a daughter of Emanuel and 
Elizabeth ( Rust) Hause. Their union has 
been blessed with six children ; Letta 
Leonora, Bernis Ga^-nell, C. Carlisle. Eman- 
uel Henry, Mary Elizabeth, and Esther Cor- 
rinne. 

For a few years after his marriage Mr. 
Rockel engaged in operating land belonging 
to his father, but in 1891 removed to the 
city of Springfield. He owned stock in a 
lumber company there and remained in this- 



•62 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



place for three years, but on the expiration 
of that period he returned to the farm and 
has since devoted his energies to agricultural 
pursuits, linding that this is to him a more 
profitable business. In 1894 he began oper- 
ating a steam thresher and each year has 
been an active factor in the harvest fields of 
this locality. In his political views he has 
been a Democrat since voting for Cleveland 
in 1884 and he is a member of the board of 
education. He belongs to the German Re- 
formed church at Tremont and is also iden- 
tified with the Knights of Pythias frater- 
nity- at that place in which he has filled all 
of the chairs. 



CHARLES H. VAXAXDA. 

Charles H. Vananda was born in Spring- 
field, January 20, 1856, and has silent his 
entire life in Clark county. His father, John 
Wesley Vananda, was born in Marjland, 
August 19, 1828, his hcane being near Mid- 
dletown, Frederick county. He was a 
wagonmajker by trade and would go to the 
timber districts, where he would get out the 
material for constructing wagons. Tliese he 
made of a mammoth size, such as were used 
for freighting over the mountains. In his 
native state he was married, Feliruary 6, 
1830. to Ann E]izal>eth Sigler, who was 
born in Maryland, June 26, 1824. While 
they were still living in that state they l>e- 
came the parents of one son, John Henn,-. 
born March 6. 18^3. and soon afterward 
the}' came to Ohio, traveling by rail and 
wagon. Here Mr. Vananda built the 
first four-wheeled dray used in the city. 
and also the first si.x-horse wagon. 
The latter was owned bv John and 



Daxid Snyder, early millers of Springfield. 
For three years INlr. \''ananda followed wag- 
onmaking, after which he learned the butch- 
ers' trade and entered into partnership with 
John Swanger in the conduct of the busi- 
ness, which they carried on for a number of 
years. ]\Ir. Vanajida afterward turned his 
attention to the huckster business, traveling 
with a four-horse wagon over a radius of 
fifty miles into Madison, Fayette, Logan and 
Champaign counties. His business was ex- 
tensive and profitable and he carried on the 
gaieral huckstering business and gained a 
wide circle of friends among his patrons. 
He was known throughout Clark and sur- 
rounding counties and on his trips he would 
drive turkeys into the city for sale in the 
markets here, and he also shipped poultry 
to varioais points. After giving up the huck- 
stering Ijusiness he turned his attention to 
farming and later was employed by D. S. 
Morrow & Son in the grocer\- and ice busi- 
ness. Subsequently he assisted his son in 
conducting a retail fruit store. He made his 
home in this city until his death, which oc- 
curred in 1888, while his wife passed away 
Xovenber 30, 1872. both being buried in 
Ferncliff cemetery. They were memters 
of the First Lutlieran churcli and reared 
their children in that faith. In ix>litics ]\Ir. 
\'ananda was a Democrat, and was a mem- 
lier of one of the early military companies 
of Springfield. Of domestic tastes he was 
fond of his family and did all he could to 
promote their welfare and happiness. L'nto 
the parents of our subject were lx>m six 
children. John H. was killed in Houston, 
Texas, in December, 1898; Charles Ham- 
ilton is the second in order of birth; Will- 
iam Carlton, born Deceinber i, 1859, is 
married and is employed in the store of his 
brother, Charles: Cordelia Titus, born April 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



63. 



22. 1862, is the wife of Thomas E. Wren, 
of Springiiek!, and has five hving children, 
Floy Birdie, Artluir, Ruth and Earl, and 
has lost two, Maude and Evan; Theodm-e 
Keller, 'born September 18, 1866, is mar- 
ried and lives in ]\Iuncie, Indiana, where he 
is employed as a meat cutter; and Margaret 
Helwick, born November, 17, 1869, is 
the wife of George Jackson, oif Spring- 
field, and they have two children, Mon- 
roe and George. After the death of 
his first wife John \\\ Vananda was mar- 
ried, in February. 1874. to^ Hester AI. Po- 
land, the widow o'f James P'oland. a native 
of OhioL They have one child, Ann Eliza- 
beth, who was born April 13, 1875. and is 
the wife of Martin Dobbs, oif Dayton. 

Tames C. Vananda, an elder brother of 
John W. and an uncle of our subject, was a 
painter by trade and entered the service of 
the United States as a captain in an Ohio 
regiment of infantry during the Civil war. 
Fie was afterward promoted for meritorious 
conduct to the rank of major, and being 
captured was incarcerated in Libby prison. 
He was born in 1823, and died in 1882, 
leaving a daughter, Mrs. George Stevel^s, 
who resides on Yellow Springs street. Will- 
iam, another brother, who was also a paint- 
er by trade, joined the Union army as a 
drunurer in his brother's company and died 
in the Soldiers" Home at Dayton, in 1892. 

Charles H. Va.nanda attended the public 
schools of Spring-field until fourteen years 
of age, when he began driving an express 
wagon on his own account, continuing that 
business for four years. He then began 
hauling- water for nasons, as the city had 
no water works. When two years had 
passed his father lemoveJ tO' a farm in 
Springfield townshi]) and our subject a^si-t- 
ed in its cultivation for seven vears. He 



then returned to the city and again began 
teaming, hauling many loads of brick for the 
East street shops, and also stone for Kel- 
ley's arcade. He continued to do heavy 
teaming- for about two years, but gave up 
that work in 1883 and accepted a po'sitiou 
as a driver of a grocery delivery wagon lor 
the firm of McCracken & Morrow-. In 1885 
lie left that employ and accepted a clerkship 
for W. S. Straley, a grocer, in the room in 
w liidh Mr. Vananda now carries on business 
for himself. For a number of years he- 
\\(_»rked as a grocery clerk for various men 
and in 1888 he began business on his own 
account, retailing fruit, gan.e and vegeta- 
bles in the store now occupied by Lobenherz. 
Then he sold out to E. M. Baker in 1891 
and began working for him, remaining w-ith 
]\Ir. Baker until the business w-as sold, w hen 
he entered the employ of Baldw'in McGtew 
and on the nth of April, 1899, purchased 
his stock. The business was started on a 
small scale, but he now conducts one of the 
largest retail trades in groceries and gener- 
al provisions in the city. He carries a full 
line of hig'h grade goods and employs six 
men as salesmen and to deliver the pur- 
chases. In his business he has made a splen- 
did success, giving to it his personal at- 
tention. 

In Springfield, on November 2y, 1883, 
Mr. Vananda was married to Miss Ida 
Belle Sparrow, who was born in this city, 
November 30, 1862, and is a daughter of 
Elisha and Julia (Hoak) Sparrow. Her 
father died here at the age of forty-seven 
and the miother is now- li\'ing in a hoare ad- 
joining that of her daughter at the age of 
sixty-six years. Mr. Vananda is the eldest 
of five children. Cliarles Oscar, who was 
born in 1867. was married and died at the 
age of twentv-se\-en \-ears. Cora Ann. boni 



64 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in 1868, is the wife of John \\". Adams, of 
Springfield, and their children are John W., 
William, Chester and Julia. William F., 
born in Springfield in 1872, is married and 
is clerking in the store of Mr. Vananda. 
They have one daughter. Gladys. Mary E., 
born in 1875, is the wife of C. S. dinger, 
an attorney, and they have two children, 
Francis and Robert S. The father of this 
family was a carpenter by trade and did fine 
cabinet work and finishing for three years. 
He served as a soldier in the Seventeentli 
Ohio Battery. The Sparrows were of 
Scotch-Irish descent on tJie paternal side 
and German lineage on the maternal side. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vananda have been born 
two children, Daisy Belle, born May 3. 
i8(S5. and Julia Blanche, born September 3. 
1887. 

In national affairs Mr. \'ananda is a 
Den.ocrat, but at local political elections he 
votes indq^endently. His wife is a member 
of the Center street Methodist Episcopal 
church, and he was reared in the Lutheran 
faith. He belongs to the National Union, 
an insurance order, holds n-.embership in the 
Commercial Club, and is treasurer of the 
Grocers' AsstKiation of Springfield. In early 
life he showed that he possessed good busi- 
ness ability and from the age of fourteen 
years he has made his own way in the world, 
achieving the success which comes from 
earnest, persistent lalx>r when guided by 
sound judgment and supplemented by un- 
faltering honesty in all trade relatii>ns. 



CHARLES (\. H1-:CKERT, A. M., D. D. 

Charles G. Heckert, A. M.. D. D.. who 
is occupying the chair of English and logic 
in Wittenberg College, has attained dis- 



tinction as an educator and since his gradu- 
ation from this institution has devoted his 
entire attention to educational work. The 
Professor is a native of Pennsylvania, his 
birth having occurred in Northumberland 
County, on the 22nd of March, 1863. His 
parents were Benjan.in antl Sarah (Durst) 
Heckert, who were also natives of the Key- 
stone state, and the father carried on mer- 
chandising there for many years. 

Professor Heckert acquired his prelin,- 
irary education in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, 
gaining a good knowledge of the common 
branches of English learning. He displayed 
special aptitude in his studies and, desirous 
of gaining more advanced knowledge, he 
came to Springfield in 1880 and entered 
\\'itten'l>erg College, as a member of the 
freshman class. Here he pursued his studies 
for two years, after which he engaged in 
teaching for a similar period. His ex- 
chequer thus being replenished he once more 
entered Wittenberg College and was gradu- 
ated in that institution with the class of 
1886. Desiring to devote his attention o 
the work of the ministry he entered upon a 
course in theology and in 1889 was g^radu- 
ated in the Tlieological Seminary. Soon 
afterward he began teaching, and for two 
years occupied the position of principal of 
the academy, after which he was offered and 
accepted his present position as professor 
of English and logic. 

On the 24th of July. 1889. Professor 
Heckert was united in marriage to Miss Ada 
Rover, of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, a 
daughter of Daniel Royer. who is now liv- 
ing a retired life at No. 29 East Ward 
street in Springfield, where he has made his 
home since 1891, 

Professor Heckert is managing editor 
of the Lutheran World, having extended his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



65 



labors to the journalistic as well as the edu- 
cational field. This is one of the lea '.Ing 
church papers of his denomination in the 
country and has been a potent factor in ad- 
\ancing the cause of the church. Professor 
Heckert has also been president of the Mi- 
ami synod of this state and his social rela- 
tions connected him with Clark Lodge, No. 
101, F. & A. ^I., and Ingomar Lodge, No. 
610. K. P. He has been a deep, thorough 
and earnest student from his boyhood days 
and his reading has been wide aiid compre- 
hensive, coA'ering not only a range of phi- 
losophy and trade literature, but embracing 
all the standard classics of ancient and mod- 
ern times. There is nothing narrow or con- 
tracted in his views of life. He has studied 
the political, social and m.oral conditions of 
the country and his labors have e\-er been 
directed in channels resulting to the benefit 
of his felloAv men. 



CLIFTON M. NICHOLS. 

Clifton Melvin Nichols was born in 
A\'estfield, Chautauqua county. New York. 
He was a son of Wiseman C. and Fivilla 
( Cass ) Nichols, the former born in \'er- 
n^ont and the latter in New Hampshire. He 
is a grandson of Jonathan Nichols, who was 
one of General Stark's men in the Revolu- 
tionary war and was wounded at the battle 
of Bennington. He was born in Bolton, 
Massachusetts, and married Triphena Sack- 
ett, whose birth occurred in Kent, Litch- 
field cnunty, Connecticut. 

C. M. Nichols cane to Ohio in 184S ai'.d 
removed from Cincinnati to Springfield in 
1854. He married Francis Henrietta Keith, 
of Elyria, Ohio, October i, 1855. In April, 
1854, he engaged in the newspaper business. 



being connected with the Daily Nonpareil. 
He edited the Daily Nonpareil and after- 
ward various other journals, successors of 
that paper, finally closing his newspaper ca- 
reer on the Republic, thus ending thirty-fiv'» 
years' service in journalism. He next be- 
cair.e secretary and superintendent of the 
board oi trade. He was a Repu'blican from 
the birth of the party and for a few months 
served as a private in the Union army dur- 
ing the Ci\'il war. 



DANIEL LeFEVRE. 

Daniel LeFevre has for a number of 
years filled the office of trustee of Spring- 
field township, and is a worthy incumbent 
with a full realization of the obligations and 
duties devolving wpow him. These he faith- 
full}- meets and has therefore won the com- 
mendation of all concerned. 

Mr. LeFevre is a native of Maryland, his 
birth having occurred on the 12th of Au- 
gust. 1842, his parents being Henry and 
Catherine (Sterling) LeFevre, who were 
also nati\es of the sam.e state. There they 
were reared and married and spent their re- 
n:aining days. The paternal grandfather, 
George LeFevre, was a prosperous farmer, 
who belonged to one of the old families of 
jMaryland that was established in the countiy 
at an early day. 

Daniel LeFevre of this review passed 
iiis boyhood da}-s upon the home farm, work- 
ing in field and meadow through the sum- 
mer months. He also' attended the public 
schools until his eighteenth year, and subse- 
quently began clerking in a general store 
for Charles Downs, of Downsville. Mary- 
land. Six months later he went to Martins- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



burg, West Virginia, where he was em- 
ployed by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad 
for twelve months. The year 1875 wit- 
nessed the arrival of ^Ir. LeFevre in Spring- 
field, Ohio, and soon afterward he secured 
a situation in the employ of the P. P. Mast 
& Company in the wood and set-up depart- 
ment, acting in this capacity for a period of 
eighteen years. During the last year of his 
connection with the liouse Mr. LeFevre, in 
1893, \\"^s elected township trustee, and by 
re-elections has held this oftice continuously 
since, being elected each time by an in- 
creased majority, a fact that shows tliat he 
enjovs in an unusual degree the confidence 
and support of the public. It also indicates 
that his service has been efficient, because 
jjopular suffrage is only bestowed in case of 
nierit after the test has been made of a per- 
stw in official life for one term. He affili- 
ates witii the Republican part>-, taking an ac- 
tive interest in the success of his party and 
of his friends and is recognized as a leader 
in the Rq^ublican ranks. 

in 1866 occurred the marriage of Mr. 
LeFevre and Miss Ann E. Snyder, a daugh- 
ter of William and Margaret ( Cunningliam ) 
Snyder, who was born in Maryland, and in 
1875, with her husband, came to Ohio, 
where her remaining days were i>asse<l. She 
died in 1885. leaving six children: Fannie 
M.. the wife of William Hick; Alice I.. \\v. 
wile of William Bell, of Springfield; George 
W.. a machinist, who is employed by the P. 
v. Mast & Company; Daniel W., of Spring- 
field ; Albert L., who is a railway postal 
clerk ; and James E., at home. For his sec- 
ond w ife Mr. LeFevre chose Annie LaForce. 
of Xenia. Ohio, the wedding being celebrat- 
ed in 1889. TJie lady is a native of Ken- 
tucky, but spent the greater part of her 
girlhood in Ohio, and liy her marriage she 



lias become the mother of one daughter, 
Abbie F. Mr. LeFevre is one whose patriot- 
ism and fidelity to the duties of citizen- 
ship are an important part of his nature and 
his loyalty to all that is best in proir.oting the 
general good lias oftentimes been manifest- 
ed in the discharge of his duties. 



HOX. JACOB K. MOWER. 

In this enlightened age when men of in- 
dustry, energy and merit are rapidly push- 
ing their way to the front, those who, by 
their own individual mei'its and diligent 
efforts ha\e won favor and success, may 
properly claim recognition. In no calling to 
which man gives his attention does success 
depend more largely upon individual eft'ort 
than the law, and tliat Mr. Mower has 
achieved distinction in the field of jurispru- 
daice at once attests his superior ability and 
close application. A man of sound judg- 
ment, he manages his cases with masterly 
skill and tact, is a logical reasoner and has 
a ready command of English. His powers 
as an advocate have been demonstrated by 
his success on many occasions and he is an 
able lawyer of large and varied experience 
in all the courts. Thoroughness character- 
izes all his efforts and he conducts ail his 
business with a strict regard to a high stand- 
ard of professional ethics. He is quick to 
master all the intricacies in a case and 
grasp ail details, at the same time losing 
sight of none of the essential points upon 
which the decision of every^ case finally 
turu'^. lie has a ready flow of language 
and'Ss a speaker is fluent, forcible, earnest, 
logical and convincing. His knowledge of 
the law. it nust be conceded, i-^ Ivin" -r- 




J. K. MOWER. 



^ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



69 



ond to that of any member of tlie bar of 
Clark county. 

Jacob Kreicler ]\Io\ver was born in 
Franklin count}-, Pennsylvania, on the 4th 
of April, 1833, '^"^^ fo'^ more than forty 
years has been a n-.en.ber of the Springfield 
bar. His paternal grandparents were 
George and Eva (Leitig) Mower, \\\v> 
spent their last days in Pennsylvania. The 
father of our subject also bore the name of 
George Mower and was l^orn in the Key- 
stone sta,te, becoming a farmer by occupa- 
tion. His political support was given to the 
Whig party until he joined the Free Soil 
party and later he became identified with the 
new Republican party which was formed to 
preven_t the further extension of slavery. 
Going- to Ohio he «-as for a nun-iber of years 
identified with agricultural interests of 
Richland county and departed this life at the 
cild homestead there, in 1855. His wife 
Ijore the maiden name of Mary Kreider and 
was a daughter of John and Barbara 
(Schmidt) Kreider and a granddaughter 
of the Rev. [Martin Kreider of the United 
Brethren church. In the family of George 
and Mary ( Kreider) Mower were eight 
cliildren, oi whom the subject of this review 
was tlie youngest. 

In the spring- of 1834, when only 
about a year old, Jacob K. Mower was 
brought to Oihio by his parents, wlio 
took up their abode uiion a farm near the 
villag'e of Ontario' in Richland comity. 
\\'lien a small boy he received his first edu- 
cational discipline in the schcxjlhouse known 
as the Quail Trap, near his home, and after- 
ward was a student in the high school 
in ]\Iassillon and in the Ohio Wesleyan 
University at Delaware. His course there 
was supplen:entecl by stud\- in the Ohio 
University at Athens, where he was grad- 



uated in 1856, w inning- the degree of Bach- 
elor of Arts. His first important work in 
business life was as a representati\-e oi the 
teacher's profession. He became superin- 
tei-ident of the public schools of Athens and 
while thus emplo_\-ed and even previous to 
iliis tin-.e, he devoted his leisure hoiu's to 
the reading of law-, which he continued 
until the autumn of 1858, having- in the 
meantime becon-ie a student in the office 
oi Leonid;iS Jewett. .\t the date mentioned 
he was admitted to the bar and from that 
time has been an active practitioner in the 
courts of Ohio. 

In December of the same year Mr. 
M<)wer became a resident of Springfield, 
where he has since continuoitsly practiced, 
and for fi\-e years he w as senior member of 
the law firm of ■Mower & Rawlins. He has 
to son-.e extent figured prominently in public 
affairs, and especially as a representative of 
the Republican party. He served as city 
solicitor in 1868 and 1869 and w-as a mem- 
. ber of the board of education of Springfield 
from 1873 until 1878. Fie was elected to 
represent Clark county in the Ohioi legisla- 
ture, being a member of the house during 
the sessions of 1870 and 1871. Heiias never 
wavered in his allegiance tO' the Republican, 
party since he cast his first presidential ballot 
for John C. Fremont in the year 1856. In 
his youth he had become bitterly opposed to 
slavery and had aided many an escajied 
slave who was making his way from the 
bondage of the south tO' liberty in Canada. 
^Ir. Mower assisted these fugitives in going- 
from his honie in Richland count}- to. Ober- 
lin. He is a firm believer in the equal rights 
of all, without regard to race, color ot sex, 
and belie\es the greatest evil of this coun- 
try is the disfranchisement of a majority of 
its citizens — and those of the best class. It 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



is therefore not suq;rising that when a n:em- 
ber of the legislature, he was appointed 
chairnian of the committee on woman suf- 
frage. Further, he claims that the tariff 
should not be a party question but that each 
representative in congress should be free 
to act so as to protect the industries and in- 
terests of the citizens of his own locality. 

Through all these years Judge Mower 
has continued in an active and professional 
way to practice in the courts of Ohio, and his 
able efiforts in the line of his chosen calling 
have been manifest in the jurisprudence en- 
acted in his county and state. On the jth of 
October. 1900, he was appointed by Gov- 
ernor Xash to rhe position of judge of the 
court of common pleas to fill out the unex- 
pired term of Judge J. C. Miller, deceased, 
and at the Xo\eml>er election of that year 
was chosen by pojmlar suffrage to the office 
which he is now filling. Uix>n the bench 
]iis ciiurse lias been free from judicial bias 
ant! his decisions have shown a comprehen- 
sive knowledge of the law and a clear un- 
derstanding of the facts, arguments and 
principles presented in the trial of every 
case. 

It was on the 2d of December. 1858, in 
llillslx>ro, Ohio, that the marriage of Judge 
Jacob K. Mower and Miss Eunice M. Rice 
was celebrated. Tlie lady was born March 2. 
1833. at a farm house in Ames township. 
.\thens county, Ohio, and is a daughter of 
Sabinus and Pamela ( Hiblxird ) Rice. The 
Judge and his wife have two daughters and 
a son : Maljel, the eldest, is a graduate of 
the Ohio W'esleyan University of Delaware, 
where she won the degree of Bachelor of 
Arts in 1882; Alice Mary was graduated 
in Wittenljerg College of Springfield in the 
year 1884 with the same degree and is now 
a teacher of Latin and German in tlie same 



college; Carl Kreider, the son, was grad- 
uated in Wittenberg College in 18S6, 
studied law in his father's office and was 
admitted to the bar in February, 1889, be- 
coming the junior member of the firm of 
Mower & Mower, attorneys. He eniistetl 
for service in the Spanish-American war. 
was commissioned a captian and served in 
Porto Rico for one year, after w hich he en- 
listed and was commissioned captain, serv- 
ing in the Philippines for two years. At 
the expiration of that period he joined the 
regular army and was commissioned first 
lieutenant of heavy artillery and assigned to 
the One Hundred and First Heavy .\rtillery 
located at Fort Totten. Long Island, where 
he is stationed at the present time. He mar- 
ried Miss Fannie Foley, of Springfield. 
Ohio, a daughter of the Hon. James Foley. 
Such in brief is the life histon,- of the 
Hon. Jacob Kreider Mower, who since 1858 
has l)een a prominent resident of Spring- 
field. A well known mem1:)er of the bar, of 
strong mentality, keen analytical mind and 
of marked talaits, he possesses the cpialih- 
cations essential tO' success. His fidelity to 
his clients" interests has l>een proverbial, yet 
iie never forgets that he owes the highest 
allegiance lt> the majesty of the law. 



WILLI. \M X.WDERS. 

Among the men who were prdiiiinem in 
n-any of the important walks of busines- 
life, and who have now passed away, their 
lalx>rs being ended in death, none are more 
deserving of mention than William Xanders. 
who was one Clark county's native son-;, 
his birtli having occurred in German town- 
ship on the 7th of May, 1824, his parent^ 



-^HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



being John and Magdalena (Baker) Xan- 
ders. His boyhood days were spent in the 
usual manner of farmer lads of that 
period. The country had been settled but 
recently and pioneer times existed, so 
that there were many hardships and trials 
to be borne during those early times 
in which the settlers were reclaiming 
the region for purposes of civilization. 
The schools were of a primitive character, 
but farm work was not limited, and j\lr. 
Xanders bore his full share in the wo-rk of 
developing and improiving his father's land. 
However, he gained practical experience 
which enabled him to' carry on farm work 
successfully when he started out in life on 
his own account. 

On the 9th of x\ugust, 1849, ^'^ German 
township, William Xanders was united in 
marriage to Miss Susanna Balder, who was 
born in that township June 18. 1828. a 
daugihter o-f John and Susanna (Nawman) 
Baker. She was reared upon a farm and 
attended the public schools of the neighbor- 
hood, acquiring a good knowledge of the 
branches of English learning usually tauglit 
in such institutions. Fot a few years after 
his marriage Mr. Xanders engaged in o\}- 
erating a rented farm, and then, with the 
capital which had been acquired through the 
the labors Oif himself and wife, he pur- 
chased one hundred and thirty acres of land, 
upon which he made his home as long as he 
lived. He l»ught and sold other pro[)erty, 
but he never left the home place. He also 
becan'.e the owner of three hundred and 
twenty acres in Carter county, Miss(j'Uri, 
which still belongs to his estate. The mar- 
riage of Mr. and Mrs. Xanders was lilessed 
with nine children, of whom three died in 
infancy. Sarah, the eldest living n:eml)er 
of the familv, is the wife of Tavlor Seifert. 



of Springfield, and has one child. Isabella 
C. is the wife oif Edward M. Pattison, of 
Springfield. Mary E. is the wife of Daniel 
F. Shafer. and they ha\'e four children. 
Enos William is the next yoimger. Emma 
A. married John H. Forman, of Springfield, 
and they have two children. Susanna J. 
is the wife of O. \\'. Plick, of German town- 
ship. 

In his political views William Xanders 
was a stanch Democrat, believing firmly in 
the principles of the party, but was never 
active in political work nor sought office. 
Fie was reared in the Lutheran faith and 
his widow, who still survives him, is a mem- 
ber of that church. His death occurred Janu- 
ary- 4, 1878, and the communit)' mourned 
the loss of a valued and representative citi- 
zen. His life had been quietly passed in 
the pursuits of the farm, but all who knew 
him recognized in him the sterling qualities 
of manhood which gained fi>r him the warm 
regard oif all with w hom he came in contact. 
He provided well for his family and all that 
he possessed canre to him as the result of 
his oiwn untiring labor. 

Enos William Xanders, the eldest son of 
the family, was born August 8, 1S61, on the 
old homestead and at the usual age entered 
the common schools. ^Yhen eighteen years 
of 5ge he began teaching and followed that 
profession for three years. Like most 
young men starting out in life, he sought 
a companion and helpmate for the journey, 
and mi the 21st of September, 1882, in Ger- 
n an tO'wnship, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Anna C. Ballentine, a daughter of 
James V. and Rosanna ( Domer) Ballen- 
tune. Unto them ha\-e been born five chil- 
dren : Blanche, born August 19, 1883, is 
the wife of Jerome Michael, and they have 
one child, Mabel, 'born in March, 1900. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL KECUKD. 



Clyde, born March 21, 1885. is a graduate 
of the high schm>l of German township, 2nd 
is now a soiiiomore in Wittejiberg College. 
Claude, born June 1. 1887, is a student in 
the township higli sch<jol. Ruth, born April 
20. 1893, and Cle<*n, born March 7, 1889. 
are at home with their parents. 

When Enos Xanders started out in busi- 
ness life for himself he began operating the 
home farm, which he is now conducting. In 

1887 he turned his attention to merchandis- 
ing in Lawrenceville and there conducted a 
store for about ten 3ears, meeting with a 
fair degree of success in that euterjirise. 
While thus engaged he alsoi began selling 
fertilizers, and because of ill health he con- 
cluded that the confinement of the store was 
not beneficial and he went upon the road to 
sell fertilizers, tliis business clainung his at- 
tention for fi\e years. He also devotes his 
energies to the cultixation and improven.ent 
of the home farm, which, under his carefui 
sui)ervision, has been kept in touch with tr.e 
progressive spirit of tlie times. He follows 
modem methods in his farm work and uses 
the latest in:provcd mnchinery in cultivating 
the fields and harvesting the crops. He has 
been quite prominent in public affairs and 
while engaged in merchandising in Law- 
rence\ille he was appointetl postmaster of 
the town under President Cleveland, filling 
the o.'^'ficc until it was discontinued on account 
of the estal)lishment of the rural delivery 
system. He has always been an earnest 
Democrat and for eight years has served as 
a member of the board of education. In 

1888 he was elected to represent German 
township in the Clark County Agricultural 
Society, and each year has l:een again chos- 
en for that oJifice. For two years he was 
president r.'f the society and has been an ac- 
tive l':ict..r in nrM:i , ,iiii..- :i.^i iri-liur.-il inter- 



ests in this portion of the state, doing every- 
thing in his power to advance the welfare of 
the farmer. Socially he is connected with 
Springfield Lodge, Xo. 33, I. O. O. F., and 
with Donnell's Creek Council. Xo. ui. J. 
O. U. A. M In this community, in which 
he has always made his home, he is widely 
known as a representative business man, as 
a public spirited citizen and as a friend 
wlnjse lovallv is tried and true. 



ALFRl-D .M. rOTTFR. M. 1 ). 

.-Xmong- the honored representatives ni 
the medical fraternity who are worthy nf 
mention as leading citizens of Springfield 
ijecauseof capability in the lines of their pro- 
fession and by reason of the per.sonal ster- 
ling worth which they possess is Dr. Al- 
fred ]^I. Potter. He was born in Miami 
county, Ohio, in the city of Troy, Se]neni- 
her 17, 1850, and comes of an old Xew 
England family that was early establislied ii 
America. His paternal grandfather was Al- 
fred Pottei". a native of Xew York, for. in 
the meantime representatives of the nan i 
had removed from Xew England to the E:i - 
pi re state. 

Dr. Alfred Potter, Sr., the father of our 
subject, was born at a place called Corner 
Bridge, in Xew York, and on his removn! 
to the west took up bis abode in Troy, Ohii'. 
where he was actively engaged in praclicin- 
for a short time. Believing that Springfield, 
however, would prove a better field of la 
ijer. he removed to this city, openetl his of- 
fice and remained one of tlie leading repre- 
sentatives (if the medical fraternity here n., 
to the tine of his death. He was a gradu- 
aif .1 ilic Xfidi.al Institute i^f Xew York. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



73 



and also f)f the Bellevue Hospital of New- 
York city. His capability in diagnosing 
diseases, of foretelling- the complications and 
issues that might arise, and his skill in ad- 
ministering remedial agencies that diecked 
the ravages of disease made him an eminent 
mem'ber of the profession in Springfield and 
secured for him a large practice. He was 
united in marriage to Miss Lavina Murphy, 
a daughter of K. C. Murphy. She was born 
in Coa-mecticut and was a n.ost estimable 
lady, her death occurring December 12, 
1874, a short time prior to her husband's 
demise. 

'Although born in Troy, Dr. Alfred M. 
Potter was very young when his parents re- 
moived to Springfield, so^ that his early edu- 
cation was: obtained in the public schools 
here, \\nien he had largely m.astered the 
branches of English learning taught in the 
Springfield schools he entered the Lebanon 
Normal School, A\-here he prosecuted his 
studies for some time and gained a broad 
general kno'wdedge which served as a foun- 
dation upon which to rear the superstructure 
of his professional learning. An inherited 
tendency and natural inclination all proba- 
bly combined in determining his choice of 
a life work. He became a student of medi- 
cine under the direction of his father and 
later matriculated in the Eclectic Medical 
Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was 
graduated with the class of 1872. He then 
returned to Springfield and opened his 
office here in counection with his fa- 
tlier, and the relation between them 
was maintained until the death of the 
senior partner in 1875. '^ '^^ Doctor 
has since been alone. He has a commodious 
and pleasant suite of rooms in the Bucking- 
ham block, well fitted up for the successful 
conduct of an office practice, and at the same 



time he \-isits many cases throughout the 
city, his patronage coming from a large 
numl)er of the 'best homes in Springfield. 

The social relations of Dr. Potter con- 
nect him with Ephraim Lodge, L O. O. F., 
the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolait 
Protective Order of Elks. Li 1877 he was 
happily married to Miss Lillian Odenschain, 
of Mouticello', Indiana, \\4io w-as born in 
Bellefoiitaine, Ohio. The Doctor and his 
wife have five children: Helen B., iVlfred 
M., z\rmom- Lucile, Cornelia and Lawrence 
K. In the practice of his profession Dr. 
Potter manifests close application to his 
work, and this, supplementing his broad and 
accurate iknowledge. have made his efforts 
of muclh baiefit in coping \vith disease. He 
is cmitinually reading and studying that 
his labors may be more efi^ective. Already 
his knoavledge and skill have classed him 
among the niost sulistantial medical prac- 
tioners of Springfield. 



JAMES VINTON BALLENTINE. 

James \^inton Ballentine, who has retired 
froni acti\-e farm wo^rk and is noA\' dealing 
in stock in Lawrenceville, is an energetic 
business man wdio recognizes that toil is the 
foundation of all prosperitjf and thus he has 
labored earnestly to accpiire a competence 
that will enable him to provide a good hnnie 
for- his family. He was born in Cumberland 
county, Pennsylvania, October 15. 1823. 
and in the year 183 1 his parents, William 
and Nancy (Neal) Ballentine, came from 
the Keystone state to Ohio, locating- first 
in Montgon-ien' county, where tlie)' remained 
for a \ear. His parents were na- 
tives of courity .\rmagh, Ireland, and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



it was in the year 1798 that they left 
their liome in tlic mirth of the En:er- 
alcl Isle anil cn.ssefl the Atlantic to 
America. Jmhn liallcntine, an luicle of our 
subject, had lieen drafted by England to 
serve as a soldier, but whai he reached this 
cmintry he severed his allegiance to the Brit- 
ish crown and becan:e an American soldier. 
William Ballentine never succeeded in find- 
ing him, liut afterward learned that he died 
in Greenbush, Xew York, lie and his wife 
lived in Pennsylvania for a number of years, 
then, as stated a1x>ve, came to Ohio. In 
1832 they came to Clark county, through 
which they had ])assed when they sought a 
home in Montgomery county, and here the 
father purchased one hundred and sixty 
acres of land, to which he afterward added 
a tract of forty-four acres in Gemiaii town- 
ship, his place being pleasantly located a 
mile and a half from Lawraiceville. Our 
subject lias since made his home in this 
county and in the common schools he ac- 
quired his early education, which was after- 
ward sui^plemented by a \ear's study in the 
high school of Springfield. For nine years 
he engaged in teaching, entering upon that 
]>rofession in 1846. although he later at- 
tended school to son-.e extent. He was a 
successful educator, earnest and thorough in 
his work, and thus he gave general satisfac- 
tion wherever lie was employed. In early 
life he was also a clerk in his brother-in-law's 
store in Traiiont, and likewise acted as a 
ckrk in the postofiice at that place. 

On the 21 St of .\ugust, 1853, Mr. Bal- 
lentine was united in marriage to Miss Ro- 
sanna Doner, who was born in Clark ccxun- 
ty. and was a daughter of John and Sarah 
(Myers) Domer. who came from Maryland 
to Ohi<i. Five children have been born unto 
our subject a.nd his w ife, but one of the nmn- 



ber died at the age of six months. The 
others are: Charles F., who is a teacher of 
this county and lives in Lawrenceville; Eliza 
J., the wife of Dr. Reynolds; Nancy A., the 
wife of Enos Xanders, who is living in 
Lawrenceville; and Marion Seymour, who 
is a grocery merciiant of Darnell, Chajn- 
paign county, Ohio, and is married and has 
one child. 

Through a nun-.l>er of years Mr. Ballen- 
tine carried on general fanning, applying 
himself closely to: his work and following 
progressive methods. He obtained thereby 
a gwxl living. At length he put aside the 
more arduous duties of the farm and began 
dealing in st(X-k in I^wrence\ille, the busi- 
ness which he yet follows. In politics he 
is a DemtTcrat and has lieen quite promi- 
nent in public affairs. He was elected jus- 
tice of the peace and served in that office in 
a most cretlitable manner for twelve years. 
At the end of that time he was again ciiosen 
for the position, but refused to serve longer. 
Of all the many cases he tried only one was 
ever appealed, and in that his decision was 
sustained. He has also married about sixtv- 
nine couples and has performed other duties 
in connection with his office. He acted as 
assistant to an assessor in his township for 
six years and afterward was elected to the 
position of assess<^>r and continued in that 
capacity for ten years. He has beai a dele- 
gate to various state conventions of the 
Democracy and was elected a delegate to 
the national convention, but did not atteiul. 
During the administration of President 
Johnson he served as revenue collector for 
three townships in Clark county. Mr. Bal- 
lentine has long been deeply and actively 
interested in e\'erything jiertaining to the 
public good and his efforts have l>een ef- 
fective in i)romoting the general progress. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



75 



He was one of the prime iT.o\-ers in estali- 
lisiiing- tlie township high school — in fact 
tliis school owes its existence tO' Mr. Ballen- 
tine and Scjuire Eli Kizer. It is now a source 
of pride to the conmiunity and has done 
n:uch. toward promoting educational ad- 
\-ancenient here. Mr. Ballentine was like- 
wise amoaig the first to adx'ocate free pikes, 
and was superintendent of the construction 
of one pike that is twelve miles in length 
and is called the Ballentine pike. He was 
also instrumental in building Flick pike and 
largely assisted in getting the toll gates re- 
n:o\-ed so that the pikes became free high- 
way's of travel. Tluis in all matters of pub- 
lic progress and imprcjvement Air. Ballen- 
tine has home an acti\'e part in the communi- 
ty \\here he resides and where he is re- 
garded by his friends and acquaintances as 
one of the substantial and representative 
citizens. 



JOHN CHAPMAN. 

John Chapman is a partner in an enter- 
jirise of magnitude in Springfield, being a 
memlier of the firm of W'ickham, Chapman 
(S: Company, manufacturers of piano plates. 
He has been a representative of business in- 
terests of the city since 1S77 and since 1889 
has been associated with ]Mr. ^Vickham in 
the conduct of their present industry, which 
has grown in \-olume until its importance 
in the manufacturing circles of the city is 
widely acknowledged. 

Mr. Chapman was born in Ontario, Can- 
ada, Alarch I, 1854, and comes of a family 
noted for longevity. His father. George B. 
Chapman, reached the adxanced age of 
eight}'-se\-en vears, while his mt.tlier, Mrs. 
Belinda Cha]jman, dicfl at the age of seven- 



ty-seven years and was buried in Ferncliff 
cemetery. Their last days were spent in 
Springfield. In their family were five chil- 
dren, of whom three are living : Robert \\'., 
a resident of NeAvark, New Jersey; Eliza- 
beth, the wife of Theodore Colx, of Spring- 
field ; and John. The family comes of Irish 
ancestry. 

In )his early lK)yho<id John Chapman ac- 
companied his parents on their remo\'al from 
Canada to New Jersey, the fam.ily settling 
in Newark, where he pursued his education 
in the public schools. At the age of thirteen 
lie began to learn the trade of a decorator 
in decorative japanning and when he had 
n-tstered the l>usiness he was employed as 
joiu'neyman and afterward as a foreman, 
wliile later he carried on business oai his 
own account as a coutractor. In 1877 '"'^ 
removed to Springfield and became associ- 
ated with the St. John Sewing Machine 
Company as a contractor in the line of ja- 
patming, doing their work in that line until 
1889, when he entered into; partnership with 
Mr. ^^'ickham in the establishment of the 
business which they have since continued. 
They manufacture piano places oif a high 
grade and also piano hardware and the 
products of their factory are shipped tO' all 
portions of this countr\- and Canada. Their 
factory is now- the largest of its kind in the 
world and constantly increasing and the in- 
dustry is of \'alue to the city, as en'.ployment 
is furnished to four hundred workmen. 

In 1896, in Springfield, Mr. Chapman 
was united in marriage to Miss Kittie Gale. 
who was Ijorn in Springfield, a daughter of 
Otho B. Gale, and the_\- now have one daugli- 
ter, Kathryn B. Their home is at No. 133 
North Plum street, and they attend the ser\'- 
ices of the Congregational church, Mv. 
Chairman contributing freely to its support. 



76 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In ])olitics he is a Repuljlican, but has never 
had any desire for political honors, as he 
is pre-eminently a business man. devoting 
his whole time and energies to the develop- 
ment and control of the enterprise which he 
established in connection with Mr. Wickham 
■thirteai years ago. He has watched with 
interest the growth of the city since 1877 
and has seen its population increased two 
and one-half times what it was when he 
took up his residence here. While there 
has l)cen in his career no exciting chapters, 
there is in bis life history that which com- 
mands the respect and attention of business 
men. who realize that force of character, 
diligence and keen discrimination are the 
elem.ents which count in coinmeicial and in- 
dustrial circles. 



()M\"ER S. KELL^'. 

Success comes not to the man who idly 
waits, but to the faithful toiler whose work 
is characterized by intelligence and force 
and who has the foresight and keenness of 
menial vision to know when and where and 
how to exert his energies. Thus it happens 
that but a small proportion of those who en- 
ter the "world's broad field of battle" come 
off victorious in the struggle for wealth and 
position. Some lack perseverance, others 
business sagacity and still others are dila- 
tory or negligent, but Mr. Kelly possesses 
the activity, spirit and enterprise in business 
which have developed and are developing 
the marvelous resources and wealth of the 
western states. At an early age he learned 
one of the great lessons of life — that there is 
no "royal road'" to wealth — and as he was 
not aliove work be toiled industriously un- 



til he has won not only fortune but also the 
esteem and confidence of the people with 
whom he has lieen associated for many years. 
Work, the true friend of mankind, has de- 
veloped his latent resources and brought out 
the strong, self-reliant force of his charac- 
ter. His has been the controlling influence 
of some of the most extensive industrial 
concerns of Springfield and his labors along 
other lines have also contributed in large 
measure to the improvement and upbuilding 
of the city, of which he has long been an 
honored resident. 

Mr. Kelly is one of Clark county's native 
sons. The ancestral line is traced l)ack to 
colonial days and the grandfather, James 
Kelly, was one of the heroes of the Revolu- 
tionary war, who entered the army from the 
colony of Virginia and fought ff)r the in- 
dependence of the nation. ITe reared a 
large family of eight sons and four daugh- 
ters, most of whom have descendants now 
residing in Clark county. Ohio. John Kelly, 
the father of our subject, was born in Vir- 
ginia and with his father's family came to 
this state in the year 1808. a settlement be- 
ing made in Green township, then in Greene 
but now in Clark county. When the country 
again became engaged in war with Eng- 
land, John Kelly entered the army as an 
American soldier in the war of 181 2. He 
was united in marriage to Margaret Mc- 
Beth. a daughter of Alexander McBeth, 
also an early resident of Clark county. 
They were the fifteenth couple married in 
Clark county, whicli was organised in Jan- 
uary , 1818. their marriage being celebrated 
April TO. 1818. They resided upon a farm 
adjoining the old Kelly homestead, and there 
the father died September 25. 1825. at the 
age of thirty-six years, when the .subject 
of this review was but nine niimths old. The 




O. S. KELLY. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



79 



mother remained upon tlie farm and after 
four years of widowhood was again mar- 
ried. 

It was upon his father's farm that OUver 
S. Kelly was born December 23, 1S24, and 
spent the first four years of his Ufe. At the 
age of fourteen he started out to make his 
own way in the world and fate was kind tn 
him in that he found a home with William 
T. Mclntire, who throughout the communi- 
ty was lovingly called "Uncle Billy." ^h\ 
Kelly assisted that gentleman in farm work 
until the spring of 1842, when he entered 
ujion an apprenticeship at the carpenter's 
trade under Joseph and John Mclntire, 
brothers of his benefactor. He served for 
a term of three years, during which time he 
was paid one himdred and sixty-eight dollars 
in addition to his board and the instruction 
which he received at his trade. One year 
was then spent as a journeyman, after which 
he entered into partnership with J. A. An- 
derson, under the firm name of Anderson 
cSi: Kelly, and the new firm prospered, re- 
ceiving a large share of the public patron- 
age and erecting many of the leading struc- 
tures of the county in an early day. This 
business relationship was maintained until 
1 85 2, when the partnership was dissolved 
and Mr. Keily went to California, hoping 
to more rapidly gain a fortune among the 
mines of the Golden state. He left his wife 
and one child in Ohio, and after four years 
he returned to Springfield in 1856 with a 
capital sufficient to enable him to become an 
active and useful factor in the business life 
of this city. 

^Ir. Kelly's first x'enture following his 
return \\as in the wholesale grocery line, 
but after a short tiine he disposed of his in- 
terests in that house and in X'ovember. 
1857, became a n:ember of the firm of 



W'hiteley, Fassler & Kelly. He was a val- 
ued addition to the firm, both because he 
possessed practical knowledge as a mechanic 
and also because he had several thousand 
dollars in ready money to invest, and the 
firm was in need of cash capital in the early 
days of its existence. The new house pros- 
pered as the years passed, their sales bring- 
ing to them an excellent return, until the 
firm became recognized as a leader in the 
manufacture of agricultural hnplements 
throughout the country. Before Mr. Kel- 
ly's connection therewith was terminated 
tire Champion works became one of the 
most important and extensive industries of 
Springfield, employing a large force of 
workmen, utilizing the most improved ma- 
chinery in the conduct of the business and 
ha^•ing• a plant of magnitude, the products 
of which produced sales that annually 
amounted to thousands of dollars. The firm 
built a very extensive plant on East street in 
order to accommodate the increased busi- 
ness. In 1 88 1. howe\-er, Mr. Kelly sold out 
his one-tliird interest to William N. White- 
ley, and in 1882 purchased the Rinehart & 
Ballard Threshing ilachine Works and or- 
ganized a company under the name of the 
Springfield Engine and Thresher Company. 
This was incorporated with O. S. Kelly as 
president and O. W. Kelly, superintendent. 
Later the business name was changed to the 
O. S. Kelly Company and the cajiital stock 
increased from two hundred and fifty thou- 
sand dollars to three hundred and fiftv thou- 
sand dollars. This company manufactured 
threshing machines and engines, which for 
many )-ears were largely sold all over the 
country. To-day this branch of the business 
is largely carried on at Iowa City. Iowa, 
where about three years ago an extensive 
plant was established. There are manufac- 



8o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tured the separators and feed mills while the 
engines are constructed at the home plant in 
Springfield. For the past five years the 
cftnipany has extensively manufactured pi- 
ano plates, now carrying on one of the larg- 
est husiness enterprises of its kind in the 
United States. The minimum numijer of 
employes at one time in the facton- during 
the year is four hundred and twenty-five 
and the numher often reaches the maximum 
of five hundred and twenty-fi\e. The vol- 
ume of business has constantly grown until 
the products of the house are now knoiwn 
throughout the country, the plates l:)eing 
sold on a large scale to piano mamtfactur- 
ers. They also manufacture all kinds of 
rollers in various sizes and their export 
business in rollers has reached mammoth 
proportions. 

After the Whiteley, Fassler & Kelly 
Company had erected its big East street 
works, Mr. Kelly, on selling out his interest 
in the business, purchased the old factory 
of the firm, tore down the building and on 
its site erected the .Arcade buildings, cover- 
ing one hundred and fifty by three hundred 
and forty feet. This place is utilized by the 
Arcade Hotel, t\\ent\--!five business rooms 
and many offices, and by Nelson's Commer- 
cial College and is one of the finest buildings 
of Springfield. .At one time Mr. Kelly was 
also connected with the banking interests of 
the city, having been a director and vice 
president of the Secfmd Xatioiial Bank dur- 
ing its existence. 

On the 23d of Deceml^er. 1847. Mr. 
Kelly was united in marriage to Ruth .\nn 
Peck, whose father, B. W. Peck, was a 
resident of Bridgeton. Xew Jersey, in early 
life and migrated westward to Ohio at an 
early day, journeying in the primitive man- 
ner of the times. lie made his wav from 



Baltim.ore to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in a 
waigon and then came on a flat-lx)at down 
the Ohio river to Cincinnati, where he left 
his family while he traveled the distance on 
foot to Springfield. Being please<l with the 
prospects of the embTvo city he then secured 
a team and brought his family to his new 
home. It was after the removal of the 
parents to this city that Mrs. Kelly Avas 
born, her natal day Ijeing December 24, 
1 82 J. By her marriage she l^ecame the 
n:other of four sons and one daughter, of 
whom only two sons are now living: O. 
\V. and E. S. Kelly. The family home was 
a pleasant residence at the .southwest cor- 
ner of Market and Mulljerry streets and it 
wa,^ noted for its gracious and generous 
ho,spitality, but in 1901 Mrs. Kelly was 
called to her final rest. [Kissing away nn the 
9th of May, "1 901, in her sevaity-ninth 
year, after a happy married life of more than 
fifty-three years. Ideal relations existed in 
the home, the mutual love and confidence 
increasing as time passed by. Mrs. Kelly 
was a devoted wife and mother, .sharing with 
the husljand and sons in their an.bitions and 
desires, her council often proving of value in 
business affairs as well as concerning other 
interests of life. Of a domestic nature, Mr. 
Kelly found his greatest enjoyment l>y his 
own fireside in the society of his family an<l 
friends. 

Throughout his residence in Springfield, 
Mr. Kelly has always taken a dee|) and 
helpful interest in the city, its development 
and improxemait, and has not only exerted 
his official prerogatives for the gaieral grxxl 
but in the capacity of a private citizen has 
lalx)refl earnestly and effectively to jjromote 
the public welfare along lines of material 
develq:)mait and intellectual and moral cul- 
ture. In 1 8^3 he was elected a member of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



8i 



the city council during the exciting times 
of the Civil war and was continuously re- 
elected to that position until his services had 
co\ered a period of six years. When the 
water \vorks were established in Springfield 
he was appointed one of the tnistees 
to inaugurate and put in operation the water 
s\'stem, his colleagues being John H. Thom- 
as and George H. Fre)-. The work was 
satisfactorily completed at an expense of 
four hundred thousand dollars. In 1887 
the highest honor within the gift of the citi- 
zens of Springfield was conferred upon Mr. 
Kelly by his election to the mayoralty. He 
was chosen on the Rq^ublican ticket and 
ser\"etl for two years, during wdiich time tlie 
citv hall was built at a cost of two hundred 
and twenty-five thousand dollars. At the 
same time the city built the esplanade, w bile 
^Ir. Kelly donated the fountain which is 
erected in the same district. At the time 
he entered upon the duties of chief execu- 
ti\e of Springfield, in 1887, the city was en- 
gaged in building a hospital, and by reason 
of his office he was ex-officio chairman oif 
the hospital board. The institution was com- 
pleted and opened during his adniinistratioai 
and from 1898 to 1902 he served as a mem- 
ber of the board of trustees. He was also 
cx-ofificio member of the tax commission and 
after the expiration of his term of serA'ice 
he was appointed by the jndge of the court 
as a member of the tax commission board 
and ser\-ed for two terms or six years. 
During the past twenty-two years he has 
been one of the trustees of Fernclifif ceme- 
tery, and for the past four years has been 
president of the board, during which time 
great changes and many improvements ha\'e 
been wrought in the Ijeautiful city of the 
dead. He has ever been watchful of oppor- 
tunities to promote the public good, and 



although he is alwa}-s quiet and miostenta- 
tious in his work for the imprcA'ement of 
Springfield, the city acknowledges its in- 
debtedness to him for effective and beneficial 
services rendered. Mr. Kelly is always 
courteous, kind and affable, and those who 
know him personally ha\'e for him a w'arm 
regard. A man of great natural ability, his 
success in business from the beginning ot 
his residence in Springfield was uniform and 
rapid. As has beai truly remarked, after 
all that ma\' be done for a man in the way 
of gi\-ing him early opporttmities for ob- 
taining the requirements which are sought 
in schools and in books, he m.ust essentially 
formulate, determine and give shape to his 
own character; and this is what Mr. Kelly 
has done. He has persevered in the pursuit 
of a persistent purpose and gained a most 
satisfactory reward. His life is exemplary 
in all respects and he has ever supported 
those interests which are calculated to uplift 
and baiefit humanity, while his oavn high 
moral worth is deserving of the highest com- 
mendation. 



JOHN M. KILLS. 



The fam.ily name oi our subject has 
been closely connected with the history of 
Clark comity through several generations 
and e\-er in an honorable way that hais re- 
flected credit upon the county. Tlie subject 
of this review is one whose life work adds 
new luster to the creditable family record, 
for he is known as a reliable and enterpris- 
ing business man who has won and retained 
the confidence of his fellow townsmen. He 
was born in Springfield, Xovemlier 10, 
1840. and is a .son of William .\. Kills, 
whose birth occurred in Berks countv, Penn- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sylvaiiia, in 1809. The paternal grandfa- 
ther, Jacob \V. Kills, was engaged in the 
mannfacture of papei" in Beiks county, and 
in 1820 left the Keystone state, emigrating 
to Ohio. He took up his alx)de in Clark 
county and erected a paj^er mill near where 
the building of the Springfield Metallic 
Casket Compan)- now stands. This was the 
first manufacturing dcme in the city. The 
business was carried on consecutively un- 
til after the Civil war, when Mr. Kills sold 
out to Charles Bacon. Afterward the busi- 
ness was absorbed by the trust and the fac- 
tory at this place closed up. Jacob \\'. Kills 
was a leading and influential residait of 
Springfield in the days of its villagehood 
and he served as a member of the county 
iufinr.an- Ixwrd until his death, which oc- 
cmred in 1865, when he was ninety-seven 
years of age. He was among the honored 
pioneers of the city and county and left 
the impress of his individuality upon the 
public progress and business advancement. 
His wife was also a native of the Kejstone 
state and both were laid to rest in Green- 
mount cemeteiy. In their family were five 
children, namely : Susan, Rebecca, Mary 
William A. and Jacob \\"., Jr. All came to 
this county and all died here with the excep- 
tion of Rebecca, who departed this life in In- 
diana. The n:embers of the family readied 
ad\anced ages and the sons grew up in 
the business that \\as followed by their 
fatiier. 

William A. Kills was only about eleven 
years of age when the family came to 
Springfield. His educational privileges 
were limited because no very good schools 
had been established in this section of 
the country at that time. l>ut he became 
a well read man and a g(X>d scribe, 
gaining bis knowledge through read- 



ing, experience and observation. He gave 
his p<jlitical support in early days to the 
\\'hig party, and afterward became a stanch 
Republican. He served as a meir.ber of 
the city council for a numl>er of years and 
was a public spirited man, devoted to the 
welfare of his community. Some of the 
family were members of the Methodist 
Episcopal church and others of the Baptist 
church and the father of our subject was 
a charter men.her of Clark Lodge, F. & A. 
M., in which he passed all of the chairs, 
and in the conunandery he attained the de- 
gree of Knight Templar. He was also a 
charter member of Springfield Lodge. I. O. 
O. F., and of the Encam.pment, and filled 
all of the oftices of the former. He was an 
earnest worker in these fraternal circles and 
in his life exemplified the benevolent spirit 
upon which they are based. Having learned 
the business of manufacturing paper in his 
youth he carried it on for a numter of years, 
winning success through his enterprising 
and well directed efforts. He did not self- 
ishly hoard his earnings, but was liberal 
in his patronage of all aiterprises that b.e 
believed would benefit tlie city. He married 
Charlotte Hawkins, a native of England, 
who came to this country with her ])arents 
in a sailing vessel, the family .settling in 
Clark cpunty, Ohio. Her father purchased 
government land and engaged in fam-.ing. 
His children were John, James, William, 
Charlotte, Hannah, Xancy and Sarah, all 
of whom are now deceased, although all 
reached advanced ages and passed away in 
this county. The father of our subject died 
at his home on Columbia street in Spring- 
field August 14. 1894. and the mother in 
1898. They had three daughters and four 
sons, of whom Charlotte died in early child- 
hood. The others now deceased are: Ja- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



S3 



cob \\'., who was a musician in the Thirty- 
first Ohio Infantry during the Civil war 
and was killed in the service when sixteen 
years O'f age; and William \., whoi died at 
the age of fifty-three years. Those living- 
are: Sarah A., the widow of John Shelle- 
barger, a resident of Bethel township : Jolui 
^[. ; and James J\I., who resides with his 
hr(.)ther John. He served for three years 
in the regular army and was a \'olunteer in 
an Ohio regim.ent during the Ci\-il war, 
joining that conanand at the age of nine- 
teen years. The children all attended the 
subsciption scliools of the county, for pub- 
lic schools w'ere a new thing in their youth. 
John AI. Kills was thus educated and 
during the periods of vacation he worked 
in his father's mill. At the age of twenty 
he joined the arm}_, for his patriotic spirit 
was aroused by the attempt of the south -to 
q\erthrow the Union, and hardly had the 
smc>ke of Fort Sumter's guns cleared away 
when, in April, 1861, he enlisted in Com- 
pany F. Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 
for three months' ser\-ice. On the expira- 
tion of that term he re-enlisted and became 
first lieutenant of Company K, Thirty-first 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and took part in 
the battles of Mills Springs, on the banks 
of the Cumberland, and those of the Ala- 
ban a and Mississippi campaign, including 
the battles of Perryville, Stone River and 
Pittslmrg Landing-, and was also in the 
siege of Corinth and the battle of Franklin, 
and later went with Sherman on his cele- 
brated march toi the sea. During the term 
of his first enlistment he had taken part in 
the first battle of Bull Run. He served al- 
together in twenty-five battles of the war, 
but never was wounded or injured, although 
the con-pany saw \-ery acti\-e ser\-ice and he 
was often in the thickest of the fight. At 
length, when the war was over, he partici- 



pated in the grand review in Washington 
and was discharged in Columbus, Ohio, re- 
turning to his home with a most creditable 
and honorable military record. 

Mr, Kills then began: to Avork in the 
machine shop of Warder, Bushnell & Gless- 
ner, being thus eir.ployed for several v-ears. 
He was also with John Foos and later 
ser^;ed as foreiran of the machine shop of 
the Thomas Manufacturing Company for fif- 
teen years. In 1S90 he entered the draying 
ijusincss, beginning on a small scale, and 
as his patronage increased he enlarged his 
facilities and now has five teams, employed 
in this way. Among his patrons are many 
of the leading residents of the city and he 
does a general draying and trucking busi- 
ness, ha\-ing made a success of his enterprise 
by giving it his perso'nal attention. 

Mr. Kills was married in Spring-field 
on the 19th o<f December, 1878, to Miss 
Ellnora Harding, who was born in this city 
in 1850, a daughter of William H. Harding, 
who \\-as a brick contractor. He was born 
in 180S and died in 1867. His wife, Mr~. 
Mahala C. Harding, was, like her husband, 
a native of Maryland, and she died in Feb- 
ruary, 1 888, at the age of seventy-eight 
xears. In their family w-ere the following 
chiklren: Williarii F., now deceased; John 
M., who has also passed away; Samuel P.. 
now deceased, who was a soldier in the Civil 
war; Mary E., Cliailes X., Emily C. and 
William C, all deceased ; George, a resident 
I A Springfield; Edward, of Dayton, Ohio; 
and Ellnora, now Mrs. Kills. The Harding- 
family had come to this country at an early 
da}', about the sa.me time that the parents of 
our subject arri\-ed. They were of Eng- 
lish ancestry and were actixe factors in the 
de\-elopn:ent of this portiijai of Ohio. ]\Irs. 
Kills w-as educated in the public schools. 

Our subject antl his wife liave one son. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Charles E., who was born June 13. 1871, 
Slid assists Mr. Kills in his business. He is 
married and has one daughter, Helen 
Beatrice, who was lx>rn in 1891 and is at- 
tending school, maiking her home with our 
suihject. 

_Mr. Kills purchased a lot and erected 
thereon his present residence in 1886. which 
is located at 390 Di'bcrt street. He and his 
wife are m.embers of the First Lutheran 
church, take aai active interest in its work 
and withhold their support from no mo\e- 
ment for the general good. In national af- 
fairs he is a Dan<xrat. but in local elections. 
where there is no issue involved, he supports 
the men best cjualified in his oijinion to per- 
form the business of the town and county. 
He belongs toi the Union Veteran Union, in 
which he has served as quartermaster. Hi.- 
success has been by no means the result of 
fortunate circun. stances. l>ut has come to 
him through energy, lal)or and perseverance, 
directed by an evenly balanced mind and 
by honorable business principles. He coni- 
jiiands the respect of all with whom he has 
come in contact and deserves the high re- 
gard of his fellow men, as his life has ever 
been honorable and straightforward. 



lli'ZEKI.MI \i. CA'AGVM, I'li.D., D. D. 

A man of irorc than local fame. Profes- 
sor Hezekiah Kiieuhush (ieiger left a life 
record which is inseparably interwoven with 
the history of Si)ringfield and its moral, so- 
cial and iiucllectual dexelopn.ent and lii?- in- 
tluence for good in the world cannot ne 
measured, for his was an individuality which 
left its im])rcss upon the lives of all with 
whom he came in contact. Had he accom- 
plished nothing save the founding of Wit- 
tenberg College. Springfield wmild liave 
reason to hold hin^ in grateful remembnmce. 



but his efforts along many lines contribuled 
in large measure to public progress here and 
the sum total of the world's knowledge was 
augn:enle(l by his rcse.'\rch and inxestiga- 
tion. It is said of an eminent man of old 
that "he has done things worthy to be writ- 
ten ; that he has written things worthy to 
be read; and by his life has contributed to 
the welfare of the republic and the hap- 
piness of mankind." He on whom this 
trariscendant eulogy can be ;,ronounced with 
e\ en partial truth is entitled Xo the gratitude 
of his race, and nowhere within the liniils 
of this section of Ohio lias there died a man 
over whom this n:ight more justly be -aid 
than over Y)\\ Geiger. 

His life history began in Greencastle, 
.Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, his na- 
talclay Ijeing January 10, i8jo. and from 
German and Scotch ancestr_\- he was de 
scended. His paternal grandfather, Charles 
Geiger. born in Germany, crossed the At- 
lantic to America and settled in Montgom- 
ery county about 177^. He was living near 
Philadelphia at the time of the Rev(;lution- 
ary war antl he lx)re an honorable part in 
the struggle for freedom between the colo- 
nists and the mother country. By trade he 
was a n'illcr and he spent his entire life aft- 
er his emigration to this country in Penn- 
sylvania. 

iicnry (ieiger. the father of the Doctor, 
was born in Montgom.ery county. Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1789. was reared in his native state 
and was a man of gocxl mental calibre, 
strong convictions, and was a good citizen. 
He was intensely loyal to his coiuitry and 
at the time of the war of 181 2 he joined 
General Scott's division and ])artici])ated in 
the battles of Chippewa Plains and Lundy's 
Lane. He was also with Comnwxiore Perry 
in bis naval victory on Lake Erie and was 
with the shiiis that anchored ;it Put-in-Bav 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



85 



and assisted in bnrying the dead who are 
interred there. At the close of the war he 
received an honorable discharge from the 
army and settletl in Franklin coamty, Penn- 
sylvania. Henry Geiger was married in 
1815 to Julia Rheubush, who was of Scotch 
parentage and was lx)rn and reared in Ha- 
gerstown, Maryland. In the year 1833 
Henry Geiger removed with his family to 
Columbiana county, Ohio, and after a year 
there passed went to Holmes count}-, this 
state, where he li\ed until his remo\al to Ur- 
bana, in 1S51. Here his wife died August 31, 
1854. He lived retired during the last years 
of his life, spending most of his time with 
his children. His death occurred at the 
home of his son, Dr. Geiger, of Dayton, 
Ohio, in 1861. In the family were eleven 
sons and a daughter, and o>f this numljer 
se\-en hecame prominent professiomal men, 
there being, beside Dr. Geiger of this re- 
view, two ministers of the gospel, one physi- 
cian and three lawyers ; two of whom at- 
tained judgeships, while one was a gen- 
eral in the Union army. The father, with 
intense patriotism, offered his services to 
the go\-ernment in the Cixil \var, Ijut was 
not accepted because of his age. The i:>nly 
sur\-ivin;g n.embers of his famil_\- are Rev. 
Dr. Andrew Geiger, of Kansas City, Alis- 
souri : and Mrs. J. B. Hileman, of Altoona, 
Pennsylvania. The parents were members 
of the Lutheran church and in that faith 
reared their family. 

Dr. Geiger of this review spent the ear- 
ly }ears of his life in the state of his nativi- 
ty and accon.panied his parents on their re- 
mo\-al to Ohio. He was provided with good 
educational privileges and in 1846 was grad- 
uated with high rank in Pennsylvania Col- 
lege. When lie had completed liis cillegi- 
ate course he came tc* Spriiigheld, and join- 
ing Rev. Ezra Keller, D. D. and Micliael 



Diehl, became one of the founders of Wit- 
tenberg College, which will e\'er stand as 
a monument to the pul>Lic spirit and Chris- 
tian philanthropy oif these gentlemen. Dr. 
Geiger accepted a professorship in the new 
mstitution, becoming instructor in Latin, 
natural sciences and mathematics, antl Ije- 
came widely recognized as one of the most 
capable educators of Ohio, his broad learn- 
ing and the readiness with which he impart- 
ed it tot others doing much to estaljlish a 
high standard foT the school. As the college 
grew his duties became nioTe arduous and 
resigning the chair of Latin and mathemat- 
ics, he devoted his entire attention to that 
of natural science. This occurred in 1873. 
In this counection extensive travel for in- 
vestigation residted, and in 1874 he visited 
the Pacific coast and the Sandwich Islands 
in compan_\- with the Hon. John W. Book- 
waiter and wife, on which trip Mr. Book- 
waiter first e.xtended his travels beyond the 
borders o^f this land. While on this jour- 
ney Dr. Geiger made original sur\-eys of 
the craters of the islands and gathered much 
data oi great scientific interest. The inci- 
dents of the trip were embodied in a, most 
interesting volume published by Mr, Book- 
waiter. 

Early in his professional career Dr. Gei- 
ger was ordained to the ministry by the 
Wittenberg synod, and from that time un- 
til his death continued an a.cti\'e worker in 
the cause of Christianity. He not only 
possessed broad and comprehensixe knowl- 
edge of natural science and of mathematics, 
but made a close study of the great princi- 
ciples of religion, the object and plan of life 
as manifest in the Scriptures, and was a 
theologian of clear conception, fine analytical 
pi>wers and positive con.'\-ictions. His chem- 
ical and mechanical ability were of such high 
order that he was for a consideralile period 



86 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



oi liiT.e retained as an expert by different 
manufactuiing- concerns of tlie city and was 
associated with James Leffel in the perfec- 
tion of his water wheel. Besides his edu- 
cational work in Wittenberg College he w as 
a maitber of both tlie city and county Ixjards 
of school examiners. In 1882 he resigned 
his position as a member of the faculty of 
Wittenberg College and accepted a position 
on the United States geological survey in 
charge of the Blue Ridge division, for which 
iiis well trained mind and previous study 
and investigation well qualified him. He 
acted in that capacity until 1890, when he 
resigned. His inxestigations had extended 
through Maryland. West Virginia and \'ir- 
ginia, and while engaged in that work he 
ad\-anced, and ijroved in opposition to all 
pre\-ious theories, the true theory of the 
geological construction of the aitire Blue 
Ridge system as now accei>ted and recog- 
nized l)y scientists and government author- 
ities. Editorial and literary work claimed 
his attention in his later years. He edited 
the Lutheran Evangelist, and was on the 
staff of a leading agricultural joiu-nal and 
his work in this direction bore the impress 
of a n.ind of strong convictions and fear- 
less purpose. 

On the i-|th of December, 1834. Dr. 
Geiger was united in marriage to Miss Xan- 
cv Melvina Hartfortl, who was b-orn in 
\\'est Virginia, but was educated in Steu- 
ben ville, Ohio, and became a teacher in the 
Presbyterian Seminary in Spring-field, 
wh.ere she met and married Dr. Oiger. 
They became the parents of seven children: 
Alice M.. who was graduated in Wittenberg 
College in 18711. the first wcnran to com- 
plete the course there; Charles A., manager 
of the Troy \\'agon works, of Tro\-, Ohio: 
Lizzie G.. the wife of A. D. Hosterman, of 
Springfield: Anna L.. the wife of J. X. 



Carver, of Springfield, n:anager of the 
Farm Xews; Harry AL, of Indianapolis; 
Ella L. ; and Frank W. With the excep- 
tion of Harry, all are graduates of Witten- 
berg College, and Frank, Alice and Ella 
occupy the old family home, which was built 
by Dr. Geiger at Xo. 3 Ferncliff avenue, in 
1853, ''"^^ '-^ O"^ '*^' ^'^^ oldest residences of 
the city. 

Dr. Geiger passed away July 18, 1889, 
and his wife Septeml>er 30, 1900. Thus de- 
parted this life one who had played an im- 
port part in molding the history of 
Springfield. His work was not of a charac- 
ter that cijuld l>e measured by dollars and 
cents, nor had it erected a monum.ent in any 
building or commercial enterprise of the 
city, but its power was that of influencing 
intellectual and moral develoijn-.ait, of con- 
trolling actiim through the development of 
high character and lofty puipose. 
•'His life was nolMe and the elements 

So mixed in him that Xature might 
stand up 

And say to all the world, "this was a 
nan." "' 

MRS. EL1Z.\ D. STEW.VRT. 

As long as history chronicles the prog- 
ress of the world in all the paths of life that 
lead to the uplifting- of humanity and the 
betterment of the world, so long will the 
name of "Mother Stewart" figure on its 
pages. Among the great movements wliich 
have led to a clearer insight into the plans 
and purposes of the Creator for the hunian 
race, ])erhai)s none has had more direct in- 
fluence or l)eci >me a stronger cause for good 
than the temperance work instituted by her 
in the Ohio town of which she was then a 
resident. Without force or compulsion, but 
through loving sympathy for her fellow 



i 







MOTHER STEWART. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



89 



men, she has enrolled an army of workers 
for the right who are continually winning 
new victories for "God and Home and Na- 
tive Land." And yet not alone as an advo- 
cate of temperance reform is Mrs. Stewart 
known to the world. Her efforts have been 
felt along almost every line that has led to 
the alleviation of human misery caused by 
wrong; her influence has been a potent fac- 
tor in the cause of Christ and her patriotism 
was an inspiration in the darkest hour of 
her countrj^'s peril. 

A native of Ohio, in which state she is 
yet living. Mrs. Stewart was born in Pike- 
ton April 25, 1816, and has therefore passed 
the eighty-sixth milestone on life's journey. 
She is descended from two prominent Amer- 
ican families, the Baldwin and the Guthery, 
and her grandfather, Colonel John Guthery, 
was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary 
war. She looked upon the serious side of 
life at a \-ery early age, for she was only 
twelve when left an orphan by her father's 
death, her mother ha\ing died when she 
was but three years of age. When only nine 
years of age she operated a spinning wheel 
and when her father died and her brother 
went into business for himself, it became 
necessary for her to take charge of the stock 
upon the home farm, in addition to perform- 
ing the work of the household and caring for 
an invalid stepmother. She afterward went 
to li\-e with relatives and there she learned 
to spin wool, cotton and flax and when four- 
teen years of age her day's work equalled 
diat of a grown woman. Though her early 
years were thus largely a period of physical 
:oil she used her few leisure moments in the 
improvement of her mind and as she found 
opportunity attended the schools and semin- 
iries in this part of Ohio and when eighteen 
rears of age she engaged in teaching school. 



Another duty came to her about 1833, 
when, becoming housekeeper for her broth- 
er, who was then postmaster of his town, 
she was sworn in as his assistant under the 
administration of General Jackson, being, it 
is believed, the first woman who ever acted 
in that capacity. In 1848 Eliza Daniels be- 
came the wife of Hiram Stewart, and five 
children were born of this marriage, but 
all died in infancy. With a true mother's 
devotion, however, she cared for her two 
stepsons, whom she trained and educated to 
be an honor to their parents and their coun- 
try. The elder son secured a teacher's cer- 
tificate when only fourteen years of age and 
about that time he entered upon the regular 
course in the Ohio State University, being 
the youngest student ever admitted to the in- 
stitution, and he graduated with the hon- 
ors of his class. H]e always gave to Mrs. 
Stewart great credit for what he accom- 
plished, because of the splendid assistance 
which she rendered him in his early training. 
Later, when the country became involved in 
Civil war the two stepsons went to the front 
in defense of the Union. In those years. 
Mrs. Stewart largely devoted her time and 
energies to the duties of home, church and: 
society, and throughout her entire life she 
has had the deepest love of home. Yet there 
was to come a time when she would leave the 
quiet of her own fireside to take her place 
among the great workers of the wurld, la- 
boring for humanity and Christianity. 

Mrs. Stewart became a member of the 
Methodist church when fifteen years of age 
and in recent years she has joined the Chris- 
tian Catholic church, of Zion City, founded 
by Dr. Dowie, who ordained her one of the 
elders, but her nature has always been too 
broad to be hampered by dogmas or creeds. 
Hers is the religion of Christianity, which 



90 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



embraces the entire race in an effort for the 
universal uplifting of man. She became ac- 
tively interested in temperance work in 1858, 
when she joined the Good Templars socie- 
ty, of which she has since been an honored 
member. When the Ci.\-il war came on and 
her husband went to the south in the commis- 
sary department, and her stepsons as soldiers 
•of the Union, she began her work for the 
'"boys in blue" and thus won from them the 
loving name of "mother." She was one of 
the organizers of the Soldiers Aid Society, 
of Athens county, of which she was made 
the secretary, giving her time and energies 
to the work of collecting money, food and 
clothing, and in fact everything needed by 
the soldiers in the field and their families 
at home. She organized a large class of lit- 
tle girls, instructing them in the work of 
making quilts, bandages, lint and other use- 
ful articles for the soldiers. Her work won 
recognition not only from the humble pri- 
vate, 1)Ut from some of the highest officials 
of the army and of the country, and she now 
lias in her possession a framed certificate, offi- 
cially signed, testifying to the work of her 
county in the Cincinnati Sanitary Fair, 
which work was largely due to the efforts of 
JVIrs. Stewart. When Morgan made his 
raid through Ohio, she stood on picket duty 
at .\thens one entire night, while the old 
men and boys left weiU out to fell trees and 
l)uil(l fiirtifications to ol)Struct the route of 
the Confederate commandjer. She also has 
in her possession a framed copy in the hand- 
Avriling of the author, of Sherman's March 
to the Sea, a song which proved an inspira- 
tion to the soldiers ofttimes traveling a 
weary road. These are but a few of the 
many testimonials of appreciation which 
she received from her wmk and nmre than 
that, her name is deeply engra\ed in rever- 



ence and love upon the hearts of hundreds 
of soldiers who benfited by her labors. Af- 
ter the war ended there was still great suf- 
fering remaining as one of the after effects 
and she" traveled and lectureil in behalf of 
those who needed assistance until much re- 
lief was furnished by those who heard her 
earnest, eloquent words. 

Again her abilit)' was called into action 
as a member of the state board of charities, 
in which capacity it became her duty to 
look after and report upon various charit- 
able institutions of Ohio. Because of her 
pleasing and interesting style as a writer 
her services were secured to travel through 
the south and report to northern papers, 
and tliis she did in 1871 and 1872, thus 
helping to enlighten the ])ublic mind and 
encourage the just settlement of national 
difficulties. 

In' the meantime Mrs. Stewart had be- 
come an active factor in woman's suffrage 
work, and a society, organized in her own 
parlor, chose her for its president. She has 
since become a national leader in this move- 
ment and has attended various national con- 
ventions in behalf of the furtherance of this 
cause. Tbroughout all the years she had 
continued to .speak and labor in behalf of 
temperance as opiwrtunity had offered. Her 
first public address on temperance was de- 
livered under the auspices of the Good 
Templars in Pomeroy, Ohio, in 1858. Hei 
labors continued through the following 
years until January, 1872, when she in- 
augurated a new movement in behalf of 
temperance, which has spread until it now 
encompasses almost the entire civilized 
world. At that date she spoke on temper- 
ance in Springfield. Ohio, the first lecture 
e\cr delivered there by a woman on that sub- 
ject, and under the .\dair law she plead and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



gained cases tor drunkards' \\i\es in the 
courts of lier city. 'I'hen came an aijpeal 
from the Women's Benevolent Society for 
temperance work, and the temperance sen- 
timent tlius aroused led to the organization 
of the now world-famous Women's Chris- 
tian Temperance Union, Mrs. Stewart be- 
ing chosen president of the first local union 
in Springfield. She organized the first 
union at Osborn, Ohio, December i, 
1873. followed by the organization of 
temperance women in Springfield, and 
from that point Mrs. Stewart continued 
her work through the different counties 
of the state. For years she traveled almost 
continuously, taking scarcely time to eat or 
sleep, ever organizing, stimulating and ap- 
pealing to the people to arouse and destroy 
the liquor traffic. When the Prohibition 
party was formed she became one of its en- 
dorsers and has been a member of both the 
state and national Prohibition committees. 
In 1876 Mrs. Stewart became the mis- 
sionary of temperance into foreign lands 
and carried the "white ribbon" to the women 
of Great Britain, who welcomed her heartily 
and co-operated in her great work for the 
reclamation of the race from the bonds of 
intemperance. The British Women's Tem- 
perance Association is the result of her 
work. Almost twenty years later she again 
visited Great Britain, as the guest of Lady 
Henry Somerset, now the head of the move- 
ment there, attending the world's convention 
of the W. C. T. U. In her native land she 
took up the work of introducing the new 
movement among the women of the south, 
white and black, in 1878, and again in 1880, 
sJie sold her dearly prized souvenirs and 
heirlooms in order to secure funds for carry- 
ing on the work there. Abrn'e and beyimd 
all and through all, has Ijeen her abiding 



faith in Christianity, and certainly she has 
followed close!}" in the footsteps of Him who 
came not to Ije ministered unto but to 
minister. 

Mrs. Stewart is the author of two works 
uj^on the subject of temperance. When, 
cuing to her strenuous life and indefatiga- 
ble efforts her health failed her so that she 
was obliged to leave the lecture platform 
and remain quietly at home, she wrote the 
^Memories of the Crusade, and later she 
produced The Crusader in Great Britain, 
books which are more wonderful than fic- 
tion, more thrilling than romance, treating 
of the world's great tragedies and "the 
bloodless wounds of the soul, o\-er which 
the angels weep." 

There certainly was never a more unbi- 
ased anaiyzation of character given than 
that contained in the psychological chart of 
3. Irs. Stewart, made by the great lahrenol- 
ogist. Professor Headley, in 1882, at which 
time he had no intimation as to who his sub- 
ject was. Hb said : "You have an organi- 
zation of remarkable power, physically and 
mentally. You are of the finest quality, and 
hence are sympathetic, sensitive as a flow- 
er, possess very strong affections, and are 
cast in a charitable mold. And yet, withal, 
you have great endurance, wonderful exec- 
utiveness and amount of force, will and fin/z- 
ness, especially in what is right and noble, 
that is worthy of a Wendell Phillips. Your 
brain is very large ; you take broad, com- 
prehensive views of things, are capable of 
managing extensive enterprises and would 
be known anywhere as a leader and not a 
follower. The great organs in your charac- 
ter are Conscientiousness, Benevolence, 
Firmness, Perseverance and Human Na- 
ture. Such a combinatir)n as this was pos- 
sessed bv the John Howards, Florence 



92 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Nightingales and Elizabeth Fre\-s of his- 
tory. You are a natural reformer and agi- 
tator : vou have the head of a missonary. You 
take any risk, make any sacrifice and bear 
exposure or even abuse and the misconcep- 
tion of men for the sake of helping the down- 
trodden, reforming the wayward and err- 
ing and doing work for God, but, alx)ve all, 
for humanity. You are not so orthodox 
but that character, rather than creed and 
human needs rather than dogmas, win and 
hold you most. You are a natural speaker, 
and can make vigorous, earnest, sympathetic 
speeches. Vou should lecture on the great 
questions of the day, 'Woman's Moral Cul- 
ture,' 'Reform.' etc. You have not much ac- 
(iuisiti\eness. and the money y(iu might get 
out (if a thing WDuld be ynur last considera- 
tion. \'nu are nut selfish enough for your 
own personal proht, nor are your afraid of 
public opinion: whether what you said or 
did was pojnilar or not, would never trouble' 
you as long as your conscience said it was 
right. \ on can write, would be a go<jd edi- 
tor or contributor to magazines, etc. Xow, 
combined with your force and moral inde- 
pendence, 1 lind a large conjugal nature. 
You would be a good wife; would be as true 
as steel, even to an inferior or non-appre- 
ciative husband. You are very motherly 
and love pets — the young and beautiful ev- 
erywhere. You ixissess a degree of friend- 
ship thai is large; while you are not attract- 
ed to tlie masses, except to do them good, 
yet with congenial souls you would be kind- 
lier ami would give your confidence almost 
beyond the bounds of need. You are math- 
ematical, exact, honest, executive, long-suf- 
fering and yet are balanced by wonderful 
hope, great cheerfulness, and, at times, are 
joyous and humorous as a child. Herein 
lies the safesruard asainst the strain of vour 



intensely grave and earnest character. God 
cripples your usefulness a little in that he 
had not given you another sex. You should 
ha\e been a man. The world neetls such 
men every day." 

Mrs. Stewart now resides at her beauti- 
ful and attractive home on Appletree Place 
in Springfield. When she reached the 
eightieth anniversary of her birth some of 
her friends prepared and printed an account 
of her life, closing it with the words: 
"Dearly beloved Mother Stewart, yours is 
one of the true lives that 'can nevei" die.' 
Y(jur 'promotion' may come, but your influ- 
ence upon the soldiers of prohibition, patri- 
otism, temperance and righteousness will 
never pass from under your commantl. 
Vou have placed the insignia of your Sa- 
\ior's love in every loyal heart, given the 
ensign of His cross into the hand of every 
true disciple, while the badges of fidelity are 
on every breast. \'our friends, anxious to 
'give honor to whom honor is due," have 
gathered as best they could some of the 
more important and memorable incidents 
of ycjur life-work as a lo\ing memorial of 
your eightieth birtlulay. We feel it to be 
a small and insignificant tribute, compared 
w ith the magnificent life you have li\ed, but 
we know that loving hearts and willing 
hands may write and rewrite regarding your 
remarkable career, yet we are sure that the 
hand of Infinity only can do you justice, 
^birtals can not compute the miles trav- 
eled, the weary steps taken, the heartfelt 
anxieties, the tears shed, prayers offered, 
appeals made, pledges taken, badges given. 
the treasure expended, the faith exercisetl, 
the trusts kejjt and blessings bestowed. Xo, 
we can not know, and you have kept no ac- 
coujit: it was His wdrk, and 'God holds the 
ledger." Blessed thought! that while our 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



93 



loving mission fails in enumeration, the an- 
gels know; and if ciur earnest appreciation 
fails to compass \-our work, God's crown 
will cover it all." 



GEORGE H. FREY, Sr. 

George H. Frey, Sr., prominent among 
the older residents of Springfield, \\-as born 
at Philadelphia, Jefferson county. New 
York, Decem'ber 19, 1825, and is a son of 
Samuel C. and Susan (Calhoun) Fre3-. 
The father was bnrn at St. Johnsville, in 
what is noiw Fulton county, New York, and 
was of the fifth generation in tlie line of 
descent from Heni^y Frev\ who settled at 
Paletine Bridge, New York, in 1684, having 
come from Zurich, Switzerland. The bur- 
gomaster of that city certified him to be a, 
good house-builder. There were no white 
settlers as far up the "\'alley of the Mohawk 
river as the lucality in which Henrv Frey 
took up his al>ode. He was at the headquar- 
ters of the most warlike tribe of the Mohawk 
Indians and these were said to be the most 
ferocious of the American red men. He and 
his descendants, ho'\\-e\'er, lived among these 
Indians for about one hundred years and 
ne\er had any trouble with them. During 
all of the period of the early colonial his- 
torv when the French possessed lower 
Canada and their Indian allies made fre- 
quent forays on the New England and New 
York colonies the Mohawk Indians were 
efficient protectors oif the family. The next 
in the line of direct descent was Henry 
Frey, the second, and he was the father of 
Henry Frey, the third, who was attached 
to the staff of Sir William Johnson and was 
present at the capture of Fort Niagara, 



when it was taken from the Frencli during 
the colonial wairs. He also filled various 
commissions, by appointmait from the 
crown, including the position of colonel of 
militia and magistrate. He was likewise a 
member of the colonial legislature. A man 
of broad learning, he had been admitted to 
the bar and was a prominent and influential 
resident of his community. In 1774 he was 
appointed one of the judges of common pleas 
for the new county of Tryoit, which em- 
braced all the territory of the colony of New 
York, west of Schenectady. His frequent 
appointments, together with the fact that 
just before the Revolution he qualified as a 
judge, and also owing to the fact that he and 
associate judges declined to serve as mem- 
bers of the comittee of public safety, led to 
his suffering much persecution, although his 
k-olher and his brother-in-law were both 
members of the committee of public safety 
and he was a warm personal friend of Gen- 
eral Philip Schuyler, one of the leading 
patriots of the colony. His brother-in-law 
was General Nicholas Herkimer, but the in- 
fluence of none of these men availed and 
neither did the fact that Judge Frey. him- 
self, had contributed seven thousand dollars 
to the support of the anny, for the grudges 
and jealousies of men, who seemed to con- 
trol affairs, were manifest in the continued 
annoyances. He was also seized and sait to 
Hartford, Connecticut, and his son, Philip 
R. Frey, was also put under arrest, lieing 
taken from school at Schenectady and con- 
fined in the stockade at Johnstown, New 
York. Tire son, Philip R. Frey, l>ecame ill 
in his unhealthy place of confinement and 
his mother and sister procured for him per- 
mission to visit home, his arrest l>eing- an 
arbitrary proceeding, for he was then only 
sixteen years of age when taken from school 



94 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and put in confinen.ent. As lie was an only 
son his mother determined to put him be- 
yond the reach of any further persecution 
and placed, him in charge of some Indians 
of the Six Nations. He was then taken to 
Canada, where he remained until after the 
close of the Revolutionary war. 

In the meantime Philip prey was married 
in Detroit. Michigan, to Miss Marie Louise 
St. Martin, who. it is claimed, was a niece 
of General Montcalm, ,who fell at the head 
of the French troops in the battle of Quebec. 
On his return to the Mohawk valle)- Philip 
Frey, who was the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, completed the study of law but was en- 
gaged in practice for only a few years, when 
he died. His first wife had previously parsed 
away and he had afterward married Mrs. 
Elizabeth Howe. The first child bom of 
this union was Samuel C. Frey, the father of 
our subject. 

Samuel C. Frey learned the trade of a 
watchmaker and silversmith at Canajoharie, 
New York, and also followed these pursuits 
in Syracuse, New York. He was married 
in the former place to Miss Calhoun, a na- 
tive of Boston, Massachusetts, and a daugh- 
ter of Andrew Calhoim, a native of the 
north of Ireland and also remotely related 
to the prominent Calhoun family of the 
s::utli. In 1830, whai the subject of this 
re\ lew was but five years of age, the father 
reircned to Canada and there George H. 
I*"rey saw the first steamer that ever sailed 
on the waters of lake Ontario. It was the 
old Niagara, which made a rate of speed of 
alx>ut five miles an hour. The father located 
at Brock'^■ille, Ontario, and took an active in- 
terest in public affairs. In 1837, when the re- 
belliim arose, he and his immediate friends, 
among them Stephen Richards, the father of 
the late Chief lustice Richards, of the Do- 



minion of Canada, were threateneil with 
arrest for suspected sympathy with the re- 
bellion. Mr. Frey escaped without arrest 
and came to the states in Deceirtber, 1S37, 
settling at Morristown, New York, where he 
remained until 1838, when on account of 
supposed hostility to British interests and 
violation of the neutrality laws he was again 
threatened with arrest. He then went to 
Canton, Ohio, with his family, where he re- 
mained for nearh' twenty years and from 
1857 until 1870 he was a resident of Spring- 
field. In the latter year he went south to 
Decatur, Alabama, where he died in Feb- 
ruary, 1877, his wife passing away in March, 
1883. 

George H. Frey received his preliminary 
education at Brockville, Ontario, and later 
studied under the instruction of private 
tutors, receiving excellent educational ad- 
vantages for those days. With the intention 
of becoming a manber of the legal profes- 
sion, he then altered the office oi Hiram 
Griswold, of Canton, Ohio, and read law 
until admitted to the bar in Xaiia. in June, 
1847. -^t that time he came to Springfield, 
which was thai a town of about thirty-six 
hundred. He opened an office, entering into 
partnership with a man who was also the 
editor of the Republic, the leading Whig 
paper of the county. In 1849 ^^^- Fre\- took 
charge of the office of the Cincinnati & 
Sandusky Tel^raph Company, in this city, 
as oijerator for one year. In 1850 he was 
elected superintaidait of the comixiny and 
in 1852 he was elected presidait, so con- 
tinuing "until about 1839, when the company 
was absorbed by the Postal and \\'estern 
Union Telegraph Companies, each purchas- 
ing a portion. During this time Mr. Frey 
had become one of the owners of the Repul>- 
lic printing offite. having purchased an in- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



terest in 1854. about the time of the begin- 
ning nd" the agitation of slavery. He con- 
tinued one of the editors and chief owners 
of the Springfield Republic until 1861, when, 
on account of ill health, he withdrew from 
the business and turned his attention to the 
quarry business, in the manufacture of lime 
on an extensive scale, having large quarries 
north of Buck creek in the city limits. This 
enterprise claimed his attention until about 
1889, and the business was increased to a 
considerable extent, giving emplopnent to 
many men. In 1889, ho'wever, Mr. Fb-ey 
withdrew and has since lived in retirement. 
For a numljer of years he has been one oi 
the directors of the Second National Bank 
and has other excellent investn.ents in stock 
and property. 

In 185 1 was celebrated the marriage of 
Mr. Frey and Miss Jane Quigley Ward, of 
Springfield, a daughter of Isaac and Mary 
Ward. Untoi Mr. and Mrs. Frey were born 
twelve children, oi whom five are still living : 
Isaac Ward, George H., Albert C, Robert 
R. and Susan H. Roibert is connected with 
the John Deere Plow Works, of Moline, Illi- 
nois. The wife and mother died in April, 
i88i,in the faith of the Presbyterian church, 
of which she had long been a member. Mr. 
Frey has held membership with the First, 
tlie Second and the Third Presbyterian 
churches, joining these successively, as the 
churches have been divided and new ones 
formed in order to meet the demands of the 
growing population. He served as an elder 
in the Second church. In politics he has 
long been a stalwart Republican and the his- 
tory of the Republican Party of Ohio said 
of him: "There is nO' one in the state of 
Ohio^ who has done more for the city of 
Springfield and the cimnty of Clark than has 
the gentlen.an whose name appears at the 



head of this sketch and no one is better 
posted than he in the early politics of Ohio. 
As a journalist his pen has supix>rted the 
principles of the grand old party, and his 
intelligent advocacy of its principles has been 
an important and effective factor in molding 
public sentiment. His finn convictions on 
matters of public policy have led him to 
stand loyally b}- the party through the period 
of its darkest gloom as well as its brightest 
da}'S and to carr\^ forward its work until 
many of its principles have been impressed 
upon the statute books of the nation. To- 
day he stands as one of the pioneers 
of Republicanisni in the state, a patriotic, 
devoted citizen, who earnestly cherishes the 
welfare of the country, and believes that the 
greatest good will come to the nation 
through the adoption of Republican policy. 
In 1856 he was appointed one of the dele- 
gates to the con\'ention held at Pittsburg, 
February 22d, for the purpose of organizing- 
the national Republican party and to provide 
for the selection of delegates to^ the first 
Republican national convention ( for nom- 
inating presidential candidates) which was 
held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 19, 
1856, to which Mr. Frey was also a delegate. 
He was widely known in political circles and 
was on intimate terms with n.any of the 
early leaders. He was a personal friend of 
Horace Greeley, and when that eminent 
journalist was a candidate for president of 
the United States, Air. Frey ga\e him a 
complimentary \-ote, as did all the voting 
members of the family." He has m.ade an 
untarnished record and unspotted reputation 
as a business man. In all places and under 
all circumstances he is loyal to truth, honor 
and right, justly valuing his own self-respect 
as infinitely more preferable than wealth, 
fame and position. In those finer traits of 



96 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



character which combine to form that which 
we tenn friendship, which aidear and attach 
mian to man in bonds which nothing but the 
stain of dishonor can se^•er, whicli triumph 
and shine brightest in tlie hour of adversity, 
— in those quahties he is royally endowed. 



\\1LLL\M T. OTSTOT. 

William T. Otstot, well known as an en- 
terprising agriculturist of Clark county, was 
born in December, 1837, on the old home- 
stead farm which his father purchased in 
that year, and it is still his home. Hfe is a 
son of Daniel and Hiannah (Dushane) Ot- 
stot. The former was born and reared in 
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and l)y his 
marriage l>ecame the father of ten children, 
•of whom the subject of this review is the 
youngest. 

In early life William T. Otslol became 
familiar with farm work through the as- 
sistance which he rendered to his father in 
cultivating the fields of the home farm. He 
was thus engaged until after the outbreak 
of the Civil war, when aroused by a spirit 
of patriotism he offered his services to the 
government, enlisting in September, 1861, 
as a member of the Forty-fourth Ohio In- 
fantry, with which he served continuously 
until January, 1864. He then re-enlisted as 
a member of the Eighth Cavalry, w ith which 
he continued until July, 1865. The war 
having closed, he was then mustered out at 
Camp Dennison. He had first enlisted in 
the S])rinfield fair grounds and he re-enlist- 
ed at Strawberry Plains, in east Tennessee. 
His duty largely took him to the outixists, 
but he participated in the siege of Knoxville 
and was always true to the old flag, faith- 



fully responding to every call made ui)on. 
him and to e\ery military task which was as- 
signed him. After his return home he re- 
sumed farming upon the old home place 
which his father had purchased in 1837. 
paying eighteen dollars per acre for it. In 
1 881 Mr. Otstot purchased this farm from 
the other heirs, paying one hundred dollars 
per acre for the tract of one hundred acres. 
This rise of value indicates the impro\ed 
condition of the farm as well as the ad- 
vanced progress caused by the growth in 
population in the county. He keeps his 
farm under a good state of cultivation and it 
is equipped with modern machinery and all 
accessories found upon a model farm of the 
twentieth century. 

In 1868 Mr. Otstot was united in mar- 
riage to Miss ]\Iary A. AVillis, a daughter 
of Thomas and Elizabeth Willis, of Colum- 
bus, Ohio, both of whom are now deceased. 
Unto our subject and his wife have been 
born three children, but Walter, the second, 
died in infancy. The daughter, Nellie, is 
at home, and Harry, who is now twentv- 
four years of age, assists his father in the 
work of the farm. Mr. Otstot is connect- 
ed with Mitchell Post, No. 45, G. A. R., 
and is to-day a loyal citizen, very deeply in- 
terested in the welfare of his county, state 
and nation, and their sulistantial progress. 



HON. MELVTX L. MILLIGAN. 

Melvin L. Milligan is one (.-f Ohio's na- 
tive sons, his birth having occurred on a 
farm in Perry county July 28, i860. His 
parents were Alfred P. and Rachel (Iliff) 
Milligan. His paternal grandfather, George 
Milligan, was a n;itive of Pennsvlvania, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



99 



bocn in 1801, and became oiie of the pioneer 
settlers of the Buckeye state. He married 
Priscilla Thrap, and among their children 
was Alfred P. Milligan, whose birth oc- 
curred in Perry county, Ohio, September i. 
1 83 1. After arri\-inig- at years of naturity 
he wedded Rachel Iliff, who was born in the 
same county February 16, 1840. Both are 
still living, their home being in Deavertown, 
Ohio. 

Mr. Milligan oif this review was reared 
as a fanner boy. attending the district 
schools in Perry and 'Morgan counties, 
where he prepared for college. He then ma- 
triculated in Zanesville Business College and 
later became a student in the Ohio' Wes- 
leyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, being 
graduated in the latter institution in the 
class of 1884 with the degree of B. A.. 
while the degree of A. M. was conferred 
upon him three years later. He then became 
a student of law and was adn^tted to. the bar 
before the supreme coiirt at Columbus 
Subsequently he went toi Kansas City. Mis- 
souri, where he opened an office and entered 
upon the practice of his profession, but later 
became connected with the Associated Press 
of Kansas City. In the fall of 1891 he re- 
turned to Ohio, locating in Springfield, and 
since that time has 'been a representative of 
the industrial interests of the city. He be- 
cane financially interested in the Spring-field 
Foundry Company, the Miller Gas Engine 
■Company, and the Indianapolis Switch & 
Frog Company, which is aigaged lin the 
manufacture of switches and frogs for rail- 
roads and alsoi railroad specialties. It was 
incorporated Julv 27, 1892, with a capital 
■stock of three hundred thousand dollars and 
Mr. Milligan served as its president for four 
years. In 1902 when the Springfield Fonn- 
■drv Company was merged with and re-or- 

Lof<i 



ganized as the Fairbanks Machine Tool 
Company, he became its president and gen- ' 
eral manager and is now serving in that ca- 
pacity. 

On the 30th of August, 1887, Mr. Milli- 
gan was united in marriage to Miss Jeimie 
Fairbanks, of Columbus, Ohio, a daughter 
of Loriston and Mary Adelaide Fairbanks. 
Four children have been born unto them : 
Loiriston F.. Harry S., Mary Adelaide and 
Rob-ert L. 

In politics Mr. Milligan is a Republican 
and takes an active interest in the success 
of the party and in the election of !iis 
friends. He is a close stutlent of political 
issues and questions, which has led to his 
firm faith in the Republican party and its 
principles. In April, 1901, he was elected 
n ay or of Springfield for a temi of two years 
and his administration is one which has 
giva: universal satisfaction. He has lalx>red 
untiring-ly along practical business lines for 
the welfare and upbuilding of the city. 



CALVIN A. HORR. 

Cah'in Auburn Horr was for many years 
a prominent factor in business circles of 
Springfield and at his death he left to his 
family not only the splendid financial result 
of his labors but also an untarnished name. 
Everywhere in our land are found men who 
have worked their own way from humlile be- 
ginnings to leadership in the commerce, the 
great productive industries, the rranagement 
of financial affairs, and in controlling the 
\eins and arteries of the traffic and ex- 
changes of the country. It is one of the 
glories of our nation that it is so. It should 
be the strongest inceiiti\e and encourage- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ment to the youth of the country tliat it is 
so. Prominent among the self-made men of 
Ohio was the subject of this sketch, a man 
honored, respected and esteemed wherever 
known and most of all where he was best 
known. 

Mr. Horr was lx>rn in Denmark, New 
York, August 9, 1818. and was a son of 
Jacob Hbrr, of Scotch descent. The sch(X)l- 
house which he attended was three miles 
from his home. He had limited opportunity 
for acquiring an education for his services 
were needed upon the home fann. He was 
the youngest in a family of nine children 
and with one e.xception all were sons. .\t 
the age of fourteen years he went to Mc- 
chanicsburg, Ohio, living with his brother. 
Dr. Obed Horr, until he went to Jefferson- 
ville, where he aigaged in the drygoods busi- 
ness for a time and then returned to Me- 
chanicsburg. \\liere he again 1)ecame a dry- 
gootls n.erchant in partnership with hi^ 
brother. Dr. Horr. He came to Springfield 
to purchase the right of way for the Spring- 
field, Mount Vernon & Pittsburg Railroad 
ComiKiny, of which he was the secretary and 
treasurer. His association with that com- 
pany continued for a number of years and 
in its behalf he went to Europe, where he 
spent five months, purchasing "I'ailroad iron 
for the construction of the road. On the 
expiration of that period he returned to iiis 
native land in the month of Alarch, 1861, 
but sold his interest in the road in the same 
year. Tlie folloAving year Mr. Horr became 
a men.ljer of the firm of W^right, Horr & 
Bacon, wholesale grocers, and continued in 
that business up to the time of his death, 
which occurred January 21, 1873. He was 
a very successful business man and con- 
ducted a number of enterprises. For years 
he devoted his entire time and concentrated 



all his energies toward the supervision of the 
active details of his business and his was 
the heart to resolve, the understanding to 
direct, and the hand to execute all its vari >us 
transactions. He also became the owner 
of considerable city real estate. 

Mr. Hon- was twice married. He first 
wedded Mazey Ann Owens and they l^ecan e 
the parents of three children : Luvenia ; 
Lle\vellyn, who is living in Oklahoma; and 
Elijah, who died in childhoo<l. On the i ith 
of December, 1845, ^^''- Horr was again 
married, his second union being with Miss 
Elizabeth Morgan, a most estimable lady, 
who was to bin: a faithful companion and 
lielpniale on life's journey and who still sur- 
\ives him. She was a native of the city of 
London and in- 1832, when twelve years of 
age, was a passenger on a westward bound 
sailing vessel, which dropped anchor in the 
barter of New York, after a voyage of seven 
weeks. She caiv.e witli lier parents. Tliomas 
and Mary Morgan. Unto the second mar- 
riage fi\e children w ere born : Louise, who- 
is now the wife of L. C. Smith, of Saginaw, 
Michigan; Laura, who because the wife of 
Jonathan Harshman and now lives with her 
mother, her husband having died in 1874; 
Lucien, who is married and has five chil- 
dren, and lives in Ogden City, Utah; Mary 
L., who was at home; and Lillian, the 
widow of Edward "C. Leffel. She also re- 
sides with her mother and has lost her only 
only son, James, who died at the age of 
eighteen years. 

Mr. Horr possessed many admirable 
qualities. His record was that of a man 
who by his own unaided efforts worked his 
way upward to a position of aflfluence. His 
life was one of industn,- and perseverance 
and the honorable and systav.atic business 
meth<xls which he followed won him the es- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



teem and confidence of many. \Vithoiit the 
aid of influence or wealth he rose to a lead- 
ing position in C'ark county and his native 
genius and unremitting diligence formed the 
stepping-stone on which he mounted. 



THOMAS G. FARR, M. D. 

Close study, careful preparation and an 
earnest desire to be of use to the world in 
alleviations of human suffering have made 
Dr. Thomas Giljson Farr one of the most 
capable and successful physicians of this 
portion of Ohio. He is practicing in South 
Charleston and has a \'ery liberal patronage. 
The Doctor is a native of Crawfordsville. 
Indiana, born on the 24th of February, 1838, 
his parents being James Gibson and Asenath 
(Bennett) Farr. The father was a trader 
on the river and in 1840, when on his way 
to New Orleans with his cargo, a tornado 
overtook than at Natchez, Mississippi, de- 
stroyed both his boats and everything was 
lost. He was injured but returned as far as 
Evansville, Indiana, where he died of lock- 
jaw, caused from the injuries which he had 
sustained. He had been buried two weeks 
before his widow learned of his death. She 
was left in \-ery straitened financial circum- 
stances and returned to Selma. Ohio'. in 
which place she had teen reared from the 
age of serven years. Mrs. Farr made her 
home in that town and the Doctor became a 
member of the household of his uncle in 
\Vayne county, Illinois, until his mother 
married again, becoming the wife of Mor- 
decai Taylor. The Doctor then returned to 
his mother, whn was living upon a farm in 
A\'arren county, Ohio, and in that locality 
he was reared tO' n:anhood. accniiring his 



education in the common schools and in 
Springboro Academy. At the age of nine- 
teen he began teaching in the country schools- 
of Warren county and during his leisure 
honrs devoted his attention to the study of 
medicine For three years he was a 
studait in the office of Dr. Smith, of Spring- 
boTO', after which he pursued a winter's 
course of lectures in the Cincinnati College 
of Medicine and Surgery during the scholas- 
tic year of 1861-2. 

Dr. Farr began practice at Bellbrook.. 
Greene county, and entered upon a success- 
ful professional career. He remained there 
for a }-ear and then remo\'ed to Selma, 
where he was a practitioner for nineteen) 
years, meeting with creditable and enviable 
success, Ixit his health at length failed him 
and in 1882 he came to South Charleston. 
In the meantime he had further perfected 
himself in his chosen calling as a student m 
the Starling Medical College at Columbus, 
in which he was graduated in the class oi 
1878. He has always read extensi\ely in 
the line of his chosen work, thus contin- 
ually broadening his knowledge and enlarg- 
ing the field of his usefulness. 

The Doctor was married in Lebanon,. 
Ohio, March 10, 1859, to Miss Helen 
Sweeny, a daughter of Colonel James and 
Clarissa (Coffeen) Sweeny, who were early 
settlers of Warren county. Her n:other 
came oif Revolutionary stock. Her mater- 
nal great-great-grandfather was Captain 
John Coffeen, who was a privateer during 
the war for independence. His father, John 
Coffeen, Sr., was a student in a college of 
Dublin>, Ireland, and he and some young 
men w ent on board a vessel to- view the ship 
and were fastened down in the hatch and 
taken to America, where they were sold to^ 
pay the passage. A pamphlet called the- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Traditions oi the Coffin or Coffeen family 
says : "John Coffeen was stolen or kid- 
naped, which at that period \\;as a frequent 
■occurrence. This was many years previous 
to the Revolutionary war and with thirteen 
other young men, who were students at a 
literary institution, he was brought to 
America and was soJd or purchased for a 
sum which was equivalent to the passage 
•charges. John Coffeen was indentured to a 
Boston merchant for a term of two- years. 
Another version of the affairs is that lie was 
inpressed by a British man of war and 
when the \essel was at Ne\v Bedford he es- 
cai)ed and went tO' Boston, where he bound 
himself out tO' a merchant as an apprentice. 
At any rate he proved valuable to liis master, 
rose in favor, married his master's daughter 
and became a partner in the business of his 
father-in-law. When John Coffeen w as kid- 
naped he had in his possession the geneal- 
og>' of the family." This Ji:>hn Cuffeen had 
three sons. Eleazer, Michael and John, the 
last nan ed being the father of .\m\ Cof- 
feen. will I married Isaac Baldwin in Caven- 
dish, Vermont, in i/Qi. They had eleven 
-childrai. one of whom was Emu'a or Amy 
BaJdwin, who< was married July lo, 1804, 
to Jose]>h Parker, and their family consisted 
•of se\-en children, Josq>h, Lucy, Lydia, 
Harvey, Florella, Lavina and Sarah. 
Eleazer t<n>k the family record and set out 
for his father's birthplace in order to re- 
co\er the proi^erty which woiild fall to him 
there, but was never heard from afterward. 
Michael became an owner of large n-ill pro])- 
erty at or near the present site of Lowell. 
Massachusetts. It is said to be the first ini- 
provemait of that great water power. He 
married a German lady by the name of 
Lake. ^lichael was lust in a great freshet 



in one of his mill streams. John was a man 
of great energy of character and possessed 
large means for the times. Through the de- 
pression in value of the continental money 
he lost more than sixty thousand dollars. 
He purchased a large portion of the town (if 
Cavendish from a corporation of a Xew 
Hampshire grant, the first name on record 
in 1770. From the children of Jesse Rjead 
he also bought the land afterward sold to 
Tliomas Baldwin, second from John Church 
O'f Charleston, under a New York title. This 
was just previous to the Re\-0'lutionary war. 
A dispute about the title of the Connecticut 
ri\er anil Lake Champlain lamls, which were 
claimed under a New Hampshire grant to 
Mason and afterward to the Duke of York 
and then the attempt to dispossess the sol- 
diers of lands itnder the New Hampshire 
title by claiming them under the New York 
title, had nearly occasioned oi^en hostilities 
l>et\\een the two parties, InU the breaking cuit 
of the Revolutionary war o\eTwhelmed all 
minor considerations. John was a comnis- 
sioner of the Revolutionary amiy. He mar- 
ried Susan Goldsmith, a Boston lady of 
good family. Her mother's maiden name 
was Gideon. John and Susannah Coffeai 
had fourteen children. John was the first 
settler in Cavendish, Venr.ont. where he 
took up his alxide in \y('(). 'Hie first deed 
reported there was from Jesse Read, of 
Lurenburg, Massachusetts, to John Coffeen, 
March 21, 1781. He was a member of the 
convention which signed the revised declara- 
tion of independence of V'erm.ont and whidi 
formed the constitution of that state. He 
was appointed a captain of militia in 1775 
and was the rq)resentati\e of the town in 
I78i-I785-I78(>. His wife, Susannah 
Goldsmith Coffeen. lived to be o\er ninetv- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



103, 



four years O'f age, at wliich time she was very 
active, being able to \Aalk n ore than a half 
mile over the hills. She was very helpful 
to the soldiers during the war O'f the Re\-olu- 
tion and was the original of the leading 
character in the Rangers Daughter, a his- 
toiical no\el. Her mother's mother had 
died at sea when on the way to America. 

It is from this ancestry that Mrs. Dr. 
Farr is descended. By her marriage she 
has becoane the mother of four children, but 
the first, a daughter, died at birth. Mor- 
decai J. is now an undertaker of Franklin 
Warren county, Ohio. He married Clara 
Xull and has one son, Raymond Gibson. 
Otto H., who wedded Margaret Ferard, of 
South Charleston., is engaged in the jewelry 
business in Wabash, Indiana. Zella H 
died in Selma in 18^80, at the age of fifteen 
years. 

It is said that with boyish enthusiasm 
Dr. Farr sang the song cif Tippacanoe and 
Tyler, too. and shouted for the Whig' can- 
didate and principles. Since attaining his 
majority he has been a stanch Republican, 
casting his first presidential vote for Abra- 
ham Lincoln. He volunteered' for service 
in the Civil war, but was rejected on account 
O'f physical disability. The Farr family 
came of Quaker stock and although the fa- 
ther was a member of the church Dr. Farr 
becair.e identified with the Hickites branch 
o^f the Quakers and holds membership in 
the Green Plain Meeting. His life has heen 
an honorable and upright one, comiranding 
the confidence and respect of all. He is the 
loA-ed famil)- physician in many a household 
in' this county, having for many years prac- 
ticed his profession here, his labors proving 
of great benefit as he has carried on the 
work of alleviating human suffering. Since 
1882 he has resided in South Charleston and 



here and where\-er known his influence has 
been given f^r the general good, while his 
personal characteristics form an example 
well worthv of emulation. 



JOHN W. BURK. 

The name of John W. Burk is well 
known in business circles of Springfield as 
he is president and general manager of The 
Ansted & Burk Company, owners and opera- 
tors of the Springfield Flouring Mill. He is 
a progressive, typical American business 
man, energetic and resolute, and with due 
regard to his obligations in the business 
world. 

Mr. Burk is a native of Canada, where 
he attended school prior to coming to the 
United States, though he was quite young 
when he took up his residence in Michigan. 
During his boyhood and youth he acquired 
a good academical education, and after com- 
pleting his literary course he began learning 
the miller's trade, since which time he has 
been connected with that line of industrial 
activity. In 1897 he became a member of 
The Ansted & Burk Company, owners of the 
Springfield Flouring Mill, which is among 
the oldest manufacturing institutions in the 
city, having been established in 1841 by 
Samuel J. Barnett. Later the mill was 
owned and operated by the firm of Warder 
iK- Barnett until 1897, when it was purchased 
l>y The Ansted & Burk Compan)-. Since 
that time the mill has been greatly impro\^ed, 
remo<leled and equipped with the best roller- 
system, includhig all modern improA-ements. 
The mill has a capacity of five hundred bar- 
rels in a day of twenty-four hours and en- 
joys a large local trade and also has an ex- 



i04 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tensive patronage from New England, the 
southern states and Europe, as well as from 
the towns and cities adjacent to Springfield. 
Lender the capaljle management of Mr. Burk 
Ihe husiness is constantly increasing and the 
■company are now the second largest ship- 
pers in Sp'-ingfield. They are also largely 
interested in manufacturing enterprises in 
Indiana and extensive lumbering operations 
in Washington and Idaho. 

During the years of 1900 and 1901 ^Ir. 
Burk was president of the board of trade of 
Springfield. He is well known in industrial 
and commercial circles for his- enterprise, 
his reliability and his unfaltering persever- 
ance. Fraternally he has been a member of 
the Masonic order for many years; has filled 
all the chairs in the blue lodge, chapter and 
commandery, and has also been an officer in 
the grand chapter of ]\Iichigan. He is mar- 
ried and has two daughters. His elder 
daughter, Miss Helen M., is a graduate of 
the Michigan State Normal College and also 
of the University of Michigan at Ann Ar- 
bor. His younger daughter, Miss Mabel, 
is a student at Wittenberg College. 



TA^IES FOLEY 



Prominent in the ranks of the Republi- 
can party, Mr. Fole\' has manifested his 
loyalt\- to the general good by capable ser- 
vice in office. He at one time served as 
sheriff of Clark county and stood as a stal- 
wart defender of law and order. He is now 
engaged in auctioneering and is a real estate 
agent of Springfield. His birth occurred in 
Moorefield township, Clark county, August 
30, 1838, his father teing John' Foley. Tlie 
familv is of Scotch-Irish descent, and \\'ill- 



iam Foley, the great-grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was a land surveyor of Virginia. He 
served his country as a soldier in the war of 
the Revolution and he reared a family of 
eighteen children, ele\en of whom \)ecame 
residaUs of Ohio. 

James Fole^', the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was born in \'irginia in 1779 and was 
also a land surveyor. The year 1803 wit- 
nessed his arrival in Clark county, at which 
time he settled in what is now Moorefield 
township, which was a part of Champaign 
county. He made the journey westward on 
horseback and became the owner of govern- 
ment land which he enteretl at Cincinnati. 
In 1808, in Darby Plains, he wedded ^lary 
Marsh, wh<i was born in Virginia in 1784. 
He was one nf the first county commission- 
ers of Clark county, being elected to that 
office after the county was forn:ed, in 1818. 
While he was serving on the board the first 
courthouse of the coimty was erected. He 
was also a captain in the war of 1812, and 
the sword w hich he carried in that struggle 
is in the possession of our subject. He 
was \-ei-y prominent in political affairs 
and for two terms represented his dis- 
trict in the state legislature. In his 
business affairs he prospered, becoming 
the owner of twenty-eight hundred acres 
of land in Clark county and one hundred and 
sixty acres in Franklin county. Fraternally 
he was connected with the Masonic order. 
His death occurred in October, 1863, and his 
wife passed away in 1853, their remains be- 
ing interred in Fernclift' cemetery of Spring- 
field. They had four children, John, Cather- 
ine, James and Susan, all of whom were 
born and educated in Clark county and here 
died. Tliey, too, now sleep in Ferncliff 
cemetery. 

John Foley, the father of mw subject. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



105 



was born in Moorefield township in 1815, 
and died in 1841 at the early age of twenty- 
six years. He wedded Mary Dimlap, who 
was Ijorn in Champaign county in 181 5 
and died in this county in 1899. Their chil- 
dren \\ere Janes and An-.anda. The latter 
became the wife of Garrett Loomis and at 
her death was interred in Ferncliff cemetery. 
After the deadi of her first husband Mrs. 
John Foley became the wife of Theodore 
Stout and had one son, William, who was 
married and at his death left two sons, Harry 
and Charles, 1x)th of whom are living in 
Springfield. In religious faith the Foleys 
w ere Presbyterians. 

James Foley of this review was only 
three years of age when his father died. 
In Moorefield township he was educated and 
went with his mother to Morgan county, 
Illinois, where her father was then living. 
After five years there passed he returned to 
Clark coimty to make his home with his 
grandfather and w-orked upon thefarm here. 
He also attended school for- a time in Spring- 
field and for a short period engaged in 
clerking in a store here. He lived with his 
grandafther until 1862, at which time he 
was married. Just previously he had con- 
ducted a dry-goods store in Springfield, 
which he sold in 1861. He then returned 
to the farm in Moorefield township and car- 
ried on agricultural pursuits until 1873, 
wheni he came to the city and was identified 
with business affairs here until 1876, when 
he was appointed deputy sheriff under 
E. G. Coffin. In 1880 'he was elected 
sheriff of tlie county and served for 
two terms of two years each, enter- 
ing upon the duties of the office on the 
1st of January, 1881. Since his retirement 
from offilce he has been engaged in auc- 
tioneering and in the real estate Ijusiness, 



handling property on commission. In these 
enterprises he has met w'ith gratifying suc- 
cess and is well known in the business world. 

Mr. Foley has always been a stalwart 
Republican, has attended the national con- 
ventions of his party and has been a delegate 
toi county and state conventions. He does 
all in his power to promote the growth and 
insure the success of the party and his 
efforts have been effective in its behalf. For 
six years he served as justice of the peace 
of Moorefield township, was also township 
tnistee and was largely instrumental in the 
building of the schoolhouse while acting on 
the board of education. For fifteen }ears 
he served on the board of equalization in 
Springffield and at all times has been loyal 
and true tO' public duties. 

The lady who bears the name of Mrs. 
Foley was in her maidenhood Miss Mary J. 
Marsh, who was born in Moorefield town- 
ship, a daughter of John and Maria (Dye) 
Marsh. Her father was a farmer of Moore- 
field township biit devoted most of his time 
to stock dealing, driving his stock toi eastern 
markets for sale. He owns seven hundred 
acres of valuable land. Both he and his 
wife were natives of Virginia and came to 
Clark county on horseback. They were the 
parents of three children : Nathan, who is 
living in Champaign county ; Mary, the wife 
of our subject, and John, deceased. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Foley have been 
born five children: Mabel died in Spring- 
field at the age of eighteen years. Frances 
W. is the wife of Carl K. Mower, a first 
lieutenant in the United States regular army, 
being connected with the heavy artillery at 
Fort Totten, New York. He served for one 
year at Porto Rico and for two years in 
the Philippines. Alice is the wife of Ed- 
ward M. Hurd, man;iger of the Albany 



io6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Rul>l)er Tire Company, of Albany, New 
York, and they ha\e three sons — James 
Foley, Francis Casper and Dvvight Harris. 
Marie is living with her parents. John 
]\Iarsh Foley, the yoimgiest cliild of our 
subject, is a clerk in the Lagonda National 
Bank. The children were all educated in 
Springfield, being students in the high school 
and seminary here. 

Mr. Foley is connected with the Knights 
of Honor and is a progressive and public- 
spirited citizen. Any matter or movement 
which tends to promote the general welfare 
receives his attention and if his judgment 
sanctions it he gives to it his hearty endorse- 
ment and active co-operation. His official 
career has been most enviable and over his 
public record there falls no .shadow of 
wrong. 

HON. JOHN H. THOMAS. 

There are no rules fr)r building cliarac- 
ters ; there is no rule for achieving success. 
The man who can rise to a position of emi- 
nence is he who can see and utilize the op- 
portunities that surround his path. The es- 
sential conditions of human -life are ever the 
same, the surroundings of individuals dif- 
fer but slightly, and when one man jjasses 
another on the highway to reach the goal 
of prosperity before others, who. perhaps, 
started out before him, it is because Ik has 
the power to use advantages which probably 
encompass the whole race. Among the citi- 
zens of this county who haAe won distinc- 
tinction, have been an honor and a help to 
the ach-ancenient and improvement of their 
community and left an honorable name to 
the city wiiich mourns their loss, is the Hon. 
John H. Thr.nias. By the death of this hon- 
orable and upright citizen Springfield and 



Clark county lost one of their most promi- 
nent and highly respected citizens. As the 
day, w'th its morning of hope and promises, 
its noontide (jf activity, its evening of com- 
pleted anrl successful efforts, ending with 
the grateful rest and quiet of the night, so 
was the life of this honored man. His ca- 
reer was a long, busy and useful one, and al- 
though he was earnest and active in business, 
he never allowed the pursuit of wealth to 
warp his kindly nature, being to the end of 
his life a kindly, genial friend, one whom it 
was a pleasure to know and meet, under any 
circumstances. By his friends and associ- 
ates his loss is deemed irreparable and the 
communit}' is deprived of the presence of 
one whom it had come to look upon as a 
guardian, benefactor and friend. Death of- 
ten removes from our midst those whom we 
can ill afford to spare, whose lives have been 
all that is exemplary of the true, and there- 
by really great citizen. Such a citizen was 
]Mr. Thomas, whose whole career, both bus- 
iness and social, served as a model to the 
young and an inspiration to the aged. He 
slied brightness around everything with 
which he came in contact. By his usefulness 
and g-eneral ijenevolence he created a mem- 
ory whose perpetuation does not depend 
upon brick and stone but upon the spontane- 
ous and free-will offering of a grateful and 
enlightened people. No citizen did more for 
Springfield than Mr. Thomas in the proud 
lX)sition it to-day occupies. 

It would therefore be incompatible with 
the purpose of a histor\- in which are men- 
tioned the leading men who have mokled the 
destiny of this section of the state to omit 
t!ie record of the Hon. John H'. Tliomas. He 
was born in Middletown, Frederick county. 
Maryland, on the 4th of October, 1826. 
coming of an old southern familv of Pres- 




JOHN H. THOMAS. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



109 



byterian failh. His parents were Jacolj and 
Sophia ( Bowius) Thomas. His surviving 
brothers and sisters are : Cliarles E., who is 
the vice president of tlie Thomas Manufac- 
turing Company; Joseph ^\^, of San Diego, 
California: Mrs. Alfred RafYen.sperger and 
Josephine, who are residents of Springfield. 
Amid the retining influences of a good 
Christian home, John Henry Thomas was 
reared and early formed habits of life that 
made his career conspicuous for his deter- 
mination and self-reliance, his perseverance 
and his honesty. His parents realized the 
value of an education and gave to him good 
opportunities in that direction. His pre- 
liminary mental training was supplemented 
by stu(l\- in Marshall College, of Mercers- 
burg, Pennsylvania, where he was gradu- 
ated with the class of 1849. He chose the 
law for his profession and became a student 
in the otfice of the Hon. S. W. Andrews, 
of Columbus, Ohio. In 1851 he came to 
Springfield and entered the office of the bril- 
liant attorney, William White, then one of 
the strongest and best known lawyers in the 
state. Mr. Tliomas possessed keen foresight 
and sound judgment and he saw that an ex- 
cellent business field was opening before the 
residents of Ohio in the manufacture of fuel. 
Many prominent business men were becom- 
ing connected with this line of commercial 
activity and Mr. Thomas, quick to note the 
possibilities for achieving success that lay 
before him, entered into the manufacturing 
world. He continued his law practice, how- 
ever, for two years and was then chosen re- 
corder of the county. This was a direct rec- 
ognition of his ability and personal popu- 
larity, for he had come to Springfield a com- 
parative stranger. .At the close of his term 
he became an active factor in the manufac- 
turing life of this city, entering into partner- 



ship with P. P. Mast in the business of man- 
ufacturing agricultural implements. The 
liouse began operations in the year 1857, 
when the entire country was involved in a 
financial panic that forced many of the 
strong, capable and apparently successful 
business men to suspend operations. The 
capital of the new firm was limited and the 
depression and other obstacles seemed to 
bar the path to success, but both Mr. Thom- 
as and ]\Ir. Alast possessed great energy, 
strong purpose and splendid executive force, 
managing not only to pass through the crisis 
of the times, but to continue and enlarge 
their business until within a few years the 
sales of the firm reached one million dollars 
annually. The business was carried on by 
the original partners until 1872, when Mr. 
Thomas, having already accumulated a large 
fortune, decided to retire and dispose of his 
interests. For two years he enjoyed a well 
merited rest, but comparative idleness was 
utterly foreign to his nature and he deter- 
mined to again become an active factor in 
manufacturing interests of his adopted city. 
-Associating with him his two sons, William 
S. and Findlay B. Thomas, he again en- 
gaged in the manufacture of agricultural 
implements, establishing the large plant 
which now stands on South Limestone street 
and is still conducted under the name of the 
Thomas Manufacturing Company. The 
firm, having gained a world-wide reputa- 
tion, was incorporated in 1887 and entered 
upon an area of prosperity which brought 
10 the stockholders a splendid income and 
at the same time made the industry one of 
great value to the city by furnishing em- 
ployment to hundreds of workmen. A large 
number of traveling men were also placed 
upon the road in order to introduce the prod- 
uct of the house to the market. Year by 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



year the business grew and the plant was en^ 
larged to meet the growing demands of the 
trade, until to-day the Thomas Manufactur- 
ing Company is one of the largest manu- 
factories of hay machinery, harrows and 
grain drills in the entire country. During 
the latter years of his life John H. Thom- 
as, the father, was largely relieved of the 
business cares by the efforts of his son. 
W. S. Thomas, yet he still continued to take 
some ])art in the active management of the 
splendid house which he had established and 
even u]) to the day of his death was seen in 
the office superintending business affairs. 
As he prospered in his undertakings he 
macbe judicious . and e.xtensive investments 
in land. He owned many of the finest farms 
in Clark county and had thousands of acres 
in the west, including extensive tracts in 
Kansas. He possessed rare business judg- 
ment which was seldom at fault, and thus 
liis capital was so placed as to yield a good 
return. Prior to his death he divided his 
pro]>erty. leaving his wife and children in 
^excellent financial circumstances. 

Mr. Thomas was united in marriage in 
tlie year 1854 to Mary Bonser. the young- 
est daughter of the Hon. Jacob Bonser. of 
Oiillicothe, Ohio, and entered ujxw a happy 
married life. Although his business and 
public interests were extensive, he was yet 
a man of domestic tastes and accounted no 
personal effort or sacrifice too great that 
would enhance the welfare or happiness of 
wife and children. Two sons and two 
<laughters were born of this union: W. S. 
r.nd Findiay B., who became associated with 
their father in the manufacturing business: 
Mrs. Sunnners. the wife of Judge A. X. 
Summers: and Mabel. Mrs. L. P. Mat- 
thews. 

Mr. Thomas was a member of the Pres- 



byterian church. .There was no ( stentation 
or display in his religion, but he li\ed a life 
of quiet Christianity and the teach'ngs of 
the lowly Xazarene were exemplified in his 
daily career as he went to and fro among 
his fellow men. In connection with Ross 
Mitchell, he gave to the city a home for the 
sick, popularly known as the Mkchell- 
Thomas Hospital. This was but one 
of his many bene\olent acts, yet more 
numerous were his kindly deeds that 
were unknown to the public than those 
which found jnihlic recognition. The poor 
and needy indeed shared his friendship and 
his aid. and many a home was macle bright- 
er iiecause of his sympathy and his material 
rssistance. 

Mr. Thomas figured prominently in 
jiuhlic affairs and was long a recognized 
leader in public thought and action. Xot 
only was he influential in the municipal life 
of Springfield, but his opinions bore weight 
in the councils of state and national poli- 
tics. For many years he served as a mem- 
lier of the city council, where his ability as 
a financier was recognized and his labors 
pro\e(l of direct benefit to the city. He was 
a member of many of the municipal boards, 
including the board of public affairs, the 
board of equalization and the Snyder Park 
board, serving as a member of the latter at 
the time of his death. In 1868 lie was nom- 
inated on the Democratic ticket for con- 
gress and won an excellent record, at the 
time he made the race for United States 
senator against Calvin S. Brice. Several 
times he was elected by large majorities as 
a trustee of the water works, his ability. 
honesty and capability for the control of 
large affairs bringing him a commantling po- 
sition, not only in Springfield, l)ut through- 
out Ohio and the countrv. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



It is probable that tlie end came to ]\Ir. 
Thomas as he would have wished, for his 
acti\'ity in the world continued almost to the 
last moment of his life. On the morning of 
the day on which his death occurred, Jan- 
uary 23, 1 90 1, he went to the office of the 
Thomas Manufacturing Company apparent- 
ly in good health and spirits, meeting 
friends pleasantly and superintending some 
business affairs. At the dinner hour he was 
dri\-en to his home in East High street, ac- 
companied by his son, Hon. \\\ S. Thomas. 
The wives of the two gentlemen were dining 
out that day and the son, with his children, 
had decided to take their noon meal with 
the father and grandfather. It was a pleas- 
ant family circle and at the close of the din- 
ner Mr. Thomas, accompanied by his son 
and grandchildren, went to the upper apart- 
ments of the house, where he sat down in 
his big arm chair to rest. Soon the chil- 
dren started to school, the son returned to 
his office and he was left alone. About half 
past one a .servant of the family, passing 
through an adjoining room saw him appar- 
ently dozing in his chair. He probably saw 
her and attempted to- reach her and speak 
to her, but instantly paralysis terminated his 
life and Springfield was called npon to 
miiurn the loss of one whom it had ever 
known to honor and respect. He attained 
the age of seventy-four years, retaining to 
the last those qualities of the mind and heart 
which had endeared him to everyone 
throughout bis life. 



^y . THOMAS KIZER. 

The life record of Thomas Kizerd'' cov- 
ered three-fourths of a century. He was 
a nati\-e son of Clark countv and thus at an 



early period in the development of the coun- 
ty he became a resident of this portion of the 
state and his work here was of a very im- 
portant and valuable character. He was a 
surveyor of marked ability and skill in the 
line of his chosen profession and the work 
which he accomplished in this way proved 
of benefit to the community. He stood in 
the front ranks of the column which ad- 
vanced the civilization of Clark county 
and led the way to its substantial devel- 
opment, progress and upbuilding. He lived 
here when little of the land had been re- 
claimed for purposes o'f cultivation but re- 
mained in the primitive condition in which 
it had come from the hand of nature. 

Mr. Kizer was born on the i8th of De- 
cember, 1812, in German township, a short 
distance northwest of the city of Springfield. 
His Ijiith tooik place in a little log cabin 
built in an old fashioned pioneer style. His 
parents were David and Eva (Nawman) Ki- 
zer, who came from Virginia to this state 
after their marriage. The father, however, 
was a nati\e of Pennsylvania. He arrived in 
Clark county aboiut 1809. settling in German 
township, and was a leading and active fac- 
tor in the substantial improvement and devel- 
opment oi this iX)rtion of the county. He left 
!he impress of his individuality upon the 
public life and was prominent in political, 
church and business circles. A minister of 
the United Brethren church, he many times 
preached the Gospel to the early settlers and 
his influence in behalf of the moral progress 
was widely felt. He also preached many of 
the early funeral sermons, speaking either 
in German or English as circumstances de- 
manded. He was also the first recorder of 
Clark county, Ohio. H'e accumulated about 
four hundred acres of land and also had 
other capital. He was a true pioneer set- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tier, cine of those men. wlio, claiming none, 
yet deserved the honor of having assisted 
in laying the foundation of the great west. 
He was appointed to the position of county 
recorder in 1818 ani4 acted in that capacity 
for seven years. On his retirement from 
office he returned to the farm, where he re- 
mained until his death, there rearing a fam- 
ily of hearty and intelligent sons to culti- 
vate the tields and carry on the work which 
he had begun. He passed away December 
31, 1847, at the age of si.xty-eight years and 
was Inn ied in Greenmount cemetery, on East 
High street, in Springfield. Many years 
ha\-e passed since then and few of the .set- 
tlers of Clark county can remember him, 
but his work yet remains and the part which 
he ]K'rformed in aiding in the development 
of this county will endure to all time and 
will ]jro\e of benefit to coming generations. 

Thomas Kizer was the fouT'th in his fa- 
ther's family. He received but limited edu- 
cational privileges. For a time he studied 
at home, studying by the fireside and later 
he pursued a course in an acatlem\- of which 
Professor Isaac H. Lancy was tlie profes- 
sor. His training at farm work, however. 
was not meager and he early became famil- 
iar with the arduous task tif clearing the 
land and deveUjping the fields as well as 
continuing the work of cultivation. 

Mr. Kizer learned the trade of a mill- 
wright and while thus engaged decided to 
turn his attention to surveying. He began 
his work in the latter direction in 1S36 and 
was afterward associated with the surveys 
of the L'nited States public lands in vari- 
ous districts. In 184 I he was chosen county 
surveyor, to which oltice he was re-elected 
again and again until his incuml>ency had 
covered twenty-six vears. He then retired 



from the ofiice. as he had entered it. with 
the confidence and good will oi all con- 
cerned. He had early become familiar with 
the profession. He constantly increased his 
proficiency and in the exercise of his busi- 
ness duties he had acc(uired a comprehensive 
knowledge of all the obscure corners of this 
section of the state, "original errors," and 
other peculiarities which occurred in con- 
nection with the first survey. He was spoken 
of as a "mine of facts" pretaining to the 
later subdivisions of the lots of Clark coun- 
ty. He aided in making the surveys for the 
first railroad through Clark county and had 
more to do with the survey of the pike than 
all other surveyors together. 

Mr. Kizer was also a leader in military 
circles in the old days of the state militia. 
He held different offices, was promoted from 
time to time and finally rose to the rank of 
lieutenant colonel. Old training days oc- 
curred and became impcjrtant e\ents in the 
communities where muster was called. Col- 
onel Kizer's soldierly bearing was long no- 
ticeable and he took great pride in maintain- 
ing the discipline and high standard of his 
men. He was also very active in organiz- 
ing the Rover Fire Company, one of the first 
in .Springfield, and was a memlier of the 
sauK'. 

!n 1814 was celebrated the marriage of 
.Mr. Kistr and Miss Mary A. Tattison. 
who was born in German township, this 
count}-, Se])teml)er 5, 1820, and is a daugh- 
ter of Joseph and Ellen I Wones) Pattison, 
l)(jth natives of \ orkshire. luigland, where 
they were reared, though they came to this 
country prior to their marriage. Mr. Pat- 
tison was a farmer of (jerman township. 
Unto our subject and his wife were born 
eight children, but only two of that number 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



are now living : Mary E., who resides with 
her mother, and Emma, who is the wife of 
H. H. Prugh, a resident of Springfield. 

Tliomas Riser was a Whig in the early 
da}-s and upon the dissolution of that party 
he joined the ranks of the new Republican 
party and continued to march under its ban- 
ners until his death. He was a close and 
earnest student of the political issues of the 
day and was well informed on all matters 
pertaining to. politics. After his retire- 
ment from the office of county sur\-eyor he 
still maintained an independent office of his 
own and engaged in surveying until within 
a few years prior to his death. As he tra\-- 
eled over the country and saw opportunity to 
make judicious investments in property he 
would purchase land and thus became the 
■owner of considerable land, consisting of 
farm property and city real estate, having, 
however, a greater majority of the latter. 
He prospered in his business undertakings, 
owing to his judicious expenditure of his 
capital, and thus he left his family in very 
comfortable financial circumstances. He 
passed awa}' December 20, 1887, and was 
laid to rest in Ferncliff cemetery. Hte had 
been a resident of Clark county for seventy- 
fi\e years and had great love for this section 
of the state. It was endeared to him from 
his boyhood associations, as well as the as- 
sociations of manhood. He had watched 
with interest its development from pioneer 
conditions as it merged to take its place 
among the leading counties of the common- 
wealth. He delighted in noting the growth 
of its business interests, its social, moral and 
intellectual development and he was known 
to co-operate heartily in many movements 
for the general good. In manner he was 
courteous and pleasant, winning friends by 
his disposition and honorable character. 



which comananded the respect of all. Public- 
spirited in an eminent degree, throughout 
the period of his manhood he gave his sup- 
port to whatever was calculated to advance 
the general progress. In all the relations of 
life, whether as a soldier, a public official or 
a private citizen he was ever faithful and 
true and in his life work no shadow of 
wrong or suspicion of e\-il darkens his hon- 
ored pathway. 



FRANK McGregor. 

Prominent among the self-made men of 
Ohio is the subject of this sketch — a man 
honored, respected and esteemed wherever 
known, and most of all w'here he is best 
known. Mr. McGregor is now extensively 
and successfully engaged in business as a 
florist and seedsman of Springfield, where 
he has made his home since 1876. 

He was born in Nottinghamshire, Eng- 
land, of Scotch parentage, June 19, 1838. 
His father was Peter McGregor and his 
grandfather Donald McGregor. The fam- 
ily is noted for longevity and the grandfa- 
ther reached the age of one hundred and 
two years. Tlie father was a graduate of 
the engineering department of Edinburgh 
University and became a ci\'il engineer in 
the employ of the British government. He 
was sent wherever his ser\-ices were needed 
and he worked on the first tubular bridge in 
Wales and also the first oue in this country. 
He came with his family to America in 
1850, settling first in Cincinnati, and in 
later life he spent about six years in Spring- 
field. He was always a hale and hearty man 
and died at the age of eighty-six. For 
sometime he followed civil engineering and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



railroad construction in this country and 
then turned his attention to agricultural 
pursuits, to which he devoted his energies 
until his retirement from business life. In 
early manhood he married Christine Ross, 
who passed away at the age of seventy-six 
years, both she and her husband dying in 
the place now occupied by their son David. 
She was Ijorn and reared in Rosshire, Scot- 
land, and there gave her hand in marriage 
to Peter McGregor. Unto them were born 
ten children of whom eight are yet living. 
One son and one daughter died in early 
childhood and one daughter in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, 'iliose still living are: Thomas R., 
who was a soldier of the Civil war and is 
now a resident of Cincinnati : Frank, of this 
review; David, who is associated with his 
Ijrother in business; Isabelle, who is living 
in Spring-field ; Margaret, also of Cincinnati ; 
and Christine and Jessie, who are residents 
of the same place. 

Frank McGregor was educated in the 
north of Scotland, going there to make his 
home with his grandparents with whom he 
lived from his infancy until he had attained 
Ihe age of thirteen years, when he came with 
his parents to this country, attending school 
in Cincinnati, Ohio. When the country be- 
came involved in Civil war, he offered his 
services to the government in 1862, becom- 
ing a member of Company E, Eighty-third 
Ohio Regiment. This was afterward consoli- 
date<l witli the Forty-eighth Regiment and 
Mr. McGregor Ijecame a member of Com- 
pany H, of the latter command. Me took 
part in eleven important battles and in num- 
erous skirmishes, Init was never wounded, 
although lie carrietl a n usket in defense of 
his country for three years. He was a non- 
commissioned officer, being mustered out 
v.ith the rank of sergeant. His brother 



Thomas R. was in the Sixtieth Indiana In- 
fantry and was twice promoted for bravery. 
They were in the same brigade in the south- 
ern campaign and our subject received an 
honorable discharge at Galveston, Texas, in 
1865. 

Mr. McGregor then returned to his 
home and embarked in business. He was 
employed as shipping clerk for a firm wlien 
a mere boy and after his return from the 
war he became connected with the business 
of supplying seeds and plants to the retail 
trade, becoming connected with a nursery- 
man who had lost his sons in the service. 
These sons were personal friends of Mr. 
McGregor, who then joined their father in 
business under the firm name of S. S. Jack- 
son & Company, a partnership that was 
maintained for ten years. He was offered a 
position in the pension department by Judge 
Spooner but did not accept it. W'iien a de- 
cade iiad passed he severed his connection 
with Mr. Jackson and came t(j SpringhelcU 
where in partnership with his brother Da\id, 
under the firm name of McGregor Brothers, 
they established greenhouses which have 
since been enlarged from time to time until 
they now have one hundred and twenty-five 
thousand square feet under glass. They do 
a general florist shipping business, both 
wholesale and retail, and give their pcrsnnal 
attention to the enterprise, which has con- 
stantly grown in volume and importance un- 
til it has assumed extensive proportions. 
He has kept abreast of the times in his line 
and the plant is a modern one, equipped 
with all accessories for promoting efficiency 
in the work. Mr. McGregor is also con- 
nected with Brain & McGregor Real Estate 
Company and in this department of his busi- 
ness activity is also meeting v.ith creditable 
prosperity. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



U5 



Mr. McGregor was united in marriage 
in Cincinnati, June, 1866, to M!iss Susan 
Brown, who was born in 1843. They have 
seven children, namely: Olive, Grace, 
Bertha, Robert, Allan, Helen and Harold, 
the last two being twins. All are graduates 
of the public schools of this city. Robert is 
now married and has two sons. Mr. Mc- 
Gregor is a man of domestic tastes and finds 
his greatest happiness in the midst of his 
family and he counts no personal sacrifice 
on his part too great if it will enhance the 
happiness of his wife and children. In poli- 
tics he is a Republican and a member of the 
board of park commissioners of Springfield. 
.-V self-made and self-educated man he cer- 
tainly deserves great credit for what he has 
accomplished. Mr. McGregor's actions 
have been such as to distinctively entitle him 
to a place in this publication, and although 
his career has not been filled with thrilling- 
incidents, probably no biography published 
in this book can serve as a better illustration 
to young men of the power of honesty and 
integritv in insurins: success. 



W. O. PADEN. 

W. O. Paden, who is now identified with 
farming interest of Clark county, was born 
on the _'9th of November, i8-|8, in German 
township, five miles northwest of Spring- 
field. His father, James Paden, was a na- 
tive of Peniisylvania, and, removing to the 
west, located in Ohio, where he became the 
])roprietor of the American Hotel in Spring- 
field. His mother li\-ed to become almost 
a centenarian and was a pensioner of tlie war 
of 1S12. James Paden, howe\er, reached 
onl}- luiddle life, ])assing away during the 
boyhood of our subject. His wife bore the 



maiden name of Catherine Whitmer, and is 
still living at the age of seventy-seven years. 
Her father, Jacob Whitmer, was torn in 
Gennan township, a mile and a half south- 
west of Tranont. After the death of her 
first husband Mrs. Paden marrie'd again. 
V>\ the first uifion she had five children, 
namely; P)avid W". : Jane and S(|uire, who 
died in childlvod: W. O., of this review-; 
and Susan, who became the wife of James 
Barnes, and died on Christmas Day of 1901,. 
leaving one son, Claude. 

W. O. Paden of this review started out 
in life for himself at the early age of thirteen 
}-ears. Leaving honie he worked by the 
month until seventeen years of age, after 
which he attended the Holbrook Normal 
School for three years, making his own way 
through that institution. He thus gave 
evidence of the elemental strength of his 
character, for his determination to secure 
an education at the cost of his own labor in- 
dicated that he would accomplish whatever 
he undertook in life and was proof of his 
self-reliant, enterprising and progressive 
spirit. At the age of eighteen Mr. Paden 
began teaching and followed that pursuit 
for twelve years with much success, his 
services being highly satisfactory in the va- 
rious localities \\-here he was employed. He 
had the ability to impart with accuracy and 
clearness the knowledge which he had ob- 
tained and thus left an impress U]:)(jn the 
minds of his pupils. 

On the 7th of January, 1873, \V. O. 
Paden was united in marriage to Miss Laura 
J. Garlough, the wedding being celebrated 
by the Rev. Richard Morris, five miles S(juth- 
west of Springfield, at the old 0\erpeck 
hon-iestead. The lady is a daughter of W. 
H. and Phcebe C. ( Dalr}-mple) Garlough. 
In tile vear 1880 Mr. Paden removed to the 



Ii6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mountains of Kentucky for the benefit of 
his wife's healtli and remained in the south 
for twenty years engaged in tlie lumber 
business. In 1899, however, he returned to 
Clark county and located upon the farm 
which is now his liome and which claims his 
time and energies. Unto him and his wife 
have been born two children but the son 
died in Kentucky, at the age of thirteen 
months. The daughter, Gertie, born in 
iS/i], is now the wife of Irvin G. Hamma, 
by whom she has two children, Clarence and 
fhelma. 

Throughout his entire life Mr. Paden 
has given his ])()litical sujiport to the Dano- 
cracy and while residing in the south he 
frecjuently served as a delegate to county 
conventions and as a member of the central 
committee. He has never been a politician 
in the sense oi office seeking nor has he de- 
sired the rewards of nffice in recognition of 
his party fealty. He is a member of the 
Presbyterian church and S(x:ially is con- 
nected with the Odd I-ellows Society of 
South Charleston and with Fielding Lodge, 
No. 192, F. & A. M.. also of that place. H« 
has truly won the title of a self-made n:an, 
for from the age of thirteen years he has 
been dependent upon his own resources, not 
only for his li\ing but for his education and 
for his advancement in all walks of life. 
Faithfulness to duty and strict adherence to 
a fixed purpose, Jiowever, will do more to 
advance a man than wealth or advantageous 
circumstances. Mr. Paden has battled earn- 
estly and energetically and by indomitable 
courage and integrity has achieved both 
character and success. By sheer force of 
will and untiring effort he has worked his 
way upward and is now numbered among 
the leading agriculturist of his native 
county. 



.\LEX.\XDER .M.vcGREGOR. M. D. 

In the practice of medicine Alexander 
MacGregor has demonstrated his al)ility to 
successfully cope with the intricate ques- 
tions which continually confront his posi- 
tion. He has been a close and earnest stu- 
dent of the science of medicine and his skill 
and ability are recognied in a liberal patron- 
age. He came to Springfield in 1885 and 
from the beginning his business has con- 
stantly increased both in character and vol- 
ume and to-day he is accounted one of the 
leading representatives of the profession in 
the county. 

Dr. MacGregor was born in CovingtDn, 
Kentucky, in 1852, and is a son of .\le\- 
ander and Rachel (\\'illoughb\ ) Mac- 
Gregor. the former a native of Ivlinbur- 
ough, Scotland, and the latter of England. 
The father's birth occurred May 29. 1821, 
and he is still living, being an inspector in 
one of the large factories in Cincinnati, 
Ohio. He has always been an active man, 
of a sturdy and industrious nature. He was 
educated in Scotland and was married in 
England, coming to the United States be- 
tween the ages of twenty and thirty years 
accompanied by his mother and his wife. 
For a time he resided in Philadelphia. Penn- 
sylvania, and then went to Kentucky, while 
at the present time he is living in Cincinnati. 
Ohio, although for a few years he was a 
resident of Springfield. Hfe is a well edu- 
cated man keeping abreast of the times read- 
ing and observation and in his business af- 
fairs he has prospered owing to his own en- 
terprise and careful managaiient. In the 
family were five sons and two daughters. 
The first died in infancy and Thomas was 
murdered in Louisiana, when about forty- 
four years of age. Those still living are 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Rolaiid, a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio; 
Alexander; Oliver, of Louisiana; and Mrs. 
Adeline Salmon, of Dayton, Ohio. 

The children were all educated in the 
public schools of Kentucky and the Doctor 
is the only one who chose a professional ca- 
reer. After graduating in the high school of 
his nati\-e state he worked at wood-carving 
for a time and was also employed in a brass 
foundry. During this period he spent his 
evenings in study and at the same time did 
excellent work in the line of his employ- 
ment. He carved the models for the Cor- 
inthian capital on the courthouse at St. 
Joseph, Missouri, about 1871, being a resi- 
dent of that city at the time. He also 
worked in Dayton, Ohio, and Chicago, Illi- 
nois, and executed work for the exhibition 
of Joseph Liambert of Dayton. He pos- 
sessed natural ability in this direction, and 
in order to supplement this he pursued a 
course in the MacMicken School of Design- 
ing at Cincinnati. He made rapid advance- 
ment in the work and later he became con- 
nected with the brass wurks in Dayton, 
Ohio, having charge of a fouudry there, 
while later he became superintendent of a 
large foundry in Cincinnati, tilling that re- 
ponsible position for five years. The Doctor 
then removed to Springfield and established 
business here and after two years he sold 
out and took up the study of medicine. He 
had refused very tempting offers from a 
number of brass founderies, having been 
oft'ered the superintendency of the works 
but he had determined to devote his atten- 
tion to the alleviation of human suffering 
and to this end he entered the Columbus 
Medical school and was graduated in 1892. 
He also attended the Ohio Medical College. 
Dr. MacGregor then returned to Spring- 
field and open.ed an oflice in this city, where 
he has steadily advanced in a profession de- 



manding keen intellectuality, strong dis- 
cernment and comprehensive knowledge of 
the principles of science. He engages in 
general practice and surgery and is' a close 
and discriminating student, who reads in- 
telligently and is quick to adopt any new 
idea which he believes will prove of prac- 
tical value in his professional work. W'hat- 
e\er he undertakes he masters as fully as 
lies within the human power. He has broad 
sympathy and patience and his labors in the 
sick room have gained for him many friends. 
The poor and needy find in him a friend anrl 
he has often tendered his services without 
thought or desire of remuneration. 

The Doctor was married in Dayton, 
Ohio, to Miss Alice Smith, who was born in 
Maryland and was a resident of Dayton at 
the time of her marriage. They have two 
children. Howard E. and Ethel, who an; 
graduates of the high school of Springfield. 
In his political views he is a Republican. 
Fraternalh- he is a member of Anthonv 
Lodge. F. & A. M., and also of the Knights 
of Pythias fraternity. He is examiner for 
several of the old line insurance companies, 
is a member of the American Insurance 
Union and of the Foresters, and is medical 
examiner for both of these. The Doctor 
acquired liis education through his own ef- 
forts anrl in the practice of medicine he has 
shown that his choice of a life work was a 
wise one. He is a member of the Spring- 
field Medical Society and has advanced be- 
yond mediocrity to a creditable position in 
professional circles. 



JA^IES L. MAXWELL. 

In an analyzation of the character and 
life work of James L. ]\Iax\vell. we note 
many of the characteristics which have 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



marked the Sc(jtch nation for many centur- 
ies ; the perse\erance, rehabihty, energy and 
unconquerable determination to pursue a 
course that has been marked out. It is these 
sterling qualities which have gained for Mr. 
Maxwell success in life and made him one 
of the substantial and valued citizens of 
Springfield. Mr. Ma.xwell is now a well 
known and prosi)en)us florist of this city 
where he has carried on business on his own 
account since 1895, ^I's residence in Spring- 
field, however, dating from 1882. 

He was born in Kirkcudbright, Scot- 
land, May I, 1854, and is a son of John 
Ma.xwell, who was also born in the .-^ame 
place. The father is a stone-mason Ijy trade 
and long followed that occupation, but is 
now living retired. He pursued his education 
in the common schools of his native country, 
was an apt pupil and has always been a wide 
reader of gCMjd literature. He married Ag- 
nes Lindsay, also a native of Kirkcudbright. 
He is now a hale and hearty man of eighty- 
two years, while his wife has reached the 
age of seventy-si.x years. His mother at- 
tained the advanced age of eighty-nine 
years, while her sister reached the extreme 
old age of ninety-nine years. Unto John 
and Agnes Maxwell were born six children, 
of whom a son died in early childhood. The 
others are: Margaret, the wife of P. H. 
-Muriihy. (if Springfield; Isabelle, who is the 
widow of Robert Aitken and a resident of 
Port Augusta, Australia; James L., of this 
review ; John, who is engaged as chief man- 
ager of an insurance company of Liverpool, 
England ; and Alexander, who is living in 
Springfield. The children all attended the 
public schools of Scotland and the last two 
had college educations. 

James L. ^Laxwcll pursued his studies 
in the ])ublic schools until thirteen vears of 



age when he began working in a private 
greenhouse belonging to General Ervin. 
There he learned the business with which he 
has since been coimected, working for Gen- 
eral Ervin until eighteen years of age. He 
was afterward associated with his father as 
a stone cutter for two years. In 1874 he 
left the land of hills and heather and came to 
America, remaining in Springfield for two 
years. On the expiration of that period he 
returned home to his native land and when 
two years had elapsed he once more crossed 
the .\tlantic to the United States and took 
up his permanent abode in this city. He 
managed the florist business for his brother- 
in-law until he embarked in business on his 
account in 1895. He rented his first place 
for five years and in 1900 purchased four 
acres of land and erected thereon a modern 
residence with all up-tt>date improvements. 
He also equipped a florist plant, has well ar- 
ranged and large greenhouses and conducts 
a good business, selling to the local trade. 
He began operations on a small scale, but 
has constantly enlarged his facilities to meet 
the growing demands of his trade which he 
continues upon that basis, always keeping 
well stocked in order to supply his patrons. 
XW t'nat he possesses has been acquired 
through his own efiforts and to-day he is a 
prominent and successful re])resentati\-e of 
business interests in Springfield. 

In the year 1895 Mr. Maxwell was 
united in marriage to Miss Rachel Kolb, 
who was Ixjrn in Springfield in 1862, a 
daughter of Frederick Kolb, now decea.sed, 
who owned a shoe store at Xo. 9 West 
Main street, Springfield. Unto Mr. and 
Mrs. Maxwell have been born two sons: 
George L. and Frederick K. 

In his political views Mr. Maxwell is a 
Republican where c|uestions of state and na- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tional importance are involved, but at local 
elections where tliere are no issues before 
the people he casts his ballot regardless of 
party ties, considering only the capability of 
the candidate. He is a member of the Pres- 
byterian church, and also of Ingonxar Lo<lge, 
K. P. \\hile working with Genera! Ervin 
in early youth he learned salmon tishing and 
became an adept at that art. He also at- 
tained superior proficiency as a marksman 
and hunter and in the handling of all kinds 
of fire arms. For three years he served in 
the Scotch army as a volunteer. In all 
manly sports he takes an active interest, and 
in church and charitable work he is found 
as a liberal contributor. Thirteen times he 
has crossed the Atlantic, making trips to 
and from his home in his native country. 
He has found in the business ad\'antages of 
the new world the opportunities which he 
sought, for here labor meets with its just 
reward and consecutive efforts and keen dis" 
cernment in business have won for him a 
creditable place in the financial workl. 



DWTGHT W. HOLLEXBECK. 

In a history of the representative men 
who have been connected with the business 
dc\-elopment and substantial progress of 
Clark county, Dwight Wheeler Hollenbeck 
must he mentioned. He occupied a leading 
and honorable position in business circles 
here fur a number of years and he left be- 
hind him an untarnished name. Moreover, 
his social qualities and genuine worth had 
gained for him the esteem, good will and 
confidence of many friends, who will gladly 
receive the record of his career. 

Mr. Hiillenbeck was born at Great Bar- 



rington, Massachusetts, amid the Berkshire 
hills, on the 12th of April, 1844, and is a 
son of John Van Dusen Hollenbeck. He 
pursued his education at Great Barrington 
and Brooklyn, New York, continuing his 
studies until eighteen years of age. when he 
ran away in order to enlist for service in the 
Civil war with a regiment that had been 
formed in his nati\e town, but because of 
his youth his father ilid not wish him to en- 
ter the army and went after him, causing 
hnn to return home. His military experi- 
ence was therefore nipped in the bud but he 
e\er manifested the same loyalty and pa- 
triotic spirit throughout his entire career, 
doing everything he could to promote the 
best interests of his city, his state and his 
nation. When his education was completed 
he entered into the wholesale flour and feed 
business owned by his father at Great Bar- 
rington, receiving his business training in 
that way. For two years he was associated 
w ith his father and then determined to seek 
a home in a western district, believing that 
he might have better business opportunities 
elsewhere. Coming to Ohio he located in 
Circleville, wdiere he established a whole- 
sale and retail clothing house, entering this 
business in connection with George Melvin, 
his father-in-law. He was thus engaged un- 
til 1886, meeting with creditable success in 
his undertaking there. 

In the year mentioned Mr. Hollenbeck 
came to Springfield, Ohio, where he made 
his home throughout his remaining days. 
Here he entered the insurance field, first rep- 
resenting the Union Central Insurance Com- 
pany of Cincinnati. In this enterprise he 
was associated witli Mr. Heffelfinger and 
subsequently he became connected with the 
John Hancock Insurance Company, of which 
he was made general manager for this dis- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



trict. occupying the position continuously 
up to within a short time pridr to his death. 
He possessed excellent business ability, 
strong executive force, keen insight and 
sound judgment and these qualifications 
made liini a \ery valuable man in the office 
whicli he filled. He was, moreover, strictly 
honorable and straightforward in all his 
business transactions and he enjoyed the un- 
qualified confidence of the company and of 
those with whom he became connected in 
business dealings. 

On the 1st of January. 1867, ]\Ir. Hol- 
lenbeck was united in marriage to Miss Ada 
A. Melvin, a native of Circleville, Ohio, 
and a daughter of George Melvin, with 
w horn Mr. H'ollenbeck had been engaged in 
business. Their union was blessed with a 
family of seven children, of whom five are 
yet living, namely : Anna Marfield. Xelle 
Barrere. Clarence Melvin. Ralph Wheeler 
and Mina Grisv.dld. 

In his political views Mr. Hollenbeck 
was a Republican and by reading and study 
of the questions of the day he was able to 
give his intelligent support to the party, yet 
he never sought or desired office for himself. 
He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and 
in his life he exanplified a teieficent spirit 
of tiie craft, which is leased upon the prin- 
cii)Ies of mutual helpfulness and brotherly 
kindness. His death occurred November 7. 
1896, and he was laid to rest in Fernclifif 
■cemetery. His life record covered nearly 
forty-two years, yet in that time he accom- 
plished much. He was a successful business 
man. a progressive and public-spirited citi- 
zens, a faithful friend and a devoted hus- 
band and father. Through liis business as- 
sociations he gained a wide acquaintance 
and wherever known he commanded the re- 
spect antl good will of his fellow men. while 



to those within the circle of his friendship 
he was endeared by all the ties of a close and 
lasting relation. 



OLIVER \\'ARREX KELLY. 

The pioneers of a country, the founders 
f)f a business, the originators of any under- ■ 
taking that will promote welfare or advance 
tlie educational, social and moral interests 
of a community deserve the gratitude of 
the community. The name of Kelly is one 
tliat figures prominently on the pages of the 
industrial and commercial history of Spring- 
field, and the family finds a worthy and 
honored representative in Oliver Warren 
Kelly, who is the vice-president of the O. 
S. Kelly Company, manufacturers of piano 
plates and road rollers. He is active in con- 
trolling a business of great magnitude and 
one which by furnishing employment to 
hundreds of men, is of great value to the 
city as well as to the individual stock- 
holders. 

Mr. Kelly was lx)rn in Springfield De- 
cember II, 1851, and is the elder of the twc 
sons of Oliver S. and Ruth .Ann ( Peck) 
Kelly. At the usual age he entered the pub- 
lic schools of his native cit\' and after com- 
pleting a course here determined to master 
the German language. With a desire of 
acquiring a practical and thorough knowl- 
edge of this he went abroad, sailing from 
Xew York on the 2d of September. 1869, 
when eighteen years of age. He kcated 
first at Weinheim, Baden, where he contin- 
ued his studies of tlie German language un- 
til he could speak and write sufficiently to 
enter upon the pursuit of a college course. 
.\fter completing his studies there he went 
to Zurich. Switzerland, during the Easter 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



123, 



holidays of 1871, and continud in tliat city 
in the land of the Alps until the summer of 

1872. He next went .to Aix la Chapelle. 
\\liere he remained until the autumn of 

1873. At each of these places he pursued 
special studies and during his residence 
abroad he mastered mechanical engineering. 
He visited London, Paris and other of the 
leading cities on the continent, spending the 
luonths of vacation in viewing the scenes 
of historic and modern interest and in ac- 
quainting himself with the manners and 
customs of the people of foreign lands. He 
was in Germany at the beginning of the 
Franco-Prussian war, in 1872-3, and on the 
4th of September, of the latter year, he 
sailed for his native land, returning after 
an absence of four years. 

Mr. Kelly now became connected with 
the firm of Whiteley, Fassler & Kelly, the 
third partner being his father. This com- 
pany was engaged in the manufacture of 
the Champion reapers and mowers. Our 
subject continued with the house until 1881, 
and the following year he purchased the 
business of Rhinehart & Ballard, manufac- 
turers of threshing machines, forming the 
Springfield Engine and Thresher Company. 
In 1890 the name was changed to the O. 
S. Kelly Company, and the capital stock 
increased from two hundred and fifty thou- 
sand to three hundred and fifty thousand 
dollars, -with O. S. Kelly as president, J. 
B. Cartmell as secretary and treasurer, and 
Oliver W. Kelly as superintendent. In 
189 1 the}- began the manufacture of piano 
plates and their business entered upon an 
era of growth antl prosperity which has 
made their industry one of the most import- 
ant in the country. Their plates are sold 
extensi\ely throughout this country to pi- 
ano manufacturers. The\' also manufac- 



ture all kinds of rollers in various sizes, 
weighing from eighteen hundred to thirty- 
five thousand pounds, and the export busi- 
ness which they do in this line is also mam- 
moth. These rollers are propelled by steam 
and are being used largely in preparing the 
roadbeds for macadam and asphalt pave- 
ments. So extensive has the business be- 
come that employment is now furnished to 
between five hundred and five hundred and 
fifty men, and the various buildings consti- 
tuting the plant cover a large area. The 
machinery used is of the latest and most 
improved pattern and skilled workmen are 
eiuployed in the various departments. From 
the beginning Mr. Kelly, of this review, has 
been active in the management and control 
cif this extensive enterprise, the success of 
which is attributable in no small degree to 
his efforts. 

In 1877 ]\Ir. Kelly was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Katherine Fassler, of Spring- 
field, a daughter of Jerome Fassler. They 
noiw occupy one of the most lieautiful resi- 
dences on South Fountain a\-enue, this 
being one of the fine boulevards of 
the city. They have three children : Ar-< 
min Lee, Louisa and Katherine. The son 
is a graduate of Wittenberg College of the 
class of 1898, and is now secretary of the 
O. S. Kelly Company. 

I\Ir. Kelly is a pronuneut Mason, now 
holding membership in Chrk Lodge. No. 
1 01, F. & A. M. ; Springfield Chapter. R. 
A. M. ; Palestine Commandery, No. 33, 
K. T. ; the Consistory of Cincinnati, ajid 
Syrian Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. 
Kelly has made good use of his opportuni- 
ties. He has prospered from year to year 
and has conducted all business matters care- 
fully and successfully, and in all his acts 
displa}-s an aptitude for successful manage- 



«24 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



merit. He has not permitted tlie accumula- 
tion of a vast fortiuie to affect in any way 
his actions toward those less successful than 
lie, and has always a cheerful word and 
pleasant smile for all with whom he comes 
in contact. 



ELMORE E. GRIM. 



Dr. Elmore E. Grim occu])ies a promi- 
nent position among professional men of 
Springfield, heing one of the leading opti- 
cians of that city. While yet a young man 
he has already given evidence of the posses- 
sion of ahility of a superior order that places 
him above the ranks of mediocrit}'. He was 
born in the city which is still his home, liis 
natal day being September 23, 1866. 

His father, W. S. Grim, was born in 
Pennsylvania on the 2d of February, 1830, 
and now has charge of the accounts of the 
Superior Drill Company. He was educat- 
ed in college, became an expert accountant 
and is one of the best mathematicians in 
this section of Ohio. His has been an active 
and useful career, and he is a well read man, 
devoted to his home and family and to the 
best interests of citizenship. He came to 
Clark county in the latter part of the '50s, 
aiul since that time has been prominently 
identified with the interests of the city, sup- 
l)()rting all measures for the general good. 
That he is jiatriotic and loyal is indicated 
by the fact that at the time of the Civil 
war he offered his services to the govern- 
ment and became colonel of the One Hun- 
dred and Tenth Regiment of Ohio Volun- 
teers. He served for a time as commander 
of the regiment, and then on account of dis- 
al)ility, received an honorable discharge. He 
-devotes nnich of his leisure time to stndv 



and is a man of broad general infurmation 
which renders him an interesting and agree- 
able companion. Of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church he is an active and earnest 
member and his influence has ever been on 
the side of the right, the true and the beau- 
tiful. He was married in Pennsylvania to 
Henrietta Jacobs, who was born in that 
state and educated in the public schools. 
They now ha\-e three children : Horace, 
who was born in Pennsylvania in 185G; 
Ehrore E., of this review; and William J., 
who was born in March, 1869, at Harper's 
Ferry, Virginia, where his parents were 
then visiting. 

Dr. Grim, whose name introduces this 
record, pursued a public school etlucation 
and afterward sjient three years as a student 
in Wittenberg College, but left that insti- 
tution in his sophomore year in order to 
take up the study of medicine under the di- 
rection of Dr. Jay W. Morrison, of the firm 
of Morrison & Kennan. who were i^hysi- 
cians to the county infirm;iry. Later he at- 
tended the Jeft'ereson Medical C"ollege at 
Philadelphia, during the winter of 1884-5. 
and then returned to Springfield, where he 
entered the office of Dr. L. E. Russell, who at 
that time was chief surgeon for the Indiana. 
Bloomington & Western Railroad, the Cin- 
cinnati. Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad and 
the Little Miami division of the Pittsburg,, 
Cincinnati, Chicago & St. L'>uis Railroad. 
He was also surgeon to the police depart- 
ment and the Springfield Hospital. While 
connected with Dr. Russell, Dr. Grim be- 
came skilled as a surgeon and assisted in 
many complicated cases. In 1887 he went 
to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he entered the 
Eclectric Medical College and was graduated 
in 1890. He served for one year in the col- 
lege as ]5rofessor of the diseases of women 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



125 



and cliildren. and while performing a sur- 
gical operation he received a bad case of 
blood poisoning and for several months 
it was thought that he could not live. He 
v.as for a long time at various health resorts 
in the west and south and after suffering se- 
verely for fourteen long months he event- 
ually recovered and once more resumed 
his studies. \Vhile in college he won over 
all competitors the Norris, Higgins, Har- 
court and American testimonials. In 1892 
he began making a special study of the di- 
seases of the eye, spent two years in that 
way and the following two years in gain- 
ing desired optical training in order to be- 
come a practical and competent optician. 
The last two }'ears were spent in a whole- 
sale house, where he learned the technical 
points of manufacturing lenses. 

Dr. Grim then returned to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, where he remained for one year 
when, on account of the failing health of 
)iis parents, he came to Springfield in order 
to be near them, and opened his office at his 
present location in June, 1901. He is the 
only person in the city who manufactures 
or grinds lenses from scientific measure- 
ments. His knowledge of medicine and 
surgery, together with his proficiency and 
skill in his specialty have gained for him a 
prominent position among the professional 
men of this city. He has a large patronage, 
not only in Springfield, but many come to 
him from adjoining cities and his business 
is constantly increasing. His work room 
is fitted up with the most modern equip- 
ments known in lens work and he is thor- 
oughly competent to fit any eye perfectly. 
Mis specialty is technical lens work. 

In this city, in 1902, Dr. Grim was 
united in marriage to Miss Lulu Cimning- 
liam. a native of Oberlin. Ohio. She was 



an only child and her parents died during 
her infancy, after which she resided in 
Springfield with an aunt, pursuing her ed- 
ucation in the public schools here. The 
Doctor and his wife occupy a very enviable 
position in social circles, the hospitality of 
the best homes being extended to them. He 
\-otes ^\•ith the Democracy and is a suppor- 
ter of the M'ethodist Episcopal church. As 
a citizen he is public-spirited and is ever 
willing to put forth his best efforts to pro- 
mote any enterprise that tends to the wel- 
fare and best interests of the people and of 
the community. He is a member of the 
Greek college fraternity. Phi Gamma Delta, 
of this city, and at present is sachem of 
Miami Tribe. No. 207, Improved Order of 
Red Men. Early in life he learned to lie 
self-reliant and realized that there is no ex- 
cellence without labor and that there is no 
royal road to learning. He therefore did 
everything in his power to secure his own 
advancement along honorable lines. He 
has displayed thoroughness in the work he 
has undertaken and is yet an earnest stu- 
dent, realizing that he can by continued 
reading broaden his knowledge and aug- 
ment his efficiency as an optician. His abil- 
ity being widely recognized his position in 
the professional world is a most creditable 
and honorable one. 



H. OSBORN WHITAKER. M. D. 

H. Osborn Whitaker, who is engaged in 
the practice of medicine and surgery in 
South Charleston, was bom in' Mechanics- 
burg, Champaign county, Ohio, September 
4, 1875, and, although a young man, in 
professional ranks he has gained a reputa- 



126 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tion wliich many an older practitioner might 
well envy. His parents were Xewton and 
Mary Elizabeth (Osborn) Whitaker. The 
father was born in Clark county, Ohio, near 
Vienna, and has always carried on agricul- 
tural pursuits. He spent the first seventeen 
years of his life in his native county and 
then went to Clay county, Illinois, where 
he remained for about two years. His 
health failed him and he then returned to 
Ohio and has since resided in Champaign 
county. 

Our suljject was reared upon the home 
farm and pursued his education in the coun- 
try schools and in the Mechanicsburg high 
school, being gradnated with a class of fif- 
teen in 1^92. He afterward returned to 
his father's farm and assisted in the work 
of field and meadow until the fall of 1897, 
when he took up the study of medicine in 
the Cleveland Homeopathic Medical Col- 
lege. There he was graduated in the class 
of 1 90 1, completing the course on the loth 
of April, and on the 1st of May, of that year, 
he located in South Qiarleston, where he 
has already secured a good patronage that 
is indicative of the confidence reposed in his 
professional skill and ability. 

The Doctor was married in Mechanics- 
burg July 6, 1901, to Miss Nellie Rutan. 
who was a native of that city and a daugh- 
ter of D. W. and Lucy (Kimball) Rutan. 
the former a farmer of Champaign county, 
Ohio. The Doctor is independent in politi- 
cal views, holding himself free to support 
men and measures without regard to party 
affiliations. He was reared in the faith of 
the Methodist Protestant church and held 
niembershi]) therein until his removal to 
South Charleston, when, as there was no 
church of that denomination here, he joined 
the Methodist Episcopal church. The Doc- 



tor is also a member of Clark Lodge. Xo. 
166, L O. O. F., of South Charleston. While 
in college he became a member of the Ustian 
fraternity of Cleveland, and for the past 
two years has been its grand chaplain. He 
is a young man possessed of laudable ambi- 
tion, strong determination and he has a 
bright outlook for the future because of the 
possession of qualities which always insure 
success in any avenue of honorable busi- 
ness. 



CH.VKLES S. KAV. 

The tlistinctixe office of biography is 
not to give voice to a man's modest opinion 
of himself and his accomplishments, but 
rather to lea\e a proper record of his char- 
acter derived from a concensus opinion on 
the part of his fellow men. That Mr. Kay 
occupies an enviable position in business cir- 
cles of Springfield is a well known fact, and 
b.is career is one which e.xcites the commen- 
dation and respect of his associates. He is 
to-day the treasurer of the Superior Drill 
Company and also the president of the board 
of trade of Springfield. His efforts ha\e 
l)een of permanent benefit to the city, for he 
belongs to that class of representative Amer- 
ican citizens who, while promoting individ- 
ual success, also contribute in a large meas- 
ure to the general welfare and prosperity. 
Charles S. Kay was born in Miamis- 
burg, Montgomery county, Ohio, Xovem- 
ber 4. 1853, and is a son of Dr. Isaac and 
Clara M. (Deckert) Kay. His mother was 
a resident of Miamisburg and a daughter of 
Samuel Deckert, a prominent citizen of long 
residence there. Dr. Isaac Kay is one of the 
oldest physicians of Springfield and an hon- 
ored member of his profession. 




CHARLES S. KAY. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



[29 



The son, Charles S. Kay, came to this 
city witli his parents in infancy and ac- 
quired his preliminary education in the puh- 
lic schools. On putting aside his text books 
he entered upun his business career and for 
over ten years was connected editorially 
with newspapers in Cincinnati and Spring- 
tield. In 1883 he entered the Superior Drill 
Company, and has been for over fifteen years 
treasurer of that company. The plant owned 
by the company is an extensive one. 
eifuipped with the latest and most highly 
improved machinery connected with this 
line. Over four hundred men are employed 
in the different departments and the indus- 
try is one of the most important fnisiness 
concerns of Springfield. The Superior Drill 
Company was inxorporated 'in November, 
1883, and has a capital stock of two hun- 
dred and fifty thousand dollars, an imest- 
ment n(_iW ba\ing a value of o\-er a million 
dollars. Various kinds of grain drills and 
agricultural implements are manufactured. 
The Superior Drill has attained a world- 
wide reputation and finds sale not only 
throughout the United States but is ex- 
ported to England, Germany, Russia and 
South American countries. Mr. Kay has 
contributed in no small degree to the up- 
building and grow^th of the business. The 
financial workings of this great plant have 
been capably directed by him. He is also a 
stockholder in the Citizens National Bank. 

In 1893 ^^''- -^■^''y '^^'^s married to Miss 
Pjelle G. Gunn, of Lexington, Kentucky, a 
daughter of Captain John T. Gunn. She 
was liorn in the city of Lexington, where 
she spent her girlhood days. She was the 
first lady graduate of the State College of 
Kentucky, and is a lady jMssessed of many 
excellent qualities that well fit her for 
leadership in social circles, as well as to 
7 



preside over her hospitable home. Four 
children have been born of this union, three 
of whom survive, namely: Clarence M'., 
Edith \V. and Claribel. The parents are 
members of the First Baptist church. 

For nine years Mr. Kay was director of 
the public library in Springfield and he is a 
prominent Mason, belonging to Clark 
Lodge, F. & A. M. ; Springfield Chapter, 
R. A. M. ; and Palestine Commandery, K. 
T. While he possesses social qualities that 
render him a favorite, his attention has been 
chiefly given to his business afifairs. Mr. 
Kay can be depended upon to further by his. 
efforts and means, every movement looking 
ti>ward municipal progress and philan- 
thropic enterprise. He devotes consider- 
able of his leisure time to literary pursuits, 
and has broadened his horizon by foreign 
travel. He possesses- untiring energy, is 
quick of perception, forms his plans readi- 
ly and is determined in their execution. His 
close application to business and bis excel- 
lent management have brought to him the 
high degree of ])rosperity which to-day 
is his. 



ROBERT H. FOOS. 

A student of the history of Clark coun- 
ty can not carry his investigations far into 
its business records without noticing that 
the name of Foos figures conspicuously 
upon its pages. Robert H. Foos is the pres- 
ident of the Foos Manufacturing Company 
and is thus actively and closely associated 
with manufacturing interests, his operations 
being extensive and of an important char- 
acter. He is one of Clark county's native 
sons, his birth ha\ing here occurred in 
1850. His parents were Gustavus S. and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Elizabeth (Houston) Foos. His father was 
the founder of one of the leading industries 
of this city; a man of splendid business and 
executive force, and upon another page of 
this work his life hist(ir_\- is given in detail. 

Robert H. Foos acquired a primary ed- 
ucation in the schools of Springfield, where 
lie prepared for college, and then entered the 
Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, be- 
ing a graduate of that institution in 1872. 
After his graduation he spent two years 
abroad, visiting the city of London and the 
countries of France and Germany. He stud- 
ied both the German and French languages 
and viewed with interest the places of mod- 
ern and historical importance, at the same 
time acf|uainting himself with the manners 
;nid customs of the peoiile of those lands 
;ind their methods of conducting Inisiness. 

L'piiii his return -to his nati\c cnuntrx- 
.Mr. Fi'iis accepted the pusitiou of teller in 
tiie Second \ational UanU of Springfield, 
and served in that capacity for five years, 
after which he became identified with his fa- 
ther's manufacturing interests as a mem- 
ber lit the I'oos Maiuifacturing Compan\-, 
which was incor])orated on the 1st of Jan- 
uary, 1S84, with a capital stock of one 
hundred and fifteen thousand dollars. This 
company has since been engaged in the 
manufacture of special grinding machinery, 
scientific grinding mills, portable forges, 
farmers" tools, corn harvesters, corn shell- 
crs and other implements of a similar na- 
ture. His father was president of the com- 
pany at the tiiue of his death, on the nth 
"' J"'y^ 1900. The son was immediately 
elected to the presidency on the death of his 
honored fatlier, and his brother, W. F. 
I'oos, is vice-president and treasurer. The 
c iinpany employs two hundred men and the 
plint is ec|uii)ped with machinery of the la- 



test design, made especially for this pur- 
])ose. The business, having assumed mam- 
moth i^roportions, has become a \ery \alu- 
able enterprise in Springfield and the exten- 
sive output and large trade result in bring- 
mg an excellent financial return to the stock- 
holders. 

Mr, FcK« gives his political support to 
the Republican party, but the honors and 
emoluments of otifice have no attraction for 
him. He is one of the enterprising and pro- 
gressi\e business men of this city. His ef- 
forts have been discerningly directed along 
well defined lines of labor and he seems to 
ha\e realized at any jx^int of progress the 
full measure of his possibilities for accoiu- 
plishment at that point. A man of distinct 
and forceful individuality, of broad mental- 
ity and mature judgment, he has left and is 
leaving his impress upon the industrial 



THOM.AS D. AHLLS. 

Thomas D. Mills is a farmer and stock 
raiser of Green township, whose entire life 
has been passed in that portion of the coun- 
ty. Fie is therefore widely knOAvn to many 
of its citizens, and is held in the highest 
esteem. His birth occurred June 2, 1843, 
on the farm which is yet his home. It was 
then the property of his parents, James and 
Delilah (Moore) Mills. His father was 
born in Kentucky, and with his grandfather. 
Thomas Mills, came to Ohio when but three 
years of age. The grandfather settled uixm 
the farm which is now occupied by John 
Mills, and in this county the father of our 
subject was reared to manhood and mar- 
ried. He inherited from his father's es- 
tate one hundred and thirtv acres of land 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



131 



and always gave his attention to agricultural 
pursuits. He was twice married, and l)v 
his first union had two children. The 
daughter, Nancy E., hecame the wife of 
\\'alter Cultice, but both are now deceased. 
They left nine children, eight of whom are 
still living. There were no children born 
to the father by his second marriage. 
Thomas D. Mills is therefore an only son. 
He and his sister inherited the farm, each 
securing sixty-five acres. In church work 
James Mills was prominent. Hte held mem- 
bership \\ith the Methodist Episcopal de- 
nomination and served as a class leader in 
the church, while in other ways he assisted 
in promoting the growth and extending the 
influence of the organization. His politi- 
cal support was given the Republican party. 
Upon the home farm Thomas D. Mills 
was reared, and in the common schools of 
the neighborhood he acquired a fair educa- 
tion. He entered upon an independent bus- 
iness career when about twenty-two years 
of age, and in August. 1862, he was found 
among the defenders of the Union. Don- 
ning the blue uniform he went to the front 
as a private of Company A, Ninety-fourth 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being first sent to 
camp at Piqua, and thence ortlered to' Ken- 
tucky. He was first under fire at Tates 
Ford, in that state, a skirmish occurring dur- 
ing the night. Tlie first regular battle in 
which he participated was at Perryville, and 
he was afterward at Stone River, Chatta- 
nooga, Chickamauga and other important 
engagements of the war. After the battle 
of Chickamauga he was transferred to the 
Veteran Reserve Corps of the United States 
Regulars, and was sent to Camp Do'uglas, 
in Chicago, Illinois, and did guard duty 
there. He had been ill in the hospital and 
was not able to again enter active field ser- 



vice. Later he was sent to Cairo, Illinois, 
where he was honorably discharged. Al- 
though often in the thickest of the fight, 
where his comrades fell to each side of him, 
he was never wounded, and he was also 
fortunate in escaping capture. 

Not long after his return home, on the 
19th of December, 1865, Mr. Mills was 
united in marriage to Miss Marinda Qark, 
of Pitchin. She was born in Warren coun- 
ty, a daughter of Benajah and Nancy (Mor- 
gan) Clark. They located in this county 
at the tin:e of their marriage and here lived 
until 1875, when they removed to Cham- 
paign county, where Mr. Mills purchased 
forty acres of land, making his home there- 
on until 1879. In that year he sold that 
property and took up his abode in Green 
township, and in 1880 he came to his present 
home in the same township. Here he is 
carrying on general farming and stock 
raising, feeding a high grade of cattle in 
his pastures. His fields, too, are well culti- 
vated and his rich harvests return to him a 
good income annually. 

Four children have been born unto Mr. 
and Mrs. Mills, but Herbert E., the eldest, 
died at the age of nineteen years. David 
Forrest, born on his father's farm May 11, 
1870, was married August 31, 1898, to 
Myrtle Craig, of Pitchin. She was prob- 
ably born near South Salem, Ohio, and 
when fi\-e weeks old was adopted by Jasper 
Craig, who provided her with a good com- 
mon school education, and also a musi- 
cal education, and she has success- 
fully taught music. She has one child, 
Nellie E.. born on the farm where our sub- 
ject is now living June 23, 1899. Forrest 
is a member of the Junior Order of the 
American Mechanics. Lydia Fannie, the 
next member of the Mills familv, is the wife 



132 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of Clifford Hess, of Greene county. Emery, 
born in Champaign county. July 20, 1877, 
is yet at home with his parents. Mr. Mills 
and his estimable wife are consistent mem- 
})ers of the Methodist Protestant church at 
Pitchin. and he is a member of Mitchell 
I'ost. (;. .\. R., of Springfield. While in 
the army he cast his first presidential vote 
for Lincoln in 1864 and has since been a 
stalwart Republican. 



ISAAC TUTTLF. 



Isaac Tuttle was born in Springfield 
township. Clark county. January 15, 1840, 
and is now accounted (uic of the enterprising- 
farmers of (jreen township. His parents 
were John and Margaret (Prickett) Tuttle. 
The father was born in Virginia, and when 
a boy came to Ohio with his parents. The 
grandfather. Sylvanus Tuttle, became one 
of the first residents of Clark cnunty. and 
was identified with its pioneer improvement 
and upbuilding. John Tuttle was born 
February 18. 1794. and was reared amid 
pioneer conditions and surroundings in this 
county. On the 23d of February. 1815, he 
was united in marriage to Margaret Prick- 
ett, whose birth occurred January 19. 1798. 
He passed away June 7, 1849. 'i"<^l '"' '^^''^" 
ow, long surviving him. was called to her 
final rest in 1S79. 'i'liey were the parents 
of fifteen children, fourteen of whom 
reached manhood or womanhood, Isaac be- 
ing the fourteenth in order of birth. All 
who grew up reared families of their own, 
but the only ones now living are the subject 
of this review and his younger Imnher. 
Harvey. 

Isaac Tuttle spent his boyhood days 



upon the home farm, acquiring a fair com- 
mon school education. When sixteen years 
of age he began to work for his brother at 
the carpenter's trade, but followed that pur- 
suit for only a year, and in the second year 
resumed farming. He afterward began to 
operate his sister's land, and when a few 
years had passed he went to northern Indi- 
ana, where he lived for about a year. There 
he suffered from ague, and on that account 
returned to Ohio. 

Here, on the 6th of February, 1862, in 
Green township, Mr. Tuttle -was united in 
marriage to Miss Fannie E. Eichelbarger, 
who was born in this township Octolier 13, 
1842, and is a daughter of Michael and 
Margaret (TckUI) Eichelbarger. Her fath- 
er was born in Washington county, .Mary- 
land, September 3. 181 5, while the mother's 
birth occurred in (ireen township, ("lark 
county, Ohio. November 2, 1819. She is 
still living, but Mr. Eichelbarger i)assed 
away January 7. 1867. After his marriage 
f)ur subject and his wife lived in Indiana 
for about a year, and then he purchased his 
present farm, but in May. 1864. he put aside 
business cares and personal preferences in 
order to aid his country, joining the army 
as a member of Company D of the One 
Hundred and Forty-si.xth Ohio Infantry, in 
defense of the Union. He did guard duty, 
remaining in tiie service for alxnit four 
months, after which he returned to his home 
in Green towlnship, where he has resided 
continuously since. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle have been 
born four children : Ermina Belle, Ijorn 
Decemljer 29, 1862, married Herbert P. 
Stewart, of Green township, and they have 
four children — Ira Elton, Roy La Vaughn, 
Walter Xesbit and Elmer .Arthur. Effie 
Augusta, born November 28, 1867, is tin 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



133 



wife (if Oliver E. Allen, a teacher in the 
pnhlic schools of Springfield, and they have 
three children — Otho Preston, Ollin Win- 
frecl and Harold Everett. Harry Edwin, 
horn May 6, 1869, wedded Mary Belle Mc- 
Ciillough, and they have three children — 
Howard, Guy and Hlomer. Elton J., born 
Septeniber 6, 1872, married Anna Elizabeth 
\\'alters, and they have one child — Mabel 
Adella. 

^Ir. Tuttle cast his first presidentiaUvote 
for Lincoln in 1864, and is now independent 
in politics, voting regardless of party ties. 
Throughout his entire business career hebas 
carried on agricultural pursuits, and his 
work in this direction has brought to: him a 
good living. Neither negligent nor dila- 
tory in his labors, his business career has 
been characterized b}- diligence and enter- 
prise, and all that he has acquired has come 
to him as the result of these qualities. 



J. O. TUTTLE. 

In Harmony township resides J. O. Tut- 
tle, who is devoting his energies to farming 
and stock-raising with creditaible success. 
He was born in Green township, Octdber 
26, 1S47, o" ths i2:rm where his maternal 
uncle, J. P. Garlough. is now living. He i? 
a son of Sylvanus and Jane B. (Garlough) 
Tuttle. His father was born in Clark cotm- 
ty and lived to be about fifty-nine years of 
age, passing away in Springfield township. 
John Tuttle, the paternal grandfather, died 
before our subject's recollection. For a few 
years after his marriage, Sylvanus Tuttle 
lived on tlie Garlough liomestead, but when 
his son J. O. was a little lad of three summers 
he purchased one hundred and sixtv acres of 



land in Pleasant township, Clark county, 
and as his financial resources increased he 
added to his property until he became the 
owner of between three and four hundred 
acres of land, of which Mr. Tuttle of this 
review now has one hundred acres. The 
father was a Republican but never soiight 
or desired office. In his family were six 
children, of whom four are living, namely: 
Margaret, who became the wife of Charles 
Holland and died at their home in Hardin 
county, lea\-ing four children ; John, who 
died in infancy ; J. O., of this review ; 
Marion, at home; Tabitha, the wife of John 
Blee, of Harmony township; and George 
H., who is living in Kansas. 

Tiie boyhood days of J. O. Tuttle were 
spent on the home farm and he acquired his 
education in the common schools. The oc- 
cupation to which he was reared he has 
made his life work. He assisted his father 
in caring for the fields and meadows of the 
home place until he had attained his major- 
it)-, when he began operating a portion of 
his father's land on shares. As a companion 
and helpmate for life's journey be chose 
Miss Kate Todd, their marriage being cele- 
brated in (j-reen township November 6, 
1870. She was born in Madison connty and 
is a daughter of Samuel and Saloma ( Gar- 
lough) Todd. During her early girlhood 
her parents remo\ed to Clark county, where 
she was reared and in the common schools 
she was educated. By her marriage she has 
become the mother of one child, Maliel J., 
who is the wife i>f W'illiam Na\e, and they 
reside with her father. 

In 1872 Mr. Tuttle came to the farm 
ui)on which he noiw lives. At his father's 
death he inherited one-fifth oi the estate 
and he purchased one hundred acres upon 
which he is now living. His place is well 



34 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



iirpnned. having a good set of farm build- 
ings and machinery, a high grade of stock 
ajid all modern equipments. From the time 
when lie cast his first presidential \ote for 
Grant, in 1868, Mr. Tuttle has been an 
earnest Republican, giving an unfaltering 
support to the principles of the party. In 
his work he is diligent, carefully performing 
the many tasks connected with agriculture, 
and he yearly finds his rew ard in the profit- 
able sales of his crops. 



L.E\\-1S AI. AARIGHT. 

It is not only the pioneers who have 
been ])rominent in the upbuilding of Spring- 
field. The city is constantly attracting to 
it men of enterprise, imbued with the spirit 
which has led to the rapid growth and de- 
velopment of the west. Among the more 
recent arrivals here is Lewis M. Wright, 
wlio has become a factor in the electrical 
world of trade as proprietor of a leading 
shoe house. He was born February 2, 1S59, 
in the state of Virginia, and is a son of 
John P. and Sarah E. (Divine) \\'right, 
bntli of whom were natives of the Old Do- 
minir>n, born in Loudoun county. The 
Wright family is of Scotch and English 
descent and the father of our subject is 
still living, his home being in Maryland. 

Lewis M. Wright belongs to a family 
of four children. In the public schools of 
Maryland he acquired his educatioii and. 
ambitious to become a factor in business 
life and attain success for himself, in No- 
vember, 1879. he embarked in merchandis- 
ing in Maryland, where he resided until 
1897. In Januar}-, of that year, he arrived 
in S])ringfield and purchased a half interest 
in the shoe firm of Routzahn iS: Company. 



which name was changed to Routzahn & 
Wright. This partnershi]) still exists and 
the new firm, with L. M. Wright as its 
senior member, took on a new impetus. 
They are now carrying an extensive line 
of men's, women's and children's footwear, 
have gained favor with the public and are 
now looked upon as one of the leading shoe 
houses of the city, which accords to them 
a liberal and growing ])atronage, so that 
the business has become a paying one. 

In 1886 Mr. Wright was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Mary E. Williard, a native 
of Maryland, and their union has been 
blessed with two children. Hazel and Will- 
ard. They have a pleasant home in Spring- 
field and the hospitality of many of the best 
residences of the city has been extended to 
them. During the six years in which they 
have lived in Ohio, Mr. Wright and his 
estimable wife have gained many warm 
friends. He is a valued member of the Ma- 
sonic fraternity and also holds membership 
relations in the Knights of Pythias frater- 
nity, the Modern Woodmen of America and 
several other secret organizations. He is 
an ardent believer in religion and holds ■ 
membershii) in St. Paul Methodist Episco- 
pal church, where his active service is ap- 
preciated. His conservative business judg- 
ment has won him a seat on tlie official 
board, and his assistant superintendency of 
the Sunday-school is not lacking in appre- 
ciativencss on the part of its members. 



ROBERT P. W.XLKKR. 

The stor}- of the sufferings and bravery 
of those who wore the blue and fought no- 
bly for t'le preservation of the Union, now 
so great anrl glorious, as a direct result of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



their lieroism and devotion to principle and 
country, can not be told too often. It is 
especially well that those of the younger 
generations slumld have impressed upon 
their minds that the liberty and happiness 
which they enjoy freely was purchased for 
them at an awful price and though naught 
liut actual civil war can give the picture in its 
entirety, a faint idea may be gained in the 
perusal of the history of those who experi- 
enced the horrors of war in many of its 
worst phases. Mr. Walker was one of the 
loyal sons of the Union who donned the 
blue uiiifoirm and went to the front in de- 
fense. of his country. He sacrificed health 
upon the altar of freedom, but as long as 
possible he remained at the front, fighting 
the battles of the Union and performing 
all duty that was assigned to him. 

Mr. Walker was born in Ross township, 
Greene county, Ohio, May 8, 1845, a son 
of William H. and Mary P. ( McFarland) 
Walker. His paternal great-grandfather 
was a native of Ireland and became the 
founder of the family in the new world. 
He settled in Greene county, Ohio, in the 
early part of the nineteenth century. Zach- 
ariah Walker, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, owned a farm in Ross townshi]!, 
Greene county, and upon that farm both our 
subject and his father, William H. Walker, 
were born. The grandfather died in early 
manhood. William H. Walker was mar- 
ried at the age of nineteen years and our 
subject was born the following year, being 
the eldest of four sons. When he was about 
four years of age his parents removed to 
Cedarville township, Greene county. Will- 
iam H. Walker was a life long Democrat 
and through a long period he filled the office 
of justice of the peace, discharging his 
duties with promptness and fidelity. He be- 



longed to the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, to the Improved Order of Red 
Men, to the Order of American Mechanics 
and to the Methodist Episcopal church. He 
died in Cedarville December 10, 1901, at 
the age of seventy-six years and one day. 
His sons are all Democrats with the excep- 
tion of our subject. Deluna W. resides in 
\\'ashington, Indiana, and has three chil- 
dren. John W. is a farmer and school 
teacher of Madison township, Clark county, 
Ohio, and has four sons. Wilson is a me- 
chanic and lives in Dayton. He, too, is 
married and has one daughter. 

In Cedarville our subject remained un- 
til after the inauguration of the Civil war, 
when, feeling that his duty was to his coun- 
try, he enlisted on the 8th of August, 1862, 
being then a little more than seventeen years 
of age. He became a member of Company 
H, Ninety-fourth Regiment of Ohio Volun- 
teers, under Captain James Kyle, and went 
into camp at Piqua. After two weeks he 
was ordered to the front, proceeding to 
Newport Barracks, where the regiment was 
provided with uniforms, after which they 
Iiroceeded to Lexington, Kentucky, and 
were then sent to re-enforce the troops at 
Malvern Hill, but before they reached their 
destination the Union forces had been de- 
feated and the Ninety-fourth Ohio returned 
to Lexington, which had fallen into the 
bands of the Rebels and the regiment there- 
fore had to surrender. They were marched 
into the toavn with guns reversed. They had 
permission to go to the hotel for food, but 
scouts reported an opening left for Illinois 
and Indiana regiments to come into the trap 
and through that the Ninety-fourth Ohio 
marched out, met the advancing regiments 
and thus saved them from being captured. 
They proceeded toward Louisville, and at 



•36 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Tales Fern- a skirmish occurred, Mr. Walk- 
er sustaining -a flesh wound in the lower left 
leg. He hound up his wound, however, 
and marched on with his counrand for one 
hundred and fifty miles. .\t Louisville he 
did duty luitil taken ill. after which he went 
to Perryville and thence returned with the 
Avounded and sick, being sent to the hospital. 
\\'hile there his father went to kwik for him 
and on account of his injuries Mr. Walker 
was discharged. I-"or twelve years after 
his return home he was an invalid, being 
confined to the bed and after he was able to 
leave his bed he could not get around with- 
out crutches, which he still uses. He has 
iiever fully regained his health, which was 
laid down as a sacritice upon the altar of 
his country. 

On the 3th of March, 1874. in Ross 
township. (Jreene county, Mr. Walker was 
united in marriage to Miss Margaret A. 
Heath, who was born in Clark county and 
was a daughter of John and Sarah (Will- 
ing) Heath. They now have two daughters, 
Lillie Ma\-, who was born in Xenia, is the 
wife of Edwin H. Pierce, the foreman of 
the plating de])artment for the National 
Cash Register Company, at Dayton. Ohio. 
Anna Myrtle, the younger daughter, was 
borne in Ross township. Greene coanity. 

In his political views IMr. Walker has 
always l)een a Rqiublican and for six years 
he served as justice of the peace in Ross 
township. While thus serving he gave his 
aid and intlucnce to securing compromises 
rather than to continue litigation in the 
courts and of the cases which finally came 
to trial his decisions were so fair and im- 
partial that none were ever reversed. For 
eight years he served as pike sui)erintend- 
ent in Ross township and for five years he 
was a member of the township lK>ard of 



education there. While living in Cedarville 
he was also a member of the board of edu- 
cation for three years and served in a sim- 
ilar ])osition in South Charleston for three 
>ears. He and his wife and daughters are 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church 
and for four years he served as Sunday- 
school superintendent in Shiloh church, in 
Ross township, Greene county. He liecame 
a charter member of Curry Post, G. A. R., 
of Cedarville, served as its chaplain for a 
number of years and is now a member of 
McMillan Post, No. 122. G. A. R.. in which 
he has long filled the position of adjutant. 
In matters of citizenship he is as true to- 
day to his country and her welfare as when 
he followed the nation's starry lianner upon 
t!ie battlefields of the south. 



WILLIA.M J. IkWlX. 

William J. Irwin, now deceased, be- 
Imiged t<i that class (^f men whom the world 
terms self-made and well did he deserve all 
of the praise and honor which the term im- 
])lics. He was born in Randallstown. coun- 
ty Antrim, Ireland, in the year 1833 and 
w ith his ])arents he made the voyage across 
the l)riny deq) to Canada when he was only 
about a year old. He reniained in the Brit- 
ish province in this land until eighteen years 
of age. at which time he became a resident 
of the United States, locating in Spring- 
field. His educational privileges in youth 
were limited, but he was fond of study and 
always read extensively, so that he became 
well informed on the issues of the day and 
on all topics of general interest. While still 
in Canada he earned his own living, learn- 
ing and following the molder's trade. For 




WILLIAM J. IRWIN. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



'39 



a time after his ai"ri\al in Springfield he 
was in the emjilny of the lirm of Mason, 
Ciiok & Bial<ene_\'. and subsequently he 
was employed in the Lagonda shops for a 
time. He was afterward foreman in the 
molding department of the plant of W'hite- 
le}-, Fassler & Kelly for twenty-two years. 
No higher proof of his capability, of his 
earnest application tO' business and of his 
fidelity to dut>' could be gi\-en than this 
statement. He had die entire confidence of 
those whom he served, the respect of those 
w ho worked under him and he commanded 
the good will of all with whom business re- 
lations brought him in contact. After, sev- 
ering his connection with that company he 
remained with William Whiteley until 1887, 
when he i"esigned his position because of 
ill health and for two years was retired from 
acti\e business life. In 1889 he formed a 
partnership under the firm najiie of Wick- 
ham, Chapman & Company, he being the 
junior member, while an equal partner. He 
took charge of the molding department of 
the firm and acted in that capacity until 
his life's labors were ended in death. 

At the time of the Civil war }»Ir. Irwin 
had manifested his loyalty to his adopted 
country by enlisting at the first call for 
troops to serve for three months. He be- 
came a member of Company F, Second 
Ohio Infantry, and after the expiration of 
that' 'term he re-enlisted for six months" 
ser\-ice, as a memlier of the One Hundred 
and Twent}-ninth Infantry, becoming sec- 
ond lieutenant of Company C. His valor 
and meritorious conduct on the field of bat- 
tle afterward won him promotion to the rank 
of first lieutenant, and he largely engaged 
in performing the duties of captain of the 
company because of the illness of his su- 
perior oflicer. Mr. Irwin was never wound- 



ed while in the ser\ice, but contracted 
rheumatism, froiu which he suffered 
throughout his remaining life and which 
ultimately caused his death. He always 
maintained pleasant relations with his old 
army comrades through his membership in 
the Grand Amiy Post, of Springfield. 

In December, 1870, William Irwin was 
united in marriage tO' Miss Hulda E. White, 
a native of this city, and a daughter of 
James M. and Eliza (Jolly) White. Her 
parents were natives of Highland and Ross 
counties, Ohio, respectively, and the father 
was a successful farmer, carrying on agri- 
cultural pursuits in a prosperous manner 
for many years. 

Mr. Irwin gave his political support to 
the Republican party, but he possessed a re- 
tiring disposition and would never accept 
office, not demanding ofificial position as a 
reward for party fealty. In Masonry he 
became prominent, attaining to the thirty- 
second degree of the Scottish Rite. There 
was in the life record of Mr. Irwin much that 
commanded the highest respect and admira- 
tion. He was a strict!}- temperance man in 
the best sense of the tenu. When a mere 
boy he was left an orphan and all that he 
possessed he accumulated by his own bard 
work. Not only was he an active factor in 
industrial circles of Springfield, but also be- 
came the owner of real estate here. His life 
history should serve to encourage others who 
have to start out empty handed as he did. 
His career proves that success is not a mat- 
ter of genius or the result of fortunate en- 
vironment or the aid of influential friends. 
He attained it by persistent purpose, by hon- 
orable dealing and by good judgment in 
business matters. His word was as good 
as any bond that was ever solemnized by 
signature or seal and his name was a svn- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



nnym fur integrity. He passed away De- 
cember 9, 1895, and was laid to rest with 
Masonic honors in Ferncliff cemetery. 



CHARLES W. UNGLAUB. 

Charle- W. ITnolanb is a successful 
young business man of Springfield and a 
well known florist. He established business 
here in tS88, and from the beginning his 
success has been uniform and rapid. He is 
one of the native sons oi the city, born on 
the Tith of October, 1872, his parents being 
Casper and Sophia ( Xoelp) Unglaub, who 
now reside on Shaffer street. The father 
was born in Germany in 1850, ajid when a 
small child of three years was brought to 
America by his parents, the family locating 
in Baltimore. His mother died Avhen^ he 
was but a young lad and he was bound out 
to learn a trade in the city of Baltimore. 
On leaving that place in the year 1870, he 
came to Springfield, Ohio, and here he was 
first employed as foreman in the grinding 
room of a knife and fork factory — the 
Whiteley Mill. There he remained for five 
years and was afterward shipping clerk for 
the firm of Robbins & Myers for ten years. 
C)\\ the expiration of that period he accepted 
a position as watchman and is now serving 
in that capacity. In the year 1870, in this 
city. Casper Unglaub was united in mar- 
riage to Sophia Noelp. and unto them have 
been born seven children, of whom one died 
in infancy. The others are: Charles, of 
tin's review; Laura, who is a tailoress: An- 
drew, a mcxlder: Kmil, a press feeder: and 
Flora and Helen, who are yet in school. 
Tile children have all been educated in the 
German schools of this citv. 

Charles W". Unglaub, like the others, at- 



tendefl sclmul imtil about fourteen years of 
age, when he emljarked in his present busi- 
ness on his own account. He began opera- 
tions on a small scale, having a capital of 
only six dollars. He commenced growing 
plants in a hot" bed, and with strong purpose 
he worked against adversity, determined to 
achieve success. He always treated his cus- 
tomers with the utmost courtesy and fair- 
ness, and he soon won many friends who 
gave him their patronage and thus enabled 
him to build up a large business. He did 
all of his own building and plumbing, tiiere- 
b>' saving expense in that way, and as the 
profits 011 his sales increased he kept adding 
to his greenhouses and buildings until he 
now has a large and well equi]>ped ])lant. 
He erected and stocked his own houses, and 
he now has nine thousand square feet un- 
der glass. His trade has continually in- 
creased and he caters to the city patronage. 
In addition to his greenhixises he has a 
flower stand in the market place, where he 
serves all customers. He handles cut flow- 
ers and bedded plants, and has a thorough 
and practical knowledge of the business, 
which enajjles him to keejj hrs plants in an 
excellent conditimi, and they find a ready 
sale upon the market. 

In iSc),K yir. rn^laub was united in mar- 
riage, in (ireenficld, Ohio, to Miss Minnie 
Humes, wiio was born in Washington Court 
House, in this state, in 1872. Tliey now 
have one son, Howard Clinton, who was 
born in October. 1900. Mrs. Unglaub pur- 
sued her education in the public schools and 
in Lebanon College. Our subject is large- 
ly a self-made and self-educated man. but 
is now an intelligent and well read citizen. 
He has gained a comiirehensive knowledge 
concerning the cultivation of flowers, for 
which he has always h;id ;i liking. He has 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



kept in touch with the most approved meth- 
ods of cuhivating plants at this time, and al- 
thougii not a member of any floral societies 
he is conversant with what is being done b} 
leading florists throughout the country. 
His endorsement of political principles is 
seen in his ballot, which he casts in favor o>f 
the men and measures oi the Republicai, 
party. He has never been an aspirant for 
office, however, preferring to devote his time 
and attention to his business affairs. He 
belongs to the Gennan Lutheran church, and 
is deeply interested in every measure and 
movement for the general good. Starting 
out in life on his Oiwn account at an early 
age, Mr. Unglaub has steadily worked his 
way upward, placing his dependence upon 
the substantial qualities of self-reliance, per- 
severance and diligence, and to-day' he is 
enj(jying a well merited prosperity . 



JACOB SEITZ. 

A deep feeling of sadness spread 
throughout Springfield when it was an- 
nounced that Jacob Seitz had passed from 
this life, but while those who knew him re- 
main his memory will be cherished not so 
much on accoimt O'f the splendid success he 
achieved in business, not because he con- 
tributed to the improvement of the city and 
promoted its commercial activity, althouph 
either would make him worthy to be lung 
remembered, but because of his life nf help- 
fulness, of good cheer, of broad sympathy 
and his deep interest in and labors for the 
benefit of his fellow men. His nature was 
so kindly and gentle that he won not merely 
regard but that deeper feeling which, call 
it friendship or love, binds man in close re- 



lation to his fellow man in ties which naught 
can sever. Thus it was that Springfield 
has seldom so widely and sincerely mourned 
one of her residents. But for thirty-se\'en 
years he was closely associated with her his- 
tory, and many of his friends, in thought 
have breathed the sentiment. 

"He was a man, take him for all in all, 
I shall not look upon his like again." 

Jacob Seitz was born in Lancaster coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, December i8, 1818, a son 
of Henry and Mary Seitz, who came to 
Clark county in 183 1, settling near what is 
now Fernclift" cemetery, Springfield's beauti- 
ful city of the dead. Springfield was then 
but a mere hamlet, and the early settlers were 
at that time instituting the work oi progress 
and improvement which was soon to make 
a vast change in the county antl place it with 
the leading counties of this great common- 
wealth. Henry Seitz purchased a farm 
abo'ut a mile and a half from' this village, 
and there he carried on agricultural pur- 
suits until his death, which occurred a few 
years after his arrival here. He also con- 
ducted a still upon the river which ran liy 
his farm. His children were: Antlrew. 
Isaac, Elizabeth, Henry, Jacob and Cather- 
ine, all of whom were born in Pennsylvania 
and came to this county with their parents. 

Jacob Seitz was one of the self-made 
men of Clark county, for he began his busi- 
ness career working by the month as a farm 
hand, and these earnings proved the founda- 
tion upon which he built his later success. 
He attended school in Pennsylvania, but left 
his native state when twelve years of age 
and came with his parents to Clark county. 
He was always fond of books, however, and 
in his youth studied at home by the side of 
the fire whenever he had the opportunitv. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Tliroiighout his entire life lie read extensive- 
ly and thus became a well read man, con- 
versant with all topics of general interest. In 
1840 he turned his attention to the milling 
and distilling business, carrying on opera- 
tions along these lines for a few years. He 
afterward went to Champaign county, Ohio, 
\.liere. in connection with George Stine- 
berger, he conducted a large flouring mill 
for ten years, meeting with success in this 
undertaking. \\'hen that decade had passed 
he sold his interest in the mill there and re- 
turned to Springfield, in 1855, making his 
home here continuously up to the time he 
was called to his final rest. For a number 
of years he was engaged in the wholesale 
tobacco business in this citv. vet he did not 
confine his efforts to any one line, and his 
wise council and sound judgment proved im- 
portant factors in the successful conduct of 
a number of other business concerns. He 
was a director and stock holder in the Mad 
Ri\er Hank, of Springfield, was also a stock- 
holder in the Lagonda Bank of that city 
and a stockholder in the bank at Urbana^ 
He became quite an extensive land-owner, 
and had both farm and city property. In 
1865 he purchased what is now the Miller 
House, and it is still in possession of the 
family. He erected a fine large residence 
oi brick at No. yy North Limestone street, 
and that he made his home until his death, 
and it is still the home of Mrs. Seitz. 

In the year 1846 our subject was united 
in marriage to Miss Mary A. Stinebcrgcr, 
a daughter of David Stinel>erger. She was 
born in Cham])aign county, Ohio, and by her 
marriage became the mother of three chil- 
dren, but Theodore H., the eldest, died in 
1869 at the age of twenty-one years. Olive 
E. is the wife of Charles Anthony, a mem- 
ber uf the firm .>f I'.lack & .XntlKniv. of this 



city, and they have five children: Frank, 
who is married and has two sons, Theodore 
and Rol)ert, while the other members of the 
Anthony family are Theodore, Louise, 
Rachel and Howard ,B. Laura, the younger 
daughter of Mrs. Seitz, is the wife of M. 
Hedges, a resident' of Chattanooga. Ten- 
nessee, and they have two sons, James and 
Lawrence. 

It was in October, 1892, that Jacob Seitz 
was called to his final rest, his remains be- 
ing interred in Ferncliff cemetery. He was 
a worthy representative of one of the hon- 
ored pioneer families of the county. He 
came here at an early date, and for more 
than sixty' years was a witness of the prog- 
ress and development of this portion of the 
state and took an active part in the work 
of improvement and upbuilding. He was 
deeply interested in all that pertains to the 
general good and co-ojierated in many 
measures calculated to benefit the comnnm- 
ity along material, social, intellectual and 
moral lines. The poor and needy found in 
him a friend and no one ever went to him 
with a tale of distress that did not receive 
his sympathy and his more substantial assist- 
ance. He had • a large circle of warm 
friends, and his friendship .was most |)rized 
b\- those who knew him best. His loss to 
the commimity was a severe one, but he left 
a name which is honored and res]:)ected. 
His wife and older daughter still reside in 
Springfield, where they lune the high re- 
gard of nianv friends. 



lllvXm- II. SEVS. M. D. 

One of the most competent and success- 
ful medical practitioners of Springfield is 
Dr. H. II. Scys. who was born in Ogdens- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



143 



burg, St. Lawrence county, New York, 
October 13, 1830. He is a son of tbe Rev. 
John Seys and is descended from Welsh an- 
cestry, that was estabished in the Nether- 
lands in the fourteenth century, wliile rep- 
resentatives of tlie name afterward emi- 
grated to tlie West Indies. The paternal 
grandparents of the Doctor were Jacobus 
and Catherine (Runnels) Seys, and the 
Rev. John Seys, the father of our subject, 
was born in St. Cruix, West Indies, March 
30, 1799. He was a well educated man of 
scholarly attainments and broad general cul- 
ture. He became a minister and missionary 
of the Methodist Episcopal church. He 
married Ann Osborn, a daughter nf John 
and Mary Beaks (Laverock) Osborn. She 
was born July i, 1804, in St. Bartholomew, 
of the West Indies, and they were married off 
Old Roads St. Christophers, September 28, 
1821, and again at St. Eustatius, on the utii 
of October, tbe double ceremony beinp- 
necessary to conform to the law concerning 
the civil and religious marriage rite of that 
country. They lived at various places. 
Rev. Dr. Seys doing missionary work for 
some time among the Oneida Indians. He 
then went to Africa in 1834 and served as 
minister plenipotentiary ou that continent, 
althoiugb the greater part of his time was de- 
voted to missionary work. They traveled 
through many places on the face of the 
globe. Rev. Dr. Seys serving as United 
States agent at West Africa for recaptured 
slaves. He spent eighteen years on that 
continent, engaged in church and mission- 
ary work and as a United States official — 
consul, minister plenipotentiary — and had 
charge of recaptured Africans. Both he 
and his wife died in Springfield, Ohio, the 
former passing away February 9, 1872, 
while the latter died January 8, 1881. They 



were the parents of twelve children : Jacob- 
us Osborn. born at St. Eustatius, West In- 
dies, July 22, 1822, was droAvned at Bassa- 
bar, W'est Africa. December 5, 1840. and was 
buried at Monrovia, Liberia. Mary Cather- 
ine Runnels, born November 17, 1824. at 
Point a Pierre, on the Island of Trinidad, 
died in Middletown, Conecticut, April 24, 
1839. George Dewint, born October 11, 
1826, at St. George, Island of Granada, died 
on ship board October 4, 1828. and was bur- 
ied in the ocean. John Charles, born on the 
Island of St. Martins on Friars' Bay, No- 
\ember 4, 1828, died at Monrovia, Liberia, 
(October 3, 1835. Henry Hill, born October 
13, 1830, in Ogdensburg. New York, is the 
subject of this review. Cornelius Dewint 
was born in September, 1832, at Canton, 
New York. Ann Osborn, born at Mission 
House in Vernon township, Oneida county, 
New York, .\pril 30, 1834. died on 27th of 
October, the year following, at Fishkill 
Landing, New York. Maria Tellar, born 
January 22,, 1836, at Monrovia, Africa, died 
in Baltimore, Maryland, January 15, 1854. 
John, born in Middletown, Connecticut, Au- 
gust 25. 1838, died October 27, 1839, at 
Monrovia, Africa. \\'ilmot Oisborn, born in 
Monrovia, July 19, 1S40, died there on the 
27th of .\pril, 1 84 1. Ann Goheen was 
born March 18, 1843. at Wilkesbarre. Penn- 
sylvania. Clement Tracy, born July 2^. 
1844, at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, died in 
Springfield, Ohio, November 8, 1886. Two 
brothers of our subject were soldiers of the 
Civil war, and one died from the effects 
of army life. 

Henry Hill Seys was educated in the 
private schools of Pennsylvania and New 
York, and during bis boyhocxl days he 
spent three years in Monrovia, Africa. In 
1850 he entered the University of Balti- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



more. Maryland, and was graduated in 
1853, with the degree of M. D. In May, 
of the same year, he came to Springfield and 
began practice here, but when the first call 
for troops came he put aside his business 
and personal considerations in order to aid 
his country in the struggle to preserve the 
Union. He went to the front as assistant 
surgeon of the Third Ohio Volunteer In- 
fantry, enlisting on the 2nd of May. This 
was one of the first regiments in the field, 
and on the ist of August, 1863. the Doctor 
was promoted to the rank of surgeon of the 
Fifteenth Ohio Regiment. He was made 
medical director in December, 1862. of the 
Third Division of the Fourteenth Army 
Corps, thus serving until March, 1863, 
when he became medical inspector of the 
army of the Cumberland on the staff of 
General Rosecrans and General Thomas, 
acting in that capacity until December, 
1863. Dr. Seys was then detailed for sur- 
gical work at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and 
acting medical director of the post, contin- 
uing to fill that position from December, 
1863. until August, 1864, when he resigned 
and was honorably discharged after more 
than three years of service. His promo- 
tiiins came rapidly, in recognition of hi- 
ability in his profession and his patriotic 
loyalty to his country. He took part in 
many desperate engagements O'f the war and 
his service was of the greatest value to the 
Union. Owing to circumstances over which 
he had no control he resigned, but the coun- 
try had already received at his hands valu- 
able aid for more than three years. 

Dr. Seys then returned to Springfield, 
and in the >ame year removed to Oil City, 
Pennsylvania, where he continued in active 
practice until the fall of 1873. when he 
again came to SiM-ingfield. where he has since 



remained. He is the oldest practitioner be- 
longing to the Clark County Medical So- 
ciety. By hard work, close application and 
comprehensive knowledge he has met with 
success. He is careful and accurate in the 
diagnosis of a case and is ready to adojit 
any new idea which will aid him in reaching 
the l>est results. 

The Doctor was married in the fall of 
1853 to Harriet Foote, in W'illiamstown, 
Massachusetts, and they have had one son 
and one daughter, but the son died while 
the Doctor was in Murfreesboro. Tennes- 
see, at the age of seven years. The daugh- 
ter, Mary, is the wife of Edwin Buss, of 
Bakersfield. California, and they have two 
daughters, Harriet Foote and Mal)el Buell. 
Mrs. Seys died in 1876. and in 1877 the 
Doctor was married to Elizabeth Wickham, 
of Racine, Wisconsin. Tliey have many 
friends here and the hospitality of the best 
homes is extended to them. 

The Doctor votes with the Republican 
party, of which he has been a stanch sup- 
ix>rter since John C. Fremont became its 
first candidate. Prior to that time he was 
a Whig. He was appointed by the lx)ard of 
health to the position of health officer in 
1888. and has continuously served in that 
capacity since. He belongs to Mitchell Post, 
G. A. R.. is a member of theTx>ard of trade 
of the city and has served on various com- 
mittees. Upon his return to Springfield 
he purchased his present home at No. 234 
South Fountain avenue. This place was 
formerly the home of his parents, but he 
purchased it in 1872. prior to his mother's 
death. Mrs. Seys is a member of the E]iis- 
copal church and the Doctor contributes 
liberally ti> church and charitable work. In 
the line of his profession he is connected 
with the Clark Countv Medical Societv. and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



145 



with the Ohio State Medical Society, and 
at various times has served as president (jf 
the 'former. He is to-day one of the distin- 
guished and capable physicians of this sec- 
tion (>i Ohio, his knowledge being broad, 
comprehensive and accurate, and in his prac- 
tice he has met with excellent success both 
from a professional and financial standpoint. 
The qualities of an upright manhocxl are his 
and have commended him to the confidence 
and regard of his fellow- townsmen for many 
_\ears. His wcirth is widely acknowledged, 
and he well deserves representation in this 
volume. 



JAMES FIXXEY. 

James Finney is to-day one of the ex- 
tensi\-e farmers and stock-raisers of Clark 
county, owning and operating six hundred 
acres of valuable land in Green township. 
He was born near Cincinnati, Hamilton 
county, Ohio, on a farm which is now plat- 
ted into town lots, his birth occurring De- 
cember 19, 1820, and he is a son of Elijah 
and N'ancy (Stewart) Finney. The grand- 
father. James Finney, for whom Mr. Fin- 
ney of this review is named, located at Pitts- 
burg, Pennsylvania, and subsequently came 
to Ohio, floating down the Ohio river on a 
flat-boat, about 1810 or 181 1, before the 
steamboat had been practically used. There 
were at that time twelve children in the fam- 
ily, and (iue was added after their arrival. 
Elijah Finney, the father of our subject, 
was born in Pennsylvania, while the mother 
was born in one of the eastern states. Both 
removed to^ Ohio, the mother to Butler 
county and the father to Hamilton county. 
After their marriage they resided in Ham- 
ilton county, spending the remainder of their 
lives there. 



On the farm in Hamilton county James 
Finney was reared to manhood, his boyhood 
and youth being there passed. He received 
but limited educational privileges, as his ser- 
\ices were required in the work of field and 
meadow during the sunnner months, and he 
was able to attend the district school but 
thirty to forty days out of the year. He 
early became accustomed to the work of the 
fnrm and turned the furrows of the soil 
when he could barely reach the plow handles. 

On the 22nd of December, 1847. ^'^^ ^^^^ 
united in marriage to Miss Eleanor S. An- 
derson, and six children have been born of 
this union : Elijah Stewart Finney mar- 
ried Lizzie Bonner, and is a resident of 
Pawnee county, N^ebraska, and is a mechan- 
ic at that place. He has eight children. 
Isabelle F. married Alexander P. Clark, and 
the latter died on October 16, 1900. Agnes 
S. married Charles E. Oldham and died in 
Springfield in Deceml>er, 1900, leaving three 
children. Anderson T. is a farmer of 
Green township. Charles T. married Mary 
J. Ramsey and resides in Greene county. 
They have five daughters. James P. is at 
home with his parents. 

For some years after his marriage Mr. 
Finney resided in Great township, but in 
March, 1848, he removed to Clark county 
on a farm of one hundred acres, which had 
come to him through his mother, who in 
turn had inherited it from her father, Joseph 
Stew art, who purchased the land O'f the gov- 
ernment, and it has never been out of the 
family possession since, Air. Finney being 
the third owner. He has added to his farm 
from time to time until it has assumed its 
present large proportions, and is one of the 
best equipped as well as one of the most 
highly developed farms of Clark county. 
The rich fields, being well cultivated, return 



r46 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



a rich harvest each season, rewarding gen- 
erously the care and labor Ijestciwed upon 
them. 

-Mr. l-"inney may well be classed among 
the highly respected and leading citizens of 
Clark county, having been one of its pioneer 
settlers. Although he has long passed the 
Psalmist's span of three score years and ten, 
he is yet an active and healthy man, being 
able to take his share of the responsibilities 
of conducting a large and well improved 
farm. In early life he was a Whig, and 
voted for Hjenry Clay in 1844. C>n the dis- 
solution I't that party he joined the ranks of 
the new I-iepublican party and \iited for its 
first presiilential candidate. John C. Fre- 
mont, in 1856. since which time he has re- 
mained firm in his adv(xacy of the prinicples 
of the party, although he has never desired 
office, preferring to devote his attention to 
the management of his farming interests. 
He and his children are faithful members 
of the Cnited Presbyterian church, of which 
he is a deacon. Mr. Finney has long been 
a resident of Clark county, and has wit- 
nessed much of its growth and progress, his 
memory going back to the time when this 
portion of the country was but sparsely set- 
tled. As a pioneer settler and a progressive 
and influential business man of his com- 
munity he is highly respected and honored. 



JOHX E. ATXVMS. 

A ctnmtry has but one chief ruler, be 
he king, emperor or president. Compara- 
tively few men can attain to the highest 
offices in civil and military life, but com- 
merce ofYers a broad and almost limitless 
field in which one may exercise his powers 



unrestrained and gain a leadership as the 
head of a chosen calling. Drawing the les- 
sons which we do from the life of Mr. .\d- 
ams, we learn that the (lualifications neces- 
sary for success are a high ambition and a 
resolute, honorable purjxise to reach the ex- 
alted standard that has been set up. From 
an early age he has been dependent upon his 
own resources and has won the proud Amer- 
ican title of a self-made man. Since March, 
1880, he has made his home in Si)ringfield. 
Mr. Adams is a native of Hamilton 
county. Ohio, his birth having occurred near 
the village of Sheartown on the 20th of 
Octoljer. 1853. his i)arents being W'illiani 
and Jnirbara (Hartman) Adams, lx>th of 
whom were residents of Cincinnati from 
infancy and were educated in the pub- 
lic schools there. The father was a mill-- 
wright l)y trade and in the early '50s re- 
moved to Hamilton county, where he fol- 
lowed farming throughout his remain- 
ing days. He died in \Sj2. at the age of 
sixty-four years, his birth having occurred 
in 1818. His wife, who was born in 1828. 
died in 1882, at the home of her son, John 
E.. in Springfield. Unto this worthy cou- 
ple were born ten children, of whom one 
died in infancy, while Samuel died at the 
age of twenty-four years, and Josephine 
passed away in Cincinnati. The surviving 
members of the family are : Margaret, who 
is the wife of George Metzger and resides 
near the old homestead : William, w ho 
makes his home in the same locality, his 
postoffice being Taylor Creek; Eiiza, the 
wife of John Schafer, of the same neighbor- 
liood ; Caroline, the wife of Andrew Schmidt 
01 Cincinnati: Louisa, the wife of ^lartin 
lxra])p, of Springfield ; John E., of this re- 
\ iew ; and George, of Springfield. The two 
youngest were born up<m the home farm in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



149 



Hamilton county and the others in Cincin- 
nati and all were educated in the country and 
city schools and were reared upon the old 
iiome place. In politics the father was a 
Republican, but never had any aspirations 
for office. Both he and his wife held mem- 
bership in the Lutheran church and were 
esteemed for their sterling w'orth. 

John E. Adams was educated in the dis- 
trict schools and remained upon the home 
farm until he attained his majority, becom- 
ing familiar with all the duties that fall to 
the l(jt of the agriculturist. He was mar- 
ried in 1S75 in Hamilton county. Ohio, to 
Amelia Schafer, who was born in that coun- 
ty March 4, 1854, and is a daughter of Leon- 
ard and Phcebe (Diehl) Schafer, both of 
whom are now deceased. In the family were 
nine children, but only three are yet living, 
namely : Mrs. Adams ; and Charles and 
Louis, w ho are residents of Cincinnati. The 
educational privileges afforded them were 
those of the common schools and they re- 
mained at home until their marriage. Air. 
and .Mrs. Adams have reared one son, 
Harry. 

At the time of his marriage Air. Adams 
located upon a farm and carried on agricul- 
tural pursuits until after his father died, 
when he came to Spring-field, where his 
brother George had located some time be- 
fiire. They engaged in business together 
as grocers and market men, conducting their 
stbre for a few years, w hen John E. Adams 
sr>ld out the grocery business and embarked 
in tlie butcher business on South Yellow- 
Sjirings street. On the ist of January, 1898, 
lie Iiecame connected with another important 
industry of the city, organizing the Progress 
I-'urnace & Stove Company, for the manu- 
facture of stoves and furnaces. This enter- 
prise was successfully conducted until T^'eb- 



rnary, 1902, wdien the plant w'as destroyed 
by fire, after which he again engaged in the 
meat business at his old stand. 

.Mr. Adams is a Republican in his politi- 
cal \-ie\vs and has labored 'effectively and 
earnestl}- for the success of the party, but 
has ne\-er sought office as a reward for party 
fealty. He has served as a delegate to the 
city and county conventions and is now 
serving as ward committeeman. The only 
office he has ever filled was that of council- 
man of Springfield, to which he was first 
elected in 1897, and re-elected in 1899, con- 
tinning in the office until 1901. He belongs 
to Springfield Lodge, No. 33, I. O. O. F., 
and to Mad River Encampment; is a mem- 
ber of the Society of Ben Hjur, an insurance 
organization ; and both he and his wife hold 
membership in the Methodist Episcopal 
church. Few men are more widely known in 
the enterprising city of Springfield than Mr. ■ 
Adams. He has been an important factor 
in business circles and his success and pop- 
ularity are well deserved, as in him are em- 
liraced the characteristics of an unbending' 
integrity, unabating energy and industry that 
never flags. He is public-spirited and thor- 
oughly interested in whatever tends to pro- 
mote the moral, intellectual and material 
welfare cf his communitv. 



JAMES H. RABBITTS. 

James H. Rabbitts, the oldest son of the 
late Charles Rabbitts and the present post- 
master of Springfield, is a native of that 
city, his birth having occurred there on the 
I St of April, 1853. and to its public school 
•system he is indebted for his early educa- 
tion. This was supplemented l)y studv in 



ISO 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tlie University of Wooster, at W'ooster, 
Oliio, where he completed the course by 
graduation in 1874. He pursued the study 
of law in the office and under the direction 
of General J. ^Varren Keifer and Hon. 
Charles R. White. After his admission to 
the ])ar by the supreine court, in 1876, he 
formed a partnership with his preceptors, 
which continued until 1881, when Mr. Rab- 
bitls was elected on the Republican ticket as 
clerk of the courts of Clark county. He 
served as chairman of the Republican cen- 
tral committee of Clark county for the years 
1883 and 1884. and again in 1889. He 
was re-elected as clerk of the courts in 1884 
and again in 1887, holding that position for 
eight years, or until his resignation on the 
1st of January. 1890. whei; he assumed the 
duties of managing editor of the Daily Re- 
public Times of Springfield, the leading 
RejHiblican paper of the cnnity. He con- 
tinued in that capacity until April i, 1898, 
when he resigned .to enter upon the duties 
of jKistmastcr the ist of the following 
month, having been ajJixjinted to the office 
by President McKinley. In 1902 he was 
reappointed by President Roosevelt, and is 
the present incuniL^ent. When he became 
connected with the office the annual gross 
receipts were about one hundred thousand 
dollars, but they ha\ e increased rapidly and 
now amount to one hundred and forty-two 
tlKiusand dollars. Under the administra- 
tion of I\Ir. Rabbitts large additinns ha\e 
been made to the force of employes and 
many additions to the facilities of the office. 
Avhich now ranks sixteenth in the United 
States in respect to second class matter. 

Mr. Rabbitts was married, on the 7th 
of December, 1882. in Indianapolis. Indi- 
ana, to Miss Cornelia Burt, a daughter of 
Rev. Nathaniel C. Burt, D. D., former pas- 



tor of the First Presbyterian church of 
Springfield. The}' have two living chil- 
dren : Burt and Frances. 

Like his father, Mr. Rabbitts is a public- 
spirited and progressive citizen, giving his 
active support to all commaidable public 
enterprises. He is a member of the board 
of directors of the Merchants and Mechan- 
ics Building and L<ian Association, and for 
four years he has served as a member of 
the board of directors of the Associated 
Charities of Springfield. Fraternally he is 
a member o'f Anthony Lodge, No. 455, F. 
& .\. M., of Springfield: Springfield Chap- 
ter. R. A. M. : and Palestine Commandery, 
No. 33. K. r. He also holds membership 
relations with Red Star Lodge, K. P.. and 
is a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity 
and The Literarv Club. 



CHARLES RABBITTS. 

Charles Rabbitts. now deceased, was for 
many years one of Springeld's most pro- 
gressive and public-spirited citizens, taking a 
prominent and active part in business af- 
fairs and also in the develojiment of the city. 
He was a native of England, born near the 
village of Bath, in Wiltshire, September 7. 
1820, and was twelve years of age on the 
emigration of his family to America. His 
father liicated on a farm near Cleveland, 
where Mr. Rabbitts continued to make his 
home until 1S43. when he removed to New- 
ark. Ohio, and engaged in the business of 
\\(ii :len manufacturing. 

In 1846 Mr. Rabbitts came to Spring- 
field to seek a location.and the following year 
leased a water right on Bamett's hydraulic. 
In partnership with his brother-in-law. L. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



H. Olds, lie built the wonlen mill in Warder 
street, where he carried on business until 
1875 and then retired. Tlie machinery was 
lirought here by wagons, Mr. Rabbitts driv- 
ing one of the teams. During his active 
business life he was an e.\tensive dealer in 
wiiol. and in that \-ocation was at various 
times associated with the late G. S. Foos, 
the late Marshfield Steele and Jolui Foos, 
His woolen mills were extensively enlarged 
from time to time and the various brands 
of "Rabbitts jeans and yarns" were widely 
celebrated throughout the middle west. 

.\fter retiring from the woolen manu- 
facturing Ixisiness Mr. Rabbitts. in connec- 
tion with William S. Thompson and Ama- 
7iah Winger, purchased the old Rodgers 
home on South Limestone street and erected 
the Commercial building, and in i86g he 
built the handsome residence at the corner 
of Limestone and North streets, now the 
property of Mrs. William Black. These 
were not the only monuments of his activity 
in the ownership and dcA-elopment of real 
estate, for he purchased the old Shaffer 
quarry in Sleepy Hollow, filled it to the level 
cif Limestone street and platted the tract in 
his first addition to the city. He also plat- 
ted as another addiion a tract of four and 
<. 'lie-half acres on Limestone street and 
Cooper avenue. He was one of the pro- 
jectors of the Ferncliff Cemetery Associa- 
tion, and aided in selecting the site of the 
beautiful grounds now known throughout 
the country. At the time c<f his death he 
was one of the few surviving incorporators 
nf the enterprise, ami always took a justi- 
fiable pride in developing and beautifying 
the grounds. 

On the 3d of May. 1848. Mr. Rabbitts 
was united in marriage to Miss Margaret 
Ivobinson. of \\'avne county, Ohio, and for 



o\-er fifty years they traveled life's journey 
together, their giilden wedding anniversary- 
being happily celebrated in 1898 at their 
pleasant home in Sleepy Hollow, where they 
resided almost continuously after coming to 
Springfield. Mrs. Rabbitts still survives 
her husband, being now in her seventy-sixth 
year. LTnto them were born six children, 
four sons and two daughters, but the eldest, 
Horatio, died in infancy. The others are 
James H.. the ]>resent postmaster of Spring- 
field ; W. S., cashier of the Springfield Na- 
tional Bank; Charles, a traveling salesman; 
Mary, now deputy clerk of the county; and 
Anna, at home. 

In his political \-iews Mr. Rabbitts was 
first a Whig and later a Republican, and 
was unswerving in his allegiance to his 
party, though he never cared for official 
honors. His interest in educational affairs, 
however, led him to serve as a member of 
the school board for several terms, and he 
was trustee of the Mitchell-Tliomas hospital 
by appointment of ex-^Iayor O. S. Kelly. 
He was one of the first board of directors 
of the Second Nati(/nal Bank of Springfield, 
and was a Jeader in the movement for the 
erection of the Lagonda House. He was 
a member of the colony that left the First 
Pre.sbyterian church to^ build the Second 
church, and was one of the most active of 
those in the establishment and erection of 
that edifice. After a useful and well spent 
life he passed away on the i6th of Decem- 
ber, igoo, and in his death' Springfield real- 
ized that she had lost one of her most valued 
and honored citizens. From, one of the 
local pa]iers we quote the following fitting 
trilnite to his memor_\- : 

"It was with sincere regret that the 
news of the death of the \'eiieral)le Charles 
Raljbitts was recei\'ed in this communitv. 



152 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



His important part in the foundation of the 
industrial and commercial Springfield and 
his long and useful career of themselves en- 
titled him to the high and universal esteem 
in -which he was held ; but more than these 
was his genial, lovable disposition, which 
made lasting friends of all with whom he 
came in contact. There was the light of 
human sympathy in his eyes, its ring in his 
voice, and its warmth in his handclasp. In 
truth mav it Ije written of him 



■His life was gentle. 
And the elements so mixed in him 
That nature might stand up and say 
To all the world: 'This was a man.' " 



RICH.VRD E. O'BRIEN. 

Richard E. O'Brien is now serving as 
chief of police of Springfield, having been 
called to this responsible position by reason 
of his ability and his known loyalty to the 
interests of the city. He was born here 
Jantiary 7. i860, and is a son of John 
O'Brien, who was a teamster and came to 
Springfield in the "505. His birth occurred 
in Ireland, where he pursued his education, 
and when a young man he bade adieu to 
friends in the native land, sailing for the 
new world. He took up his abode in Cin- 
cinnati, where he attended school for a time, 
and was there tmited in marriage to Miss 
Dora Mc.Vvny. who survives him and is 
now living in Springfield at the age of 
si.xty years. Mr. O'Brien passed away in 
1886. He was a Democrat in his political 
views and an acti\e worker in the ranks 
of his party. He lielonged to a family mim- 
l)ering eight children — seven sons and a 
daughter. The surviving members of the 
faniilv are James, nf Union countv, Ohio; 



and Mrs. Eliza Hackett. One brother, Rich- 
ard, now deceased, was a soldier of the Civil 
war. The marriage of. John and Dora 
( Mc.\voy) O'Brien was blessed with seven 
children — four daughters and three sons : 
Mary is the wife of Adam Peifer, of Spring- 
field, by whom she has three children ; Eliza 
is the wife of William Moore, and has one 
son : Richanl E. is the next of the family : 
Annie is the wife of P. Lawler, and they 
have one daughter; Patrick is married and 
has a son and a daughter and is connected 
with the A. C. Evans Manufacturing Com- 
pany; Jennie is the wife of B. Sheveland 
and they have one daughter; William re- 
sides at home with his mother and is em- 
ployed as stationary engineer by the Evans 
Manufacturing Company. 'Hie children 
were all born in this city and pursued their 
education in the public schools. 

Like the other members of the family 
Richard E. O'Brien entered the public 
schools when about six years of age. When 
a young man he learned the painter's trade 
and did job work as well as contracting, 
following that pursuit for eight years. In 
1881 he entered into the saloon business, 
which occupation he followed until Decem- 
ber, 1889. In May, 1890, he was made pa- 
trol driver of the police force. He acted in 
that capacity for two years and was then 
promoted to patrolman and afterward to 
special officer and detective, serving tlius 
for two years. In 1899 he was made chief 
of [xiHce and has since continued in this re- 
sponsible position, being appointed by the 
police commission of Springfield. 

On the i6th of May. 1886. Mr. O'Brien 
was united in marriage to Miss Margaret 
Burns, who was born, reared and educated 
in this city and is a daughter of Edwin 
Binns. now deceased. Four daughters and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



two sons liave Ijeen born unto ^Nl'r. and Mrs. 
Burns, and the living are Mary, tlie widow 
ot Charles Creager, who was an architect 
of Springfield ; a'nd Edwin, of this city. The 
children born unto Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien — 
two sons and two daughters — are as fol- 
lows : Gretta, \\'illiam E., Walter and 
Dora, who are stutlents in the pulilic schools 
here. 

In his political views our subject has al- 
ways been a Democrat and has been a dele- 
gate to city and county conventions. He 
is a member of the Benevolent and Protec- 
tive Order of Elks. His advancement in 
life came to him in recognition of his fidel- 
ity- to duty. He has been most efficient as 
a public officer and his success as a detective 
v.as notable. These qualities therefore have 
led to his advancement to the position which 
he now occupies, which he is filling in a 
must creditable and capable manner. 



SAMUEL H. CARR. 

Samuel H. Carr, who is proprietor of a 
livery stable in South Charleston, was born 
near Jeft'ersonville. in Fayette county, Ohio, 
December 23. 1S42, and is a son of Michael 
and Mary (Lohr) Carr. The father was 
also a native of Fayette count)- and there 
spent his entire life, passing away in 1870, 
when fifty-eight years of age. Samuel H. 
Carr spent his boyhood days on the home 
farm and acquired a fair common school ed- 
ucation, working through the summer 
vnonths in the fields and meadows and thus 
olitaining a practical knowledge of agricul- 
tural pursuits. He was a young man of 
eighteen years when his patriotic spirit was 
aroused by the attempt of the south to over- 
thrdw the Union and he enlisted in Com- 



pany C of the Nintieth Ohio Infantry, as a 
pri\-ate. jrle participated in several battles, 
including the engagements at Perryville, 
Kentucky, Wild Cat Mountain, Xashville, 
Stone River, Chickamaug'a, ^Missionary 
Ridge and Kenesaw Mountain. At the last 
named he was wounded in the left arm by 
a minie-ball and was then sent trj the field 
hospital. Later he was in the hospital at 
Big Shanty, at Chattanooga, at Xashville 
and at Louisville, and at the last nametl 
place the arm was amputated because gan- 
grene had set in. The injury had been re- 
ceived on the 20th of June and it was on 
the 13th of July that the meniber was ampu- 
tated. Mr. Carr then returned home on a 
furlough and again reported for duty at 
Columbus where he was honorably dis- 
charged in December, 1864. after two years 
of service, having enlisted in 1862. 

In 1868 Mr. Carr entered the liverv 
Imsiness in Jeffersonville, Fa\-ette county. 
.\lthough his beginning was a small one, 
for he had but one horse and buggy, he soon 
enlarged his stock, howe\-er, carrying on 
a business there until 1872, at which he was 
the owner of five horses and buggies. Re- 
mo\-ing to South Charleston he here estab- 
lished a livery stable and after three years 
removed to his present location. At that 
time he also purchased a third interest in 
the Aliami House and has since become sole 
owner. He had fi:)rmerl\- been proprietor 
of the Ackly House and livery stable for 
three years. He conducted the hotel busi- 
ness in the Miami House for tweh-e years, 
but has since given his whole time to the 
livery business, but still retains the owner- 
ship of both properties. Mr. Carr has been 
continuously in the livery business since 
1868 and so far as is known the longest in 
that business of anv man in Ohio. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Carr was married in Jeffersonville, 
Ohio.' in 1 868. to Miss Ardil'a A. Mcln- 
tyre and unto them were born three chil- 
dren : Charles Lester, who died in Dayton. 
Ohio, at the age of twenty-four years ; ^lary 
AI., who is the wife of John Brown and has 
two children ; and Addie B., at home. The 
wife and mother died in April, 1886, and 
Mr. Carr has since been again married, his 
second union being with Miss Grace !Ma- 
hoy, of Fayette count}-, h\ whom he has 
one son, Leon Harold. 

Mr. Carr votes with the Rcpuljlican par- 
ty but is not an active politician, though he 
has served as a member of the school board 
and township trustee. He has never missed 
a vote since his return from the war. 
At the age of fifteen years he became a mem- 
ber of the Christian church and, upon his 
removal to South Charleston, as there was 
no church of that denomination here, he 
joined the [Methodist Episcopal church, in 
which he is a class leader, trustee and stew- 
ard. He belongs to McMillan Post, G. A. 
R. Mr. Carr is well known among his fel- 
low townsmen through the possession of 
many qualities of genuine worth. He is 
energetic and reliable in business and his 
influence is ever on the side of measures 
and movements for the pu1)lic good. 



W. D. MYERS. 



Concentration of purpose and persist- 
ently applied energy- rarely fail of success 
ir the accomplishment of any task. Again 
and again it has been proven that these are 
the most sure foundations upon which to 
rear the superstructure of labor in the com- 
mercial world. It is therefore that Mr. My- 
ers has made these the salient elements in 



his business career, which have carried him 
forward to the plane of affluence. 

He was born in Osborn, Ohio, Septem- 
ber u, 1862, and is a son of-Christian K. 
and Serepta (\\'ood) Myers. His father 
was a native of Maryland and the mother's 
birth occurred in Ludlowville, New York. 
Both are now living in Springfield and 
through the years of his active business ca- 
reer the father engaged in contracting, but 
at the preseiit time he is living retired in 
the enjoyment of a well earned rest. 

In the public schools of his native cit_\' 
the subject of this review pursued his early 
education and Ijecame familiar with the 
branches of English learning which fit one 
for the practical duties of business life. In 
1882 he became associated with E. S. Kel- 
ly in the coal and ice trade and was after- 
ward with the Champion Coal & Ice Com- 
])any, which was' re-incorporated under the 
name of the S)3ringfield Coal & Ice Com- 
pany. On the 1st of January. 1895. ^^r. 
Myers began business on his own account 
as a partner of Addison Beckley, under the 
firm name of Beckley & ]\lyers. dealers in 
coal and ice. Their firm has since main- 
tained a continuous existence and is doing 
business at Xo. 120 South Limestone street, 
'iliey have increased their yards and have 
lately extended the scope of their commer- 
cial transactions by dealing in Ohio pressed 
brick, which is manufactured in Zanesville. 
and hydraulic pressed brick, manufactured 
in Cleveland. Ohio. Their sales have now 
reached a large figure and their patronage 
in each comnumity in which they deal has 
stadily increased, and they may well be 
classed among the wide-awake and enter- 
prising merchants of the city. 

In 1886 ;Mr. Myers was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Matilda Ilnlmcs. of Hills- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



boro, Ohio, and they now have one child, 
Maude M. "Sir. Myers" social relations con- 
nect him with the Knights of Pythias and 
the Benevolent and Protective Order of 
Elks. Public-spirited he responds to all 
reasonable demands upon his time, means 
and sympathy when his fellow men are to 
be benefited therebv. 



JOXATHAX S. KITCH'EX. 

Jimatlian S. Kitchen is the owner of six 
hundi-ed and twenty-fi\-e acres of the rich 
and \aluable farming land in Clark and 
Logan counties, having in previous years 
been activel}' identified with agricultural 
pursuits in this section of the state. He has 
also been prominent in political office and 
has been honored with various positions of 
trust and responsibility. He is now living 
retired at No. 300 South Limestone street 
in Springfield. 

His birth occurred in Green township, 
Clark county. Xovember 7. 183 1, his par- 
ents being Abraham and Martha Matilda 
(Jones) Kitchen. His paternal great-grand- 
father was a native of England and in 
1779 came to America, settling in Pennsyl- 
N-ania, where he married a Miss Vorhees, 
who was born in Sweden. Li the Keystone 
state Stephen Kitchen, the grandfather of 
our subject, was born and in the year 1808 
he came to Ohio, settling in Warren coun- 
ty, where Abraham Kitchen was soon after- 
ward born. Li the year 1818 the family 
was established in Clark county. 

After the death of his mother Abraham 
Kitchen was placed in a family by the name 
of Hawkins, and was there reared until 
eighteen years of age. He was married in 
Greene county X'ovember 19, 1829, and fifty 



years later this worthy couple celebrated 
their golden wedding anni\-ersary, on which 
occasion there were present five of their chil- 
dren, three sons-in-law, three daughters-in- 
law, twenty-eight grandchildren, four great- 
grandchildren, twelve other relatives and 
many friends, numbering altogether more 
than one hundred people. Abraham Kitchen 
was a very prosperous man in his business 
affairs ar.d at one time owned about twelve 
hundred acres of land. Pie was likewise 
prominent and influential in his community 
and was fearless in defense of his honest 
convictions. He was one of the three orig- 
inal abolitionists who started the movement 
in favor of freeing the slaves in Green town- 
ship and prior to the Civil war his home 
was one of the stations on the famous un- 
derground railroad, whereby many a poor 
negro was assisted northward on his way- to 
freedom. When the Republican party was 
formed to prevent the further extension of 
slavery he became one of its stalwart advo- 
cates. He was also a member of the Free- 
will Baptist church and the first church of 
that denomination in this locality wasbuilt 
upon his farm at Pleasant Grove. He died 
June 28, 1888, having survived his wife for 
two months only, her death ha\ing occurred 
on the 28th of April. 

Jonathan S. Kitchen was reared to 
manhood on the home farm and acquired a 
fair common-school education, although his 
privileges were somewhat limited. He attend- 
ed altogether for about twenty-eight 
months, including one term at Wittenberg 
College. He had never been insiile a school- 
room as a student until twelve years of age 
and after that he attended only through the 
winter months anrl had to go two and one- 
half miles t'j the nearest schoolhouse. Ex- 
perience and obser\-ation, trigether with 



156 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



reading in later years, have made him a 
well informed man. He was twenty-two 
years of age when he left the home farm 
and began earning his own living. 

About that time Mr. Kitchen was mar- 
ried, on the loth of November, 1853. in 
Warren county, Ohio, to Miss Amelia 
Ridge, w iio was born in Waynesville. War- 
ren county, a daughter of Simpson and Je- 
mina (Hisey) Ridge. Two children have 
I)een born unto them: Alsa J., who was 
educated in Hillsdale. Michigan; and J. 
Forrest, who married ]\Iinnie Xeal and has 
one child, Louise. After leaving the public 
school he entered Wittenberg College, re- 
maining three years and then went to Cin- 
cinnati, where he pursued a course of legal 
study and is now a practicing attorney of 
Springlield. 

After his marriage Mr. Kitchen of this 
review began to operate his father's land 
in Green township and there he lived until 
his removal to Springtield in 1879. About 
seven years after his marriage he found 
that he had saved enough to purchase two 
hundred and forty acres of land. Thus in- 
vesting his money, he made good improve- 
ments upon his farm, where he continued to 
reside until he took up his abode in the cit}-. 
He has since purchased and sold several 
farms and has realized good profits from 
these transactions. He is now the owmer of 
about six hundred and twenty-five acres, 
and he also owns some property in Spring- 
field. He is a stockholder in the Citizens 
Bank of South Charleston and in the Cit- 
zens National Bank of Springfield, and is 
to-day accounted one of the sulistantial res- 
idents of this portion of the state. 

Mr. Kitchen lacked only one day of be- 
ing old enough to vote in the year 1852. 
but this dav denied him the right of fran- 



chise and it was therefore that he cast his 
first presidential ballot for Fremont in 1856, 
since which time he has been a stalwart Re- 
publican. For about eight years he served 
as justice of the peace in Green townshij), 
during which time he tried many cases, and 
of those appealed only one was ever re- 
versed. He also served as township trus- 
tee, and in 1881 he was chosen county com- 
missioner and was again elected, so that he 
filled the office for two consecutive terms. 
Durijig his incumbency some of the largest 
buildings of the county were erected. The 
courthouse, which had been started, was 
completed and other public improvements 
made. Mr. Kitchen was reared in the faith 
of the Freewill Baptist church and yet ad- 
heres to it. He has served as church clerk 
for several years and is a member of Clark 
Lodge. No. loi, F. & A. M. His life his- 
torv is familiar to many residents of the 
county, for within its borders he has always 
resided and there has been nothing in his 
history that he has desired to conceal, for 
his has been an upright, honorable charac- 
ter and he has ever been found loyal to 
truth, dulv and the right. 



WILLIAM S. THOM.\S. 

Honored and respected by all. there is 
no man in Springfield who occupies a more 
enviable position than William S. Thomas 
in industrial and financial circles, not alone 
on account of the brilliant success he has 
achieved, but also on account of the honor- 
able, straightforward business policy he has 
ever followed. He possesses energy, is 
quick of perception, forms his plans readily 
and is determined in their execution ; and 
his close application to business and his ex- 




WILLIAM S. THOMAS. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



[59 



ccllent manag-ement ha\-e lirougiit to him the 
liigh degree of prosperity which is to-day 
his. It is true that he became interested in 
a Jjusiness already estabhshed, but in con- 
troIHng and enlarging such an enterprise 
many a man of even considerable resolute 
jjurpose, courage and industry would ha\e 
failed : and he has demonstrated the truth 
of the saying that success is not the result 
of genius, but the outcome of a clear judg- 
ment and experience. He has also won dis-. 
tinguished honors in political circles and is 
recognized as one of the leaders of the Dem- 
ocratic party in Ohio. 

William S. Thomas was born in Spring- 
field April 22, 1857, at the old family home- 
stead at that time located on the present site 
of the St. Raphael school. He is a son of the 
Hon. John H. Thomas, who is represented 
on another page of this work. In the public 
schools he began his education and after- 
ward continued his studies in a private 
school conducted by Chandler Roberts, Sr. 
Thus he prepared for college and later he 
received some military instruction and train- 
ing. At the age of fourteen years, in the 
fall of 1 87 1, he matriculated in W'ooster 
University and four years later was gradu- 
ated with honors in that institution, lieing 
at that time and for many years thereafter 
the youngest graduate of that school. 

\Mien his literary education was com- 
pleted, ^\'illiam S. Thomas became an ac- 
ti\-e factor in the business world, joining his 
father in the industry of manufacturing ag- 
riculturj.l implements. The father, associ- 
ated with his two sons, organized the Thom- 
as Manufacturing Companj^, and for many 
years the suliject of this review has been 
its secretary and treasurer. From the be- 
ginning- the business grew in volume and 
importance until it had assumed mammoth 



]3roportions, its trade covering large sections 
of this country and of foreign lands as well. 
A large export business is carried on and the 
hay-rakes, tedders and loaders, also the disc 
and spring tooth harrows and grain drills 
manufactured by this company are sent to 
all parts of the civilized world. To-dav the 
Thomas Manufacturing Company ranks 
among the most important business firms of 
Ohio and lias been an integral factor in pro- 
moting the commercial activity and conse- 
quent prosperity of the city of Springfield. 
The plant is an extensive one, ec[uipped with 
e\'erything needed for the prosecution of the 
work, being supplied \\ith the latest im- 
proved machinery, while a large number of 
workmen are constantly busy in the manu- 
facture of the various implements which are 
sent out annually from this house. Mr. 
Thomas, of this review, has recentl}- been 
elected president of the National Association 
of Agricultural Implements and Vehicle 
Manufacturers. In addition to his extensive 
industrial holdings he has farming inter- 
ests, owning se\eral hundred acres of rich 
farm lands in Clark county, having thus 
made judicious investments in realty. 

On the 8th of December, 1887, was cel- 
ebrated the marriage of \\'illiam S. Thom- 
as and Miss Fanny Senteny, of Louisville. 
Kentuck}', the ceremon-}' being performed 
by Dr. Ort, the president of ^^'ittenberg 
College. Three children, two sons and a 
daughter, l)Iessed this union, namely : John 
Henry. Wallace and Lucretia. 

\\'hile Air. Thomas has led a very Imsv. 
useful and active life, his extensive indus- 
trial interests making heavy demands upon 
his time and attention, he has yet found am- 
ple opportunity to co-operate in many meas- 
ures for the general good, and is a well- 
known factor in church, social and political 



i6o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



circles. He is a member of the board of di- 
rectors of tlie Mad River National Bank, a 
member of the board of trade, of the Com- 
mercial Club and the Economic League. He 
is thus associated with organizations which 
have for their object the promotion of busi- 
ness affairs along lines of broad usefulness. 
He holds meml^ership in the First Presby- 
terian church and is the president of its 
board of trustees. For a number of years 
he served as a member of the board of di- 
rectors of the "S'oung Men's Christian As- 
sociation and was largely instrumental in 
securing the funds for the Association build- 
ing and contri])nte(l quite liberally to this 
cause. It is said that not a church has been 
erected in this communit\- during the past 
twenty years tliat has nut recei\'ed substan- 
tial a.ssistance fmni Mr. Thomas. He is a 
gentleman of bmad humanitarian principles 
without narrow bias, and every moxement 
whicli lias for its object the betterment of 
mankind receives his hearty endorsement 
and co-operation. Hie has been a member of 
the board of trustees of the Wooster Uni- 
versity for a numljer of years and the cause 
of education indeed finds in him a friend. 

Air. Thomas looks from a practical and 
patriotic standpoint at the political situa- 
tion of the country and his close and earnest 
study of the questions of the day has led 
him to believe that Democracy embodies the 
best elements of good government. He has 
therefore allied his interests with the party 
and has been unswerving in his advocacy of 
its principles, although he is not bitterly par- 
tisan, nor has he lieen connected with any 
of the factions which cause such disturb- 
ances in the great political questions. In 
the city he has been called to public office 
and served for one term as a member of the 
school board, one term in the citv council 



board. While one of Springfield's aldermen 
and for two terms on the police and tire 
he acted as president of the council and so 
directed his influence and aid as to mate- 
rially benefit the municipality. He has been 
a delegate \.o nearly all of the Democratic 
state conventions in recent years and has 
continuously been a member of the state cen- 
tral committee since 1895. He was twice 
elected chairman of that committee and w as 
a delegate at large from Ohio to the nation- 
al Democratic convention at Kansas City. 
From the time he attained his majority he 
took a deep and earnest interest in political 
questions and even before he had attained 
the right of franchise his Democratic friends 
in the Sixth w;ird had determined to make 
him the nominee for the city council in the 
spring following his twenty-first birthday. 
He is an imtiring worker, yet he has never 
been allied with any of the factions which 
so often undermine the strength of a party 
and which arise merely from personal pre- 
ferment for a known candidate or from op- 
position to any particular section of the plat- 
form. It is a well known fact that in sev- 
eral state conventions he has worked in op- 
position to probably the strongest Demo- 
cratic faction in the state, and yet to-day in 
this very faction he numbers many of his 
warmest personal friends. Hfe is a conserva- 
ti\e Democrat, yet he has always been found 
in line with his jiarty in state and national 
issues, including the memorable campaign of 
1896. At local elections, where no particular 
issue is involved, lie does not consider him- 
self bound by party ties, regarding more 
than party affiliations the capability of the 
candidate tc discharge the business affairs 
of town or county. He was the president 
and a "most active worker in the celebrated 
Ictlerson Club that from the vear 18S0 un- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



til 1890 was a potent element in Demo- 
cratic forces in the cit\'. county and district. 
It gave annual banquets which were attend- 
ed by many of the leading Democrats of the 
state and nation. He is a man of such 
known patriotism and such unswerving loy- 
alt}' to the principles in which he believes, 
that he has commanded the respect and con- 
fidence of nrjt only the men of his own party, 
but of the opposition as well. His course 
has e\-er been above suspicion, for the good 
of the nation he places above partisanship 
and the welfare of his constituents before 
personal aggrandizement. He commands 
the respect of the leaders of his party 
throughout Oliio, but at home — in the city 
of his adoption — where he is best known, he 
inspires personal friendships of unusual 
strength and all who know him have the 
highest admiration for his good C]ualities of 
heart and mind. 



DARIUS A. SPRAGUE. 

Darius A. Sprague is the proprietor of 
IMaple Leaf fami of South Charleston and 
is one of the most noted horse raisers and 
dealers in this portion of the state. He has 
done much to improve the grade of horses 
raised in this section of Ohio, and his efforts 
ha\-e been of benefit to his fellow men, for 
bv improving the grade of stock prices are 
advanced and all of the agricultural com- 
munity are thereby benefited. ]\Ir. Sprague 
is a native of Harmony township, Clark 
county, born January 31, 1849, '^'''d 'S a 
son of Darius and Sarah (Rice) Sprague. 
His boyhood days were spent upon his fa- 
ther's farm in his native township, and he 
acc|uired a good common school education, 
continuing at home until twentv-twn vears 



of age. After attaining his majority he 
worked for his father by the month for a 
year. 

On his twenty^econd birthday Mr. 
Sprague was united in marriage to Miss 
Phebe E. Thorpe, a daughtei" of Robert and 
Mary (Homer) Thorpe. Mr. Sprague's fa- 
ther was a well-to-do farmer and of him 
our subject rented a tract of land. He had 
one horse and his wife's uncle gave them 
another, so that he had a team with which 
to break his land. He also traded his sad= 
die and bridle to his father for a new plow 
and with characteristic energy he began the 
cultivation of his fields. For three years 
he rented his father's land, giving him half 
of all lliat was raised for several }-ears. Af- 
terward he rented at a cash rental and in 
this way he gained a start, acquiring suffi- 
cient capital to enable him to purchase 
eighty acres of land from his father. When 
that tract was about paid for he bought 
another eighty-acre tract, making his home 
thereon for thirteen years. On the expira- 
tion of that period he rented his property 
and bought where he now lives, near South 
Charleston, at first becoming the owner of 
thirty-one acres. As his financial resources 
increased he extended the boundaries of his 
farm' until it comprised one hundred and 
twenty acres, but he has since sold forty 
acres, now retaining possession of eighty 
acres. \\'hen he disposed of his other proper- 
ty in this county he accepted residence prop- 
erty in Springfield, worth ten thousand dol- 
lars, as part payment, and this he still owns. 

The home of jNIr. and Mrs. Sprague has 
been blessed with four children : Eva 
Blanche, after graduating from the South 
Charleston high school, attended college at 
Fairfax Hall, West "Virginia, and for sev- 
eral vears was a successful teacher in the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



public schools. On the 12th of June, 1901, 
she married Roy Warner, and they now live 
in Kansas City. Missouri. Xellie Pearle, 
now at home, was also graduated from the 
South Charleston high school and later was 
a. student at Oxford College, Oxford. Ohio. 
Zella Xaomi also completed the high school 
course and attended Oxford College, and 
IS now a successful teacher in the schools of 
South Charleston. Flossie Hazel, the young- 
est i>f the family, has just entered high 
school. 

In his lx3yhood j\lr. Sprague was always 
very fond of horses and began to trade in 
them to some extent, although his first ven- 
ture in fine stock was in pure bred Berkshire 
swine. For many years he bred and raised 
fine li'igs and was a prominent exhibitor at 
the fairs of Clark and adjoining counties 
with his herd of Berkshires. He then went 
back to his first love — the horse — and about 
1S94 he invested in trotting stock. In that 
year he purchased Bessie Bonehill, a two- 
year old. for which he ])aid two hundred 
and twenty-five dollars. This was the first 
horse he ever trained. He bred her, rais- 
ing a colt in 1895. In 1896 she made a rec- 
ord of 2 :iO;y4 at Chillicothe. She next won 
a race at Columbus in three straight heats, 
and the following year he put her in the 
hands of John Dickerson, of Terre Haute, 
Indiana. She won several races, and in Ter- 
re Haute made the world's record for pac- 
ing marcs in 1897 — 2:05-;4. Mr. Sprague 
sold this horse in Chicago for fifteen hun- 
dred dollars. She was afterward sold to 
1-red Deitz, of New York. Mr. Sprague 
next bought Alatus, a stallion by Alcyone, 
with a record of 2 ■.2-/, sired by George 
Wilkes. Alatus had a record of 2:2554, 
which was tlie next year reduced to 2:2414- 
and the following year to 2:17'/^. This 



horse is still owned by Mr. Sprague and has 
proved a wonderful successful sire, al- 
ready having six performers, one with a 
record of 2:09)4. In 1895 he became the 
owner of Banner Belle, which he bought at 
Lexington. Kentucky, with a lot of brood 
mares, including a two-year-old. which 
made a record of 2 .^o and was sold in 
iqoo. One of his mares, which cost him 
one hundred and fifty dollars, developed un- 
til she had a record of 2 :28. She was sold 
in Chicago in 1897 for six hundred dollars. 
He next bought Axius, 28396. by Axtell. 
the world's champion, with a three-year-old 
record of 2:12, and is the leading sire of 
the world of his age. Axius is one of the 
finest bred horses ever brought to Ohio. His 
dam, with ;>. record of 2 :28. was sired by a 
full brother of :^[aud S.. 2:o8;M- His sec- 
ond dam has a record of 2:2604. 'was sired 
by a son of Hambletonian 10. and his third 
dam was the great Green Mountain Maid, 
the dam of nine performers, and also the 
d.am of Flectioneer. Individually Axius is 
a perfect type of the American trotter, 
standing sixteen hands and weighing twelve 
hundred jjounds. While not used for track 
purposes he has shown 2 :o8 speed. Mr. 
Sprague bred and now has Colonel Coit. 
3 ^41 1 , by Alatus. out of the great .\rab Girl, 
dam of Bessie Bonehill. He is now a four- 
year-old. with a pacing record of 2:241-4. 
Arab Girl now has twin fillies, foaled April 
18. 19C2, by .\xius. Mr. Sprague also owns 
a three-year-old stallion, Tanforan. 32814. 
a trotter, by Expedition. 2:i5-j4. out of 
Tanta Buona. 2:2o;4. His draft stallion. 
Pai)illion 10180 (T8296). weighing seven- 
teen hundred ]>ounds. is coal black and has 
mane four and one-half feet long. Mr. 
Sprague built his track, training and breed- 
ing barn in tSc/i. and in that year called his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



163 



place tlie Maple Leaf farm, under which 
name it has gained a wide reputation and is 
ahxady credited with ten performers and 
many promising prospects. He is one of 
tiie leading stock breeders of this portion of 
Ohio. 

In his political affiliations INIr. Sprague 
is a Prohibitionist. He was reared in the 
Democratic party, but has never affiliated 
with that organization. In 1900 he cast 
his ballot for Major McKinley, the Repub- 
lican candidate. He is a man of most tem- 
perate habits and never uses intoxicants or 
tobacco in any way. He belongs to the Bap- 
tist church and his life is in harmony with 
Christian principles. In business dealings 
he is always honorable and straightforward 
and in all life's relations is true to- duty, 
so that he has won the contidence of his fel- 
low men. While not an aspirant for pub- 
lic office he has been deeply interested in ed- 
ucational and local afifairs. He served as 
a member of the board of education of South 
Charleston for a number of years, holding 
the office of treasurer and president of the 
board. He was also a member of the town 
council for several ^-ears. 



JOXATHAX ^lASON. 

Jonathan Mason is a farmer and stock 
raiser of Green township. He was born in 
this township December 10, 1826, and is a 
.-■;m of James and Electa (Town) Mason. 
The mother was a native of Vermont and 
when a child came to Ohio with her par- 
ents, but it is not known when the father 
arrived in this county. He died when his 
son Jonathan was very young, and at the 
earlv age of twelve years the subject of 



this review began earning his own liveli- 
h(3od, working as a farm hand at that time. 
He has depended entirely upon his own re- 
sources for a living and he has come oi¥ 
concpieror in the world of business. His 
educational privileges were necessarily lim- 
ited, but reading and experience in later 
years have continually broadened his knowl- 
edge. For a few years he worked for the 
meager sum of five dollars per month and 
he had but little saved when he attained his 
majority. He continued to be employed 
by the month until a1x)Ut twenty-five years 
of age, when he was married, the lady of his 
choice being Miss Malinda Craig. They be- 
came the parents of three children : Eiu- 
maranda, now the wife of James Evans, a 
resident of Morton count}-, Kansas, by 
whom she has eight children ; Oscar, who 
married Elizabeth Galloway, of Noble coun- 
ty, Indiana, and has two children, Marjorie 
and Walter Scott; and George, who mar- 
ried Edith Dugan and is the youngest of 
the family. 

At the time of his marriage ^Ir. Mason 
located upon rented land and after renting 
farms for a number of years he finally pur- 
chased thirty acres of land, upon which Fred 
Wilson is now living. He never took up his 
abode upon that property, but selling it at 
an advance he purchased fifty-six acres 
where he now lives in Green township. To 
this he has since added until he has a good 
farm, here of seventy-three acres, and he also 
owns forty acres where his son Oscar is 
now living. Throughout his entire life he 
has carried on agricultural pursuits and his 
home farm is under a high state of cultiva- 
tion and equipped with all accessories to a 
model country property. 

In 1863 Mr. Mason was called upon to 
mourn the loss of his first wife, who died on 



1 64 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the 22(1 of March. Later he wedded Mrs. 
Hannah McKinney, ncc SkilHngs, and she 
died on the 17th of August, 1901. Mr. 
Mason was reared in the faith of the Whig 
party and voted for Taylor in 1848. When 
the new Republican party sprang into ex- 
istence he cast his ballot for its first presi- 
dential candidate, John C. Fremont, and 
has since been a stanch Republican, but 
never an office seeker. He is a member of 
the Free Will Baptist church, belonging to 
the congregation of the Ridge. \\'ith this 
he has been identified since a young man, 
his entire life being in harmony- with his 
(Thristian belief and principles. 



J.VMES W. HALL. 

The Emerald Isle has sent many repre- 
sentatives to this country who have become 
prominent in public and business life. They 
have an adaptability and prescience of busi- 
ness opportunities and unfaltering enter- 
])rise which in a large majority of cases win 
success. Such was the history of James W. 
Hall, who for eighteen years followed con- 
tracting and building and in the line of his 
chosen pursuit gained a good income. He 
was, moreover, a man whose personal char- 
acteristics made him popular with all with 
whom he came in contact and at his death 
he left behind him a large circle of warm 
friends, as well as his immediate family, to 
mourn his loss. 

Mr. Hall was born in County ]\lona- 
ghan, Ireland, on the 22d of May, 1835, and 
was fifteen years of age when he came to the 
new world, making the voyage with rela- 
tives who had formerly lived in America 
and had returned to Ireland on a visit. For 



a short time he remained in New York city 
and then came to Ohio, locating in Xenia. 
which was his place of residence for twelve 
years. lie had attended school in his native 
land and also continued his studies after 
emigrating to America. He there acquired 
a good practical English education, and 
reading, experience and observation also add- 
ed to his knowledge as the years passed by. 

Under the direction of Tobias Dreese, of 
Xenia. Mr. Hall learned the carpenter's 
trade, becoming a good workman, and for 
three years after his marriage he carried on 
business in Xenia as a contractor and build- 
er, but on the 8th of X"nvember, 1864, he 
removed to Springfield, where he continued 
in the same line with good success until 
1880, when he began dealing in builders' 
supplies on Main street and was engaged in 
that business up to the time of his death. 
Many important contracts were awarded 
him and a number of fine buildings of the 
city stand as monuments to his thrift and 
enterpri.se. He met with success in his un- 
dertakings and made judicious investments 
in real estate, becoming the owner of con- 
siderable property here. He was also one of 
the original stockholders of the Lagonda 
Bank. All that he possessed was acquired 
through his own efforts, for from the time 
he was fifteen years of age he was depend- 
ent upon his own resources for a livelihood, 
and his energies and labors brought to him 
richly merited success. 

Xovember 15, i860, in Springfield, Mr. 
Hall was niarried by Rev. Chandler Robbins 
to Miss Jane A. Johnson, who was born in 
County Tyrone, Ireland, February 10. 1839. 
a daughter of George and Sarah (Taggart) 
Johnson. HIer parents were also natixes (jf 
tiie Emerald Isle, the father born in Cnun- 
tv Tvrone. and the mother in Countx- Mmu- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



aghan. Tl:e year 1849 witnessed their em- 
igration to America, and after a voyage of 
eiglit \\eeks and two days, in which they en- 
countered some severe storms, they landed 
at Quebec, Canada, wliere they remained 
for a short time. There were also two broth- 
ers of Mrs. Hlall in the party : William, who 
now resides in Springfield; and Robert T., 
who makes his home in Dayton, Ohio. ]^.[;". 
Johnson, on leaving the Dominion of Can- 
;'(la. made his way to Berea, Ohio, twelve 
miles west of Cleveland, and there remained 
until 1850, when he came to Springfield. 
Here he spent his remaining days, passing 
away nn the 25th of April, 1900, at the 
very advanced age of eighty-nine years and 
nine months. His wife had previously 
jiassed away, ha\-ing been called to the home 
beyoml in May, 1891, when eighty-five 
years of age. Both were Episcopalians in 
religions faith and were earnest Christian 
])eople. They were laid to rest in Ferncliff 
cemetery. The father was a contractor for 
work on streets and railroads of the city 
and county and aided in building several of 
the principal streets of Springfield. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hall were born four 
children : Sarah A., born September 19, 
1 86 1, was married on the 15th of Novem- 
])cr, 1883, to John Tyler Ricks, and Ihey 
have one daughter, Sarah Elizabeth. U'ill- 
iam George, born December 24. 1864, mar- 
ried Charlotte Ohmer, of Dayton, Ohio, and 
now resides in Camden, this state. Oliver 
James, born January 17, 1868, is at 
home. Jane Florence, born March 29, 1876, 
is also at home. For thirty-six years the 
family residence has been at Xo. 1 5 1 South 
I^imestone street. 

jVIr. Hall was a Free Mason and attained 
the Knights Templar degree in that order. 
At an earlv da\- he was identified with the 



Odd Fellows society and afterward became 
a member of the Knights of Pythias frater- 
nity. His political support was given to the 
Democracy and he had firm faith in its 
principles. For some years he served as a 
member of the city council, representing 
the old third ward with credit to himself 
and satisfaction to his constituents. Both 
he and his wife were reared in the Episco- 
palian faith and were members of that 
church in earl)- life, but they joined the 
Presbyterian church in Xenia and contin- 
ued thereafter followers of that denomina- 
tion. Mr. H'all was for a long period a 
trustee of the Second Presbyterian church,' 
of Springfield. He died July 7. 1882, and 
was laid to rest in Fernclift" cemetery, the 
fu.neral services being conducted b}- Rev. 
\\'illiam H. Webb and the Knights Tem- 
plars. He was a charitable man, who aid- 
ed man)- worth)^ and benevolent insti- 
tutions, both of a public and private char- 
acter, and in manner he was pleasant, ge- 
nial and ever approachable. Steadily pur- 
sru'ng his va)-, undeterred by the obstacles 
and difiiculties which one always encoun- 
ters in a business career, he has achieved 
prosperity. His life was manly, his actions 
sincere, his manner unaffected and his ex- 
ample well worthy of emulation. 



CHARLES H. MERRITT. 

Clark count)- is happy to number among 
its representative farmers and stock-raisers 
Charles H. 'Merritt, a resident of Madison 
township, having his postoffice address at 
Springfield, Ohio. ;\Ir. Merritt was born in 
Springfield township October 11. 1848, and 
is a son of Edwanl and Mary (Mullen) 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Merritt. The father, who is still living, is 
nuw about eighty years of age, while the 
mother who was horn in 1815. passed away 
in 1885. 

Our subject spent the days of his boy- 
hood upon the farm where he was born, at- 
tending the scliools of the district and re- 
ceiving a good common-school education. 
He remained upon the old homestead with 
his parents until twenty years of age, when 
he accompanied them on their removal to a 
farm near Sc«utli Charleston in 1867. His 
common-school education was supplemented 
by one year at Taylor's Scientific and Classi- 
cal Academy, at Wilmington, Delaware. 
He had taught une year previous to enter- 
ing the acadcniN . and after completing the 
course there he taught for two years more. 

In Madison township. January 20, 1886, 
was celebrated the marriage of Mr. ]\Ierritt 
and Miss Alice Buffenbarger, who was born 
and reared in Madison township, on the 
banks of the Little Miami river, and a 
daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Kizer) 
Buffenbarger. After his marriage he re- 
moved to his present farm. Here he pro- 
ceeded to put the land under a desirable state 
of cultivation, and has three hundred acres 
of land, which is a very valuable and highly 
productive tract. He has been quite exten- 
sively engaged in stock-raising and his well 
tilled fields have yielded to him a gratifying 
si'urce of income imtil he is to^-day one of 
the well-to-do farmers of this part of the 
country. In 1S90 he built a fine brick resi- 
dence, of modern architecture, a comfortable 
and attractive home, well arranged for con- 
venience and equipped with all the accessor- 
ies which are necessary to the comfort and 
convenience of an A.merican family of the 
twentieth century. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Merritt have been 



born five children : Beulah E., born in No- 
vember, 1886; Thomas Edward in 1888; 
Esther Alice, born in i88g; Mary Elizabeth, 
born in 1891 ; and Charles H., born in 1893. 
In politics Mr. ^lerritt is independent, vot- 
ing fi>r the men and measures that he thinks 
will conserve the public welfare. He has a 
birthright membership in the Society of 
Friends, of x'ihich his wife is now also a 
member. 

Mr. Merritt has witnessed much of the 
growth and development of his native coun- 
ty and has been no unimportant factor in the 
work of improvement and advancement 
which has liere taken place in the last half 
century. The c(mnty owes its prosperity to 
the energetic eft'orts, the diligence and per- 
severance through difficulties of representa- 
tive citizens of the calibre of Charles H. 
}*Ierritt. 



CHARLES O. WTLDASIX. M. D. 

Dr. W'ilclasin has not only attained dis- 
tinction as a skilled representative of the 
medical profession, but is also one of the 
most prominent representatives of frater- 
nal life in Ohio, having been the promoter 
of many organizations which have for their 
object the inculcation of the spirit of broth- 
erly helpfulness, charity and kindness. He 
was born in Mad River township. Clark 
count}-, Ohio, Octolier 8. 1850. and comes of 
German and Scotch ancestry on tiie ]>aternal 
side, while on the maternal side he is of 
Holland lineage. In the grandfather's fam- 
ily were six children : Henry. Charles. 
I'olk. Elizabeth, John and Lee. all of whom 
are yet living. Of this number Polk and 
John were soldiers of the Civil war in the 
L'nion army and Henry attcmpte(l to enlist 




DR. CHARLES O. WILDASIN. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



169 



hut was rejected on account of liis healtli. 
Henry F. Wildasin, the father of our sul> 
ject, is also a physician, now engaged in 
])ractice in Plattsburg, but was the only 
member of the family who entered a pro- 
fessional life, the others following mercan- 
tile nr agricultural pursuits. Dr. H. F. 
Wildasin was born near Bow'lusville. Ohio, 
and was graduated in the Eclectic Medical 
Institute of Cincinnati in 1872. He also 
studied under Dr. Potter, and at the end of 
liis graduation he was one of only three 
eclectic physicians in Clark county. In 
earl}- life he followed farming, carpentering 
and wagon making, possessing much natural 
mechanical ability, but he determined to be- 
came a member of the medical profession 
and has had excellent success in treating di- 
seases. He is now sixty-five years old and 
is a man of wonderful vitality. His politi- 
cal support is given the Democracy and he 
Ijelongs to the Christian church, .\fter ar- 
ri\-ing at years of maturity he wedded 
Mary Kaler, who was born in December, 
18:7, being only about two months her hus- 
1 land's junior, for the Doctor's birth oc- 
curred in October of that year. They be- 
came the parents of ten children, of whom 
four are }et living: Charles O., whose 
name introduces this record ; George, a resi- 
dent of Plattsburg; E. Homer, of Bellefon- 
taine, Ohio; and Pearl, who is a graduate 
of the high school of Springfield, and is 
ni;>w a public school teaclier. 

Dr. Charles O. Wildasin pursued his 
education in the public schools of Clark 
county, after which he took a selected course 
in Antioch College and then entered the Ec- 
lectic Medical College at Cincinnati, where 
he was graduated in 1884. He had previ- 
(.nsly become connected with commercial 
uitcrests but abandoned that line in order 



to follow in his father's professional foot- 
steps. He practiced in Dayton, Ohio, for 
a time and afterward in Plattsburg, largely 
succeeding his father, but in January, 1888, 
he sought a broader field of labor, coming to 
Springfield, where he has since built up a 
large and growing practice. In all of his 
atTairs he has been very successful. He is 
deeply interested in any subject which tends 
to bring to mankind the key of that intricate 
problem which we call life, and he has car- 
ried his research and investigation far and 
wide in order to make his efforts of the 
greatest practical value in the healing art. 

The Doctor was married in Plattsburg 
in March, 1881, to Miss Sallie E. Loukes, 
a daughter of William Eoukes, an old 
butcher of Springfield, nowf deceased. Her 
mother, jMrs. Harriet Loukes, is a resident 
of Plattsburg. Unto the Doctor and his 
wife have been born two children: Myrtle, 
\\-ho was born in 1883, and is a graduate of 
the public school of Springfield, and now a 
member of the sophomore class in ^\'itten- 
berg College; and Fred, who was born in 
1886. 

The Doctor is a member of the State 
Eclectic ^Medical Association, and aside 
from his profession he has some business in- 
terests, being a stockholder in the Oaxaca 
Association, of Chicago, owning rubber 
and cofi^ee plantations in Mexico. He has 
been very prominent in fraternal circles, 
taking an active part in lodge work. He 
belongs to Ingomar Lodge, No. 610, K. 
P., has served as a representative to the 
grand lodge of the state and is a candidate 
for grand outer guard. He lielongs to Corn- 
many Six of the Uniformed Rank of the 
Knights of Pythias, is past assistant sur- 
gc'in of the Fourth Regiment (jf the Uni- 
formed Rank and has the rank of captain. 



I/O 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



He likewise belongs to Al Yenibo Temple, 
No. 112, D. O. K. K. He is medical exam- 
iner and a member of the Independent Or- 
der of Foresters and of the Protected Home 
Circle. He became identified with the 
Knights of P3'thias society in Miami lodge 
during his residence in the t(j\\n of Dayton 
in 1882, and held the office of district dep- 
uty grand chancellor for two terms. Hie has 
also given his attention to the promotion of 
the interests of the order and has organ- 
ized three lodges — Vienna Crossroads, 
Clifton lodge and Ingomar lodge, being a 
member of the last named. He is a rqjre- 
sentative of the State Lodge, a captain of 
the degree staff and is physician and sur- 
geon to the Pythian Home of the city, serv- 
ing without remuneration. He is also a 
member of the Springfield Commercial Club. 
In politics he is a Democrat, and he and his 
family are members of the Presbyterian 
church. In his life Dr. Wildasin exempli- 
fies the benevolent and helpful .spirit of the 
fraternities with which he is connected, and 
his genuine worth ami his social qualities, 
as well as his professional skill, have made 
him a popular and respected, as well as 
highly honored citizen of Springfield. 



PROFESSOR FRFD W. Wil.LISS. 

Business conditions of the past half a 
century have become so complicated and so 
extensive that there has been a demand for 
superior skill in the control of all business 
affairs. In order to meet this demand schools 
of business training have sprung up 
throughout the country and one of the most 
creditable of these institutions is the W'il- 
liss Business Universitv. of which our sub- 



ject was the founder and is now the princi- 
pal. In educational circles he has per- 
formed an important work, training young 
men and young women for the practical and 
responsible duties of life, and the university 
is upon a par with the best schools of the 
kintl throughout the entire land. 

Professor Williss was born in Madison 
township, Clark county, Oiiio, June 18, 
1858. Fle pursued his early education in 
the district schools and was reared to man- 
hood upon his grandfather's farm. At the 
age of sixteen he became a student in South 
Charleston, Ohio, and was graduated there. 
He afterward began reading medicine with 
a local physician and proceeded as far as 
therapeutics, but did not complete his prep- 
aration for the medical profession. Com- 
ing to Springfield he then entered the law 
office of Keifer & \\'hite, and after a thor- 
ough and comprehensive course of reading 
he was admitted to the bar in 1880. At 
that time he entered the office of S. .A. Bow- 
man as an assistant, but in 1882 returned 
to the ofiice of his former preceptors, with 
whom he continued until 1890. During this 
time Professor Williss organized the school 
of which he is now the head, beginning on 
a small scale and employing teachers to con- 
duct the institution, which was established 
in 18S1 as a school of shorthand and type- 
writing. When he came to this city he was 
the only one who earned a living through 
stcnograjiliy in Springfield. Hie had coni- 
jilcted its study under the direction of Benn 
(laincs. a nephew of Mr. Keifer. Many 
wanted to learn the art and prevailed upon 
Professor \^'illiss to open a school, which 
he did. He served as private secretary to 
General Keifer and also to the latter's 
brother-in-law. Judge WillLam White, and 
through these associations he became known 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



171 



throughout the east. For twelve years he 
sen-ed as court stenographer in the com- 
mon pleas court. He opened a school on a 
very small scale and .it was advertised by 
his pupils and thus gradually grew. It wzs 
his pupils who ga\'e the name of Williss 
Business Uni\-ersity to the institution. So 
rapidly did the school gain in numerical 
strength that in 1890 Professor Williss was 
obliged to abandon his law work in order to 
give his entire time to the institution. A 
complete university course has been added, 
the branches of learning being under the 
charge of special teachers. There is also a 
complete business course and since 1900 
there has been an advisory board connect- 
ed with the school, composed of J. H. Ralj- 
liitts, General Keifer and J. L. Zimmerman 
From the beginning the school has met 
with desirable success and substantial 
growth. It is the oldest institution of the 
kind in Springfield and teachers are em- 
ployed for all branches, with Professor 
\A'illiss as superintendent of instruction. 
The school has been a financial success and 
its high rank is everywhere acknowledged. 
Since the erection of the Zimmerman build- 
ing the Williss Business University has 
been located therein and our subject super- 
intended the arrangement of the floor for 
his own use. On the walls of the school- 
room is a freehand pen drawing of the na- 
tional capitol at Washington, D. C. This is 
eight by ten feet, being the largest picture 
of the kind in the country. The artist was 
.Albert Reddy, who has pursued a course 
in the pen art in the Williss Business Uni- 
versity. The Hammond Typewriter Com- 
pany gives as prizes in this school, ex'cry 
six months, a one hundred dollar machine 
to the best operator whoi has studied here. 
Such a gift is not made to anv other insti- 



tution. The school has the hearty support 
of the intelligent citizens of Springfield and 
also of its numerous pupils. 

In 1881, in South Charleston, Clark 
county, was celebrated the marriage of 
Professor F. W. \\'illiss to Aliss Mattie 
H. Sands, who was born in Illinois, but 
was reared in Clark county, Ohio, from her 
infancy, her father being Israel Sands, now 
a resident of Winfield, Kansas. Mrs. Wil- 
liss is a graduate of the public schools of 
South Charleston, and by her marriage she 
has become the mother of six children, but 
Fred W., the fifth in order of birth, died in 
early childhood. The others are: Carl L., 
born in 1883; Frank S., born in 1885; War- 
ren K., born in 1887; Grace, born in 1889; 
and Leroy M., born in 1900. The four 
eldest compose the Williss quartette and are 
all graduates from the school of music, 
^vhile Carl has had further advantages along 
musical lines in Cincinnati, Dayton and 
Cleveland, Ohio. They figure prominently 
in musical circles in the city, Carl being a 
violinist, while Frank plays the 'cello, War- 
ren the cornet, and Grace the piano. The 
sons are now in the school with their father, 
and Grace is a student in the public schools. 

Professor Williss and his wife belong 
to St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church 
and he is a member of the Ohio Commer- 
cial Teachers' Association, State Stenogra- 
phers' Association and the International 
Stenographers' Association. In both he has 
certificates of the highest grade. He has 
been a representative to the conventions of 
these associations, is now a delegate to the 
national convention and is authority oil 
many subjects. Professor Williss owes his 
advancement entirely to his own efforts and 
has worked his wa}' through school, pur- 
sued a legal course, as the result of his de- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORl 



termiiiati(jn and business ability and has 
eventually established an institution of 
learninqf. which is of the greatest benefit to 
the conmuuiity as well as a source of re- 
munerative income to himself. His reading 
has" been of a broad and comprehensive 
character and he is widely known as a man 
of strong intelligence, of keen discernment 
and of broad human sympathy. His life 
work Ik'.s had an important bearing upon the 
intellectual development of this section of 
Ohio, and no history of Clark coun- 
ty would be complete v>ithout mention of 
Professor W'illiss. whose efforts have aided 
in establishing the business career of so 
many of the young people of Springfield 
and surrounding districts. 



T.\SPER B. CRAIG. 



So great has been the improvement, so 
rapid the changes, so complete the transfor- 
mation wrought in Clark county, that it is 
almost difficult to believe that during the 
boyhor^d days of Jasper B. Craig pioneer 
conditions yet existed to a considerable ex- 
tent, but the efforts of a progressive and en- 
lightened people have been such as to make 
Clark county a leading agricultural and in- 
dustrial section of Ohio. Mr. Craig was 
for many years identified with farm work, 
but is now living retired. 

He was Ijnrn in Springfield township 
near bis home on the 15th of October, 1833. 
His parents. Robert and Fannie (Barnett) 
Craig, were Imth natives of Brattleboro, 
W-rniont. and with their respective parents 
came to Ohio in childhood, their marriage 
being iirobably celebrated in Clark county. 
The father was an agriculturist and owned 



the farm upon which our subject was born. 
ha\ing there two hundred and forty acres, 
which he cultivated successfully until his 
death, whidh occurred in 1850, when he was 
about fifty years of age. His widow sur- 
vived him alx)ut twenty years, and then she. 
too, departed this life. They were the par- 
ents of nine children, of whom Jasjjer B, 
was the fourth in order of birth. Only 
three of the number are now living. John, 
the eldest, is a resident of northern Indiana, 
w bile ]\Iar.garet is the widow of John Coul- 
ters, and lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 
father strongly endorsed the Whig party, 
but was never a politician in the sense of 
office seeking. 

On the home farm Jasper B. Craig spent 
the days of his childhood and youth, enjoy- 
ing the pleasures in which boys of the pe- 
riod usually indulged, mastering the lessons 
assigned in the district schools and work- 
ing in the fields during the summer months. 
He remained with his father until the lat- 
ter's death, and with his mother, until 1856. 
when be made an overland trip to Califor- 
nia. l)eing attracted by the discovery of gold 
on the Pacific slope. He traveled with a 
party and was five and a half months upon 
the way. After reaching the Golden state 
he engaged in teaming in the northern part 
of California, making his home at Sacra- 
mento for a few years, after which he went 
to Carson City, Nevada, spending altogether 
fourteen years in the far west, during which 
time he was engaged in various enterprises. 
In 1870 he returned to Ohio and with the 
capital ac(iuired tluring his western sojourn, 
he purchased land in Green township, which 
he owned for about twelve years. 

Mr. Crai.g was married in Harmony 
township on Christmas day of 1872 to Miss 
Racliel Hawkins, who was born in that 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tMwnship and is a daughter of John and 
Jane ( Pinneo ) Hawkins. Tlieir (inly child 
(Hed in infancy. In the year 1885 Mr. Craig 
]nn"chased liis present farm in Harmony 
tiiwnship, on which he has since lived. He 
has a quarter section of land, on which are 
excellent improvements, including an at- 
tractive residence, substantial outbuildings 
and modern accessories, which indicate his 
careful supervision. He is now practically 
living retired, leaving the care of his land 
to i:)thers, while he is enjoying a richly mer- 
ited rest. In politics he is a Republican. 
He attained his majority in 1856, but could 
not vote that year because of his removal to 
California, and therefore he cast his first 
ballot in i860 for Abraham Lincoln. In 
early life he became a member of Spring- 
field Lodge, No. 1 01. F. & A. M., but has 
not been actively identified witli the order 
since his residence in Carson City. His life 
has been cjuietly passed, in a measure, yet 
there is much in his history that is worthy 
of emulation because he has always been 
fiiund true to his duties of citizenship and 
straightforward in his relations with his 
fellow men. 



JAMES JOHXSOX. Jr. 

The name of this gentleman figures 
l)rominently in the legal profession and in 
political circles of Springfield. Fortune 
does not bestow its favors promiscuously, 
but gives its benefits as a reward of earn- 
est and persistent labor. In a profession 
where advancement depends entirely upon 
individual merit. James Johnson has at- 
tained distinction, being to-day classed as 
line of the leading attorneys of the city of 
'.lis ])irth — Springfield, Ohio. His natal 



day was December 3, 1856, and his father, 
James Johnson, Sr.. was a native of Ire- 
land, whence he came to the L'nited States 
when a mere boy with his parents, who set- 
tled on a farm in Clark county. 

In this city the subject of this review 
acquired his primary education and after 
attending public and private schools here, 
he entered Wittenberg College, in which 
institution he was graduated with the class 
of 1877. The legal profession attracted him 
and he resolved that his energies should be 
directed along the line of maintaining jus- 
tice at the bar. He read law with the firm 
of Bowman, Pringle & Scott, and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in April. 1880, before the 
supreme court at Columbus. Ohii). Im- 
mediately afterward he entered upon the 
prosecution of his chosen profession in 
Springfield and became a partner of his 
former preceptor, Thomas J. Pringle, un- 
der the firm name of Pringle & Johnson. 
This became one of the strongest law firms 
in this city, maintaining a consecutive ex- 
istence of seventeen years, at the end of 
which time it was dissoh'ed by mutual con- 
sent. I\Ir. J(jhnson has since been alone in 
practice. He has had a distinctively repre- 
sentative clientage, connecting him with 
much of the most important litigation tried 
in t!ie courts of this locality. He is a strong 
in argument, logical in his deductions, and 
in the presentation of a case displays a thor- 
ough mastery of the subject and of the law 
bearing upon it. 

In 1888 Mr. Johnson was married to 
Miss Blanche Obenshane. of White county, 
Indiana, a daughter of M. L. arid Margaret 
(Armour) Obenshane. Three children 
graced this union ; Martha, James Line 
and Porter B. James Line dietl when three 
vears old. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Jnlmsnn lias long been rccng-nized 
.-IS a le;i(ler in Democratic circles in Spring- 
liclil. and his dcNotion to party arises from 
a firm belief in its principles and from a 
patriotic Iciyalty to his country and its wel- 
fare. ?Ie has not been a politician in the 
sence of office seeking, although he has been 
iionored with political preferments. In 
i885 he recei\'ed his party's nomination for 
circuit judge in the second circuit of Ohio, 
and succeeded" in reducing the majority \o 
six hundred \otes in a district which has 
sdways given a Republican majority of over 
four thosand. He carried his own county 
l)y nine hundred and fifty. At the biennial 
election for mayor, in 1893, o^"' subject 
was chosen the chief executive of tlie city 
for a term of two years, and during his ad- 
ministration many of the substantial im- 
provements cif the cit\- were made. One 
especially worth}- of ncjte was the gift of a 
tract of land of two hundred and sixty acres, 
which was donated by the late John D. L. 
Snyder as a park, and the securing of two 
hundred thousand dollars as an endowment 
I'' T the maintenance of the park. The citizens 
■ f .SpM-ingfield have every reason to be proud 
this beautiful park. The Snyders were rel- 
atives of Mr. Johnson — iiis mother's cous- 
ins. In 1897 lie was elected president of the 
board of trade, and his efforts lia\e l)een 
of signal usefulness to Springfield. oMr. 
Johnson was appointed by the common 
p'eas court as advisory trustee of the en- 
dowment fund of two hundred thousand 
dollars fcir Snyder I'ark. and he is honored 
in the fact thai in 1901 he was elected pres- 
ident of the Clark County Bar Association 
and re-elected in 1902. and as its chief offi- 
cer he has won honor and respect. Fra- 
ternally he is connectetl with Anthony 
L.Hlge. Xo. 4-,:;. F. & A. M. His is a well 



rounded character, in which he gives due at- 
tention to the social side of life, to his ob- 
ligations of citizenship, to his home duties 
and to his business. 'J'hc zeal with which 
he has devoted his attention to his profes- 
sion, the careful regard evinced for the in- 
terests of his clients, and an assiduous and 
unrelaxing attention to all the details of 
his cases, have brought him a large busi- 
ness and made him very successful in 
its conduct. His arguments have elicited 
warm commendation, not only from his as- 
sociates at the bar, biU also from the bench. 
Jde is a very able writer; his briefs always 
show wide research, careful thought, and 
the best and strongest reasons which can be 
urged for his contention, presented in logi- 
cal and cogent form, and illustrated by a 
stvle unusuallv lucid and clear. 



H. A. COSLER, M. D. 

Dr. H. .\. Cosier, a practicing physician 
and surgeon of the regular school of medi- 
cine, located at .\orth Hampton, was born 
near Yellow Springs, Greene county, Ohio, 
May 4, 1873. He is a son of Abram B. 
and Susan \'. (Stutsman) Cosier. The 
father was born on a farm near Alpha. 
Ohio, and there spent the days of his youth. 
In 1863 he responded to his coinitry's call 
for aid in ])reserving the I'nion, enlisting as 
one of the boys in blue of Company D. One 
Hundred and Fifty-fourth Ohio Infantry, 
for one hundred days' service. He went to 
the front with the rank of sergeant, and 
while in \'irginia he was captured, being 
held as a prisoner of war for si.x months in 
Salisbury. On the expiration of that jieriod 
he was released and returned home, but he 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



175 



never regained his health, his constitution 
liax'ing- been undermined Ijy the hardships 
of prisou life. On the 26th of Novemlser, 
1868, he was united in marriage, near Yel- 
low Springs, to ]\Iiss Susan V. Stutsman, 
and they became the parents of two chil- 
dren. Sanniel S., who wedded Mary Mc- 
Knight, of Spring Valley, Ohio, was for one 
}ear an assistant in Nelson's Business Col- 
lege, of which he was a graduate. Later he 
removed to Xenia, where he was employed 
as an accountant in the Xenia National 
Bank for a time and subseciuently was ap- 
pointed dqjuty treasurer of Greene county, 
in which capacity he was serving at the time 
of his death, which occurred on the 19th of 
August, 1897. The father died ^larch 8, 
1873, a few weeks before the birth of our 
subject. 

When the Doctor was three years old 
the mother removed with her two sons to 
^'ellow Springs, and there he was educated, 
being graduated from the high school with 
the class of 1889, when only sixteen years 
of ag'e. He afterward spent one year in 
Antioch College, and then engaged in clerk- 
ing in a store for one year. Subsequently 
he secured a position as a school teacher in 
Byron, Ohio, where he remained for a year, 
when he removed to Delaware, this state, 
and entered the Ohio Wesleyan University. 
While pursuing his studies there he also 
acted as tutor in mathematics in the college, 
thus helping to pay his way thrnugh the 
institution. He was graduated there in the 
class of 1897. 

At the outbreak of the Spanish-Ameri- 
can war, in the spring of the following year, 
he enlisted for service as a member of Com- 
pany K, Fourth Ohio \"olunteer Infantry, 
and was made a sergeant. He was sent to 
camp' at Columbus, and thence to Cliicka- 



mauga. and sailed from Newport News to 
Porto Rico, where he remained from the 
1st of August until the 6th of Nor^-ember, 
1898, during which time he participated in 
three engagements, those of Guyama, Cayey 
Heights and a skirmish at Aibonito Pass. 
He has several valuable souvenirs of the 
campaign. While upon the march he 
sprained his knee and has never recovered 
horn the accident. 

.Vfter his return tu his nati\-e country 
Dr. Cosier received an honorable discharge 
and then entered the Ohio Medical Univers- 
ity, of Columbus, Ohio, fromi which he was 
graduated with the class of 1902. He at 
once went toWVest Carrollton, and in June 
of the s-ame year he came to North Hamp- 
ton. \\here he opened an office. Although 
he has been here but a brief period he is well 
established in his profession, and is recog- 
nized by the public and by the members of 
the medical fraternity as a young man Oif 
good ability in the line of his chosen work. 
When he was graduated at Oihio W^esleyan 
University the degree of Bachelor of Sci- 
ence was conferred upon him, and in 1902 
his Alma Mater conferred upon him the de- 
gree of Master of Arts. AVhile studying 
medicine in Columbus he was appointed to 
the office of secretary of the Children's 
Home Society. He has made his oaxu way 
through college, thus proving the strength 
of his character, his self-reliance and his 
genuine worth. \\'hile in the military ser- 
\'ice he actevl as clerical sergeant for two 
m^inths under Brigadier General Compton. 

The Doctor is a member of the Meth(3- 
dist Episcopal church. Fraternally he is 
connected with Humboldt Lodge. No. 476, 
F. & A. M., of Columbus, the Knights of the 
Golden Eagle and the Junior Order of Amer- 
ican [Mechanics, of North Hampton, and he 



[76 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



also Ijelongs to the Sigma-Chi fraternity, 
whicli he joined at Delaware, Ohio. He is a 
young man of strong mentality, iml>ued 
with the spirit of advancement so character- 
istic of the times, and his laudable ambition 
and unfaltering enterprise will doubtless win 
for him a very creditable position in the 
ranks nf the medical fraternitv. 



HON. WILLIAM! R. BURNETT. 

A list of the leading citizens of Clark 
county contains the name of William Riley 
Burnett, one of the representative and hon- 
ored residents of Springfield. He is ime to 
whom has been entrusted important public 
service and over whose record there falls 
no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. 
His unbending integrity of character, his 
fearlessness in the discharge of his duties, 
and his appreciation of the resixrnsibilities 
that have rested upon him, have been such 
as to make him a most acceptable incumbent 
in ofTice, and his worth is and has been 
vxddely acknowledged. He is now serving 
as a member of the board of public affairs 
in Springfield and is a recognized leader in 
Democratic circles. 

Mr. Burnett is a native of Clark county, 
having Ijeen born on a farm west of Spring- 
field, .\uc?nst 17, 1846. His father. John 
Burnett, was liorn also near Springfield in 
i\^2J^ and was a son of Richard Burnett. 
one of the honored pioneer settlers of Clark 
county. The grandfather married a iliss 
Nolan, who was a native of Kentucky, and 
among their children was John Burnett. The 
latter became a millwright by trade and fol- 
lowed that business for a number of years. 
When he liad arrived at vears of maturitv 



he wedded Mary Jones, who was born in 
Randolph county, Virginia, in 1826. a 
daughter of Wesley Jones, who was a na- 
tive of Virginia and a ship carpenter 1)\ 
trade. The father of our sul)ject is now 
deceased, but the nmther is living in Spring- 
field. 

William R. Burnett entered the public 
schools at the usual age and therein pur- 
Sued his studies until his fourteenth year, 
when he started out to make his own way 
in the world by obtaining a position in the 
shop of Whiteley. Fassler & Kelly, where 
he learned the machinist's trade, and contin- 
ued in their employ as a machinist fur twen- 
tw-Que years, with the exception of the time 
spent in the army. In 18^)3. when a ynuth 
of seventeen, he responded to his country's 
call for aid to crush out the rebellion, and 
enlisted in Company A. Fourth Battalion 
Independent Ohio Cavalry. After being 
mustered in he was ordered to Kentucky, 
where for a time he was in the dangerous 
service of scouting and hunting bushwhack- 
ers. He served faithfully until the close of 
tiie war. receiving an honorable discharge 
in 1865. 

^Nlr. Burnett then returned to Clark coun- 
ty and after visiting his parents for a time 
he resumed work in the sh(jp of Whiteley. 
Fassler & Kelly. On leaving their employ 
he embarked in the grocery business on 
East Main street, Springfield, and there 
conducted a store for ten years with signal 
success. In October, 1865. was celebratetl 
the marriage of Mr. Burnett and Miss Mary 
C. ^lonahan, of Springfield, a daughter of 
John ^lonahan, and two children have been 
born to them : Theodore .\.. a veterinary 
surgeon, graduate of the .\merican X'eter- 
inary College, Xew \'ork : and Levi Hcrr. 
The latter is now a rising attorney of Pitts- 




W. R. BURNETT. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



179 



burg, Pennsylvania, and assistant attorney 
for tlie United States Steel Trust. 

For foiu' years Mr. Burnett was a mem- 
l)er of tlie school board and for two years 
was a niemljer of the city council, represent- 
ing the first ward. Since that time he has 
fieen almost continuously in pulilic office. In 
1889 he was elected mayor of the city and 
his administration was so practical, progres- 
sive and business-like that he was re- 
elected in 1 89 1, continuing as the chief ex- 
ecutive officer of the city for four years. 
During that time many improvements were 
made in the streets and the city building 
was erected in 1890, a structure of which 
his fellow townsmen ha\'e every reason to 
be proutl. He was the first mayor to occupy 
the new building and on the expiration of 
his term of service in that office was ap- 
pointed a member of the police and fire 
board by Maj-or John M. Good, and was 
afterward appointed by Mayor Bowlus, a 
member of the board of public affairs. His 
next appointment came from Mayor M. L. 
Milligan and was a tribute to his personal 
ability and official worth because Mr. Milli- 
gan. a strong Republican, recognized the 
fitness of Mr. Burnett, a Democrat, for the 
I iffice. As a member of the board Mr. Bur- 
nett has been most faithful, prompt and en- 
ergetic in the discharge of his duties, and 
his official career is indeed commendalile. 

Socially he is a member of Clark Lodge, 
No. loi, F. & A. M., and also belongs to 
Red Star Lodge, No. 205, K. P., and to 
Ciimpany No. 44, of the Uniformed Rank of 
Knights of Pythias ; and Springfield Lodge, 
No. 33, I. O. O. F. He is a vahted repre- 
sentati\-e of the Benevolent and Protective 
Order of Elks anfl he maintains pleasant re- 
lations with his old army comrades through 
his mcmbershii) in Mitchell Post, G. A. R.. 



and also the Union \^eterans Union. He is 
justly accorded a place among the promi- 
nent and representative citizens of Spring- 
field, for he belongs to that class of men 
whose enterprising spirit is used not alone 
for their own benefit. He is one whose cour- 
tesy is unfailing and whose integrity is 
above question, and few men are more 
widely and favorably known in Springfield 
tlian ^\■illianl R. Burnett. 



FOSTER I. KYLE. 



Foster J. Kyle is a representative of an 
honored and prominent family of this sec- 
tion of Ohio, and is now engaged in the prac- 
tice of veterinary surgery at Springfield. 
He was born in Yellow Springs February 6, 
1864, and is a son of Roland Kyle, whose 
birth occurred in Cedarville, Ohio, in 1837, 
and who is still a resident of that place. 
He has followe;! farming throughout his 
entire life. His grandfather. Judge Samuel 
Kyle, was upon the bench of Greene comity 
for more than thirtv years. He was one 
of the first settlers of that locality, remov- 
ing from Kentucky {o Ohio, and he was of 
Scotch ancestry. He not only left the im- 
press of his indi\-iduality upon the judicial 
district of that county but took an active 
part in public progress and improvement 
along many lines. He died at the ripe old 
age of eighty _\ears, respected and honored 
by all who knew him. In his family were 
fifteen sons and six daughters, and Roland 
Kyle was the shortest of the sons — and he 
measured six feet and twi> inches. All 
were educated in Greene ciimty. Thomas 
is the father of the late Senator Kyle, of 
South Dakota, and is now living in Lh"- 
bana. Illinois. He is a ci\il engineer by 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



profession, which lie fullowed in Greene 
county for many years, liul is now living re- 
tired. The average length of life of the 
nienihers of the family is eighty years. 

Roland Kyle carries on fanning and 
stock raising and is a representative agri- 
culturist of his community. He votes with 
the Republican party and has held some 
minor offices, but has never Ijeen a poli- 
tician in the sense of office seeking. He 
married .\nna Dunlap, who was born in 
1842 in Cincinnati and died in 1894. They 
were the parents of nine children, of whom 
one died in early childhood. The others 
are: Agnes, who is engaged in the millin- 
ery business in Cincinnati : Foster J. : Grace, 
the wife of Ross Tanehill, of Clifton; T. 
Dales, who has been connected with the 
Citizens Rank of Xenia since 1890: Or- 
mond, (if Kno.wille, Tennessee; Irvin, a 
farmer of Cedarville. Ohio; Carl, of Day- 
ton, this state; and Rolanna, at home, 

Foster J. Kyle of this review acquired 
his education in the public schools, which 
he attended until about the time he attained 
his majority. He also assisted in the work 
of the home farm! in field and meadow 
throughout the summer months. He was 
engaged in f;u-ming near Dayton, Ohio, for 
one year and then entered the commercial 
college at Ada, this state, where he com- 
pleted a regular course. Subseciuently he 
went to Canada and entered the Toronto 
(Ontario) \'eterinary College, in 1889. be- 
ing graduated in that institution in 1891. 
after c'-m])leting a full course. His 
strong love for horses induced him to 
enter the profession in which he has 
l)een extremely successful. After bis 
graduation be located in .\enia and there 
built up a large practice in Greene county, 
where he made his home until 1899, 



when, believing that there were broader 
Inisiness c;'pportunities in Springfield and the 
surrounding country districts, he came to 
this city. He has built up a large practice 
in Clark county, where his ability has been 
again and again demonstrated, and by rea- 
son of his skill this large patronage has 
\yttn gained. He has an accurate and com- 
prehensi\e knowledge of the profession, 
conducts his business on business methods 
and treats all with fairness and courtesy. 

In Iberia, Ohio, in 1893, Mr. Kyle was 
united in marriage to Miss Anna G. ilc- 
Clarren, who was torn in that place in 1865. 
She pursued a college course there and 
afterward engaged in teaching school for 
several years. Her parents were Robert 
and Jeanette (Richardson) McClarren, the 
former now deceased, while the latter is a 
resident of Iberia. Mrs. Kyle was the sixth 
in order of birth in a family of seven chil- 
dren, and by her marriage she has become 
the mother of five children, but Helen died 
at the age of three years. The others are : 
Anna Janet, Florence Louise, Roland M. 
and Mildred. 

Dr. Kyle exercises bis right of franchise 
in supjjort of the men and measures of the 
Republican jiarty. He was appointed a 
member of the Iward of Humane So- 
ciety of Springfield in 1902, and few are 
better tiualified for such a position, for bis 
Ime for animals makes all cruelty abhorrent 
to him and he is therefore desirous of put- 
ting forth every effort to prevent this. He 
belongs to the United Presbyterian church 
and is a member of the State \'eterinary As- 
sociation of Ohio. He is a lover of fine 
horses and today is the owner of two of 
the finest bred stallions in southern Gbio, 
i>ne Ijeing the fast pacer Tem]>eras. and the 
other Edwin Simmons, bv Simmons, bv 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Georg'e \\'ilkes, his dam lieing the dam of 
J. AI. K.. whose recunl is 2:1614. and Bes- 
sick, whose record is 2-a-\\. Edwin Sim- 
mons is considered' hy experts to 'be tlie 
finest horse in this section of the state. The 
Doctor has his office in the C. E. Todd liv- 
ery stable at 22 Xorth Limestone street. He 
is devoted to his profession, in which he has 
met with creditable success, and thus in 
business affairs he has prospered. 



CHARLES A. BAUER. 

Charles A. Bauer attained a distin- 
g'uished position in the industrial circles of 
Ohio, while his re]nitatiou as an expert and 
authority in mechanical affairs was na- 
tional. Thrown at an early age upon his 
own resources, his life is a striking example 
of what may be accomplished by genius, en- 
ergy and ability. 

He was born in W'urtemberg, Germany, 
.\ugust 16, 1846, and was a son of Fred- 
erick Bauer, a pniminent bridge builder and 
draughtsman of that cijuntry. In 1852 
Frederick Bauer came to America with his 
family, but three months after his arrival 
was stricken with yellow fever and died in 
Xew Orleans. The mother then determined 
to seek a home farther north and in the 
same year took up her residence in Cincin- 
nati, where she remained until her death, 
which occurred on the 2d of February. 
1900. 

The subject of this review was only six 
years of age at the time of the emigration of 
the family. His educational privileges were 
limited and from an early age he was de- 
pendent upon his own resources. .\\ the age 
of twelve he obtained employment in the 



Pyrotechnical Manufactory owned by H. P. 
Diehl, of Cincinnati, and in 1861 he became 
an apprentice to the gunsmith's trade. Three 
years later he entered the shops of Miles, 
Greenwood & Company as a practical ma- 
chinist, devoting his leisure hours to the 
study o'f mechanics and applied mechanics. 
So rapidly did he. progress in this line that 
in 1878 he was called to the Ohio Mechan- 
ics Lnstitute as a teacher of mechanical 
drawing and applied mechanics. During his 
connection with the institute the progress of 
these departments was very ranarkable. Li 
187 1 he accepted the position of superin- 
tendent of the great Niles Tool Works at 
Hamilton, O'hio, and continued in that ca- 
pacity until his resignation in 1873, when 
he assumed the duties of consulting engi- 
neer for the firm of Lane & Bodley, of Cin- 
cinnati. Ohio. During all this time he re- 
tained his position as instructor of mechan- 
ics and applied mechanics in the Ohio Me- 
chanics Institute. In 1875 he was tendered 
the position of assistant superintendent of 
the works of the Champion Bar & Knife 
Company at Spring-field, Ohio, and iii 1878 
was made superintendent of the same con- 
cern. In 1883 he became general manager 
of the mower and reaper works owned by 
the firm of Warder, Bushnell & Glessner at 
Springfield, and in 1886, when the business 
was incorporated, he became one of the part- 
ners and stockhoWers, retaining his position 
as general manager of the extensive enter- 
prise. His career was remarkably success- 
ful, chiefly by reason of his natural ability 
and his thorough insight intO' the business 
in which as a young man he embarked. He 
had a most comprehensi\-e and thorough 
knowledge of the great mechanical prin- 
cijjles underlying his chosen pursuit, and 
reading and in\-estigation along such lines 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



continually broadened his knowledge and 
added to the eflicacy of his work. Again 
and again promotion came to him in recog- 
nition of his superior ability in this line. 
His strict integrity, business conservatism 
and judgment were uniformly recognized 
and he enjoyed jniblic confidence to an envi- 
able degree. This naturally brought to him 
success. 

Although preferring home life to active 
connection with public affairs, Mr. Bauer yet 
gave mucii of his valuable time to works of 
public importance. For nine years he ser\-ed 
as a member of the board of water works 
trustees of Springfield and was instrumental 
in having installed a fine water works sys- 
tem, which is to-day the jiridc cif the city. 
At liis death he was chairman of tlie Ohio 
State House Commission, having been ap- 
pointed tO' that position by Governor Asa S. 
Bushnell. This commission was to have 
charge '■! the remodeling of the state house 
at Columbus and the appointment was a 
splendid acknowledgement of Mr. Bauer's 
marked ability. He was one of the vice- 
presidents rf the National Founders Asso- 
ciation and refused to accept the presidency 
of that organization at the last meeting 
which was held just l^efore his death. He 
was also a member of the fifth district com- 
mittee of the XationaJ Founders' Associ- 
ation, was one of the vice-presidents of the 
y\merican Foundrymen's Association and 
took a great interest in the American So- 
ciety of IVfechanical Fngineers, of which he 
was one of the charter menil)ers, his avo- 
cation liearing date May 14, 1880. He was 
elected one of the managers of this society 
in 1891 and served for four successive years. 
Because of his broad and comprehensive 
knowledge of everything in the line of me- 
chanics and mechanical constructiiin, lie- 



cause of his familiarity with great mechani- 
cal principles and also because of a charm 
of manner which made him popular, Mr. 
Bauer was thus honored again and again 
but he never sought notoriety along such 
lines. In manner he was entirely free from 
ostentation and display. He possessed, 
however, broad sympathy and a genial, 
kindly nature, and these qualities won for 
him the esteem of all with whom he came in 
contact, and the regard in which he was held 
was in the great majority of instances deep- 
ened into strong friendship. He always re- 
ceived the respect of the men whose efiforts 
he superintended in business and the rela- 
tions between employer and employe were 
largely of an i<Ical character. The men rec- 
ognized in him (me wlmse ability was su- 
perior to their own, and. moreover, his just- 
ness gained for him their unciualified re- 
gard. An estimate of his ability could only 
be gained by visiting the factories of which 
he had charge and closely inspecting the 
methods and original ideas which he had 
inaugurated. 

Mr. Bauer was married in 1868 to Miss 
Louise Haeseler, who came to America with 
her parents from St. Goar. Prussia, in 1831. 
Three children were born to them : Charles 
L., \\\\o is now the general superintendent of 
the Warder, Bushnell & Glessner Company : 
William A., who is employed in the office 
of the same ctim])any; an<l Lmis V... whn is 
in the chemical dciiartment there. The 
home of the Bauer family is located on East 
High street. 

Mr. Bauer pas.sed away in June, 1899. 
and was laid to rest in Ferncliff cemetery. 
In }iIasonic circles he was pri>minent. be- 
longing to Anthony Lodge. Xo. 455. F. & 
A. ^r.. while in the Scottish Rite he had 
attained the thirty-second degree. He was 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



183 



also connected with the Knights of Pythias. 
Air. Bauer was a self-made man in the best 
sense of that oft misused term. From early 
life he depended upon his own resources. 
He realized fully that advancement is largely 
due ta enterprise and keen discernment, sup- 
plementing untiring diligence, and it was 
along those lines that he won success and 
gained promotion to a \-ery prominent posi- 
tion in the ranks of the representatives of 
mechanical interests of the country. That 
his death was universally regretted is proven 
by the large number of letters and telegrams 
which came to his family from all parts of 
this country and Europe, breathing words of 
condolence and consolation ; but. while his 
success was marked and his capability was 
of a high order, it was the man who won 
the friends. Throughout his entire career 
he was always the same genial, courteous 
gentleman, whose ways were those of re- 
finement and whose word no man could 
question. 



CARLULTES. M. D. 

There is no element which has entered 
into our composite national fabric that has 
been of more practical strength, value and 
utilit}' than that furnished by the sturdy, 
persevering- and \vm\ irable sijns of Germany, 
and in the progress of our Union this ele- 
n''ent has played an important part. In- 
tensely practical and ever having a clear 
ciimprehension of the ethics of life, the Ger- 
n\-m contingent has wielded a powerful in- 
tluence, and this service can not be held in 
light estimation by those who appreciate true 
civilization and true advancement. 

The subject of this review comes from 
stanch German sti.>ck and was born in Rhen- 



ish Bavaria, Germany, Julv i, 1848. His 
father, Jacob Ultes, was a native (jf the same 
locality and the Doctor had one brother and 
one sister, who are still living in Germany, 
these being Friederich, who is proprietor of 
a large printing establishment at Stuttgart; 
and Helen, who is living in Westphalia. 

Dr. Ultes of this review pursued his 
education in the primary schools of Heidel- 
berg, in Baden, later attending the medical 
department of the university at the same 
place. In the year of 1869 he bade adieu 
to the father land and sailed for the new 
world, having just reached his majority. In 
1873 he entered the medical department of 
the University of Michigan and was grad- 
uated in that institution in 1875 with, the 
degree oi Al. D. For six months thereafter 
he acted as assistant tO' Professor Frother- 
ingham, of Ann Arbor, who' held the chair 
of opthalmoloigy and otology, and on leaving 
that city he settled in Manchester, Michi- 
gan, where he continued in general prac- 
tice for three years. In 1877 he entered the 
Bellevue Medical Hospital Cbllege at New 
York city, in which he was graduated in 
March, 1878, again winning the degree of 
M. D. After his graduation he took a 
spring course in ophthalmology and otology 
under the direction of Professor Herman 
Knapp, of New York. He studied operative 
surgery with Professor Alexander Mott 
and physical diagnosis with Professor Ed- 
ward Janeway. In 187S he left that city 
and returned to Manchester. Michigan, but 
in September. of the same year again went 
to New York and continued his studies con- 
cerning the diseases of the eye and the ear 
under Professor Hennan Knapp. 

Subsequently Dr. Ultes again took up 
his residence in Michigan, this tin:e settling 
at Chelsea, where he remained until 1884 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in the successful practice of his profession 
and then went to Lansing, where lie re- 
mained an acti\e practitioner until xSqo. 
Tliat year witnessed his arrival in Spring- 
lield, Oiiio, and here he Ijegan practice, en- 
tering on what has proven a very successful 
career as a member of the medical fraternity 
i>f Clark county. He has a large general 
l)ractice but is also giving much attention to 
the specialties for which he prepared. He 
iias n.et with merited and creditable success 
in treating contagious diseases, especially 
diphtheria and spinal meningitis. He makes 
a s])ecialtv of the diseases of the heart, 
^ic-niacb. kidney ami intestines and has ef- 
fected some remarkable cures. His knowl- 
edge is broad and comprehensive and he is 
seldom at fault, not even in the slightest 
degree in diagiiosing a case. He is particu- 
larly ai)t in recognizing the remedial agency 
which will prove of the most value and his 
work has been of a most important and val- 
uable character to mankind. 

The Doctor was married in 1878 in 
Manchester, Michigan, to Miss Bertha Wer- 
licini. who was torn in Wisconsin and died 
in lyoi, at the age of forty-three years. 
She was a sister of Rev. Werheim of this 
city. By that marriage two sons were born. 
William P.. born in 1879, is a graduate of 
Wittenberg College and is now studying 
medicine in the University of Michigan. 
Carl, bom in 1881, is also a studait in \\'it- 
tenberg College and will graduate in 1903. 
He was graduated with honor in the public 
schools of this city and William is a gradu- 
ate of the Springfield School of Music. The 
1 )octor has s<xial qualities which endear him 
ti> many friends outside of the profession. 
He is known throughout this section of the 
st;ite as one of the most prominent ivembers 
of the profession hero and his opinions are 



brgely recognized as autliority on many 
subjects. In a profession where advance- 
ment depends uixju individual merit and 
ability he has steadily progressed and his 
prominence has come as the result of su- 
perior skill and .knowledge. 



CHARLES MATTLXSOX. 

Charles INlattinson, whose home is in 
Madison township. Clark count}-, three 
miles west of South Charleston, where he 
has two hundred acres of land, has resided 
here about nine years. He is one of Ohio's 
native sons, his birth having occurred near 
his i^resent home on the 25th of Xoveml)er. 
1844. His parents were Matthew and Mar- 
garet (Evans) Mattinson. The father was 
born in Westmoreland county, England, and 
was a son of Thomas Mattinson. whose wife 
died in England and who afterward came 
to America, bringing with liim his family, 
consisting of four sons and three daughters. 
He had some means, which he invested in 
Clark county land, purchasing four hun- 
dred acres, to which he added as his finan- 
cial resources increased until, at the time of 
his death, he was one of the extensive land 
owners of the county. He lived to be a very 
old man, reaching the ripe old age of ninety 
\ears. He always ren-ained true to the 
niemory of his wife. ne\er marrying a 
.second time. 

Matthew Mattinson had attained his ma- 
jority when he came with his father to the 
new world, but it was after his emigration 
that he was married. His wife was born in 
Wales and came to America with her niotli- 
er. her father having died in the old coun- 
tr\-. When ihev crossed the l)rin\- deep thev 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



185 



made their way to Ohio, settling in Clark 
county. Mr. Mattisoai inherited about two 
hundred acres of land from his father's es- 
tate, but he did not content himself with this 
]jroperty and through his well directed ef- 
forts and energy he coutinually added to 
his possessions until he had about one thou- 
sand acres of land. He engaged in general 
farming and cattle dealing, becoming- a rec- 
ognized leader of this branch of business 
activity in his section of Ohio. Unto him 
and his wife were born six children, all of 
whom are yet living, namely : Charles, of 
this review ; Ruth, who makes her home at 
South Charlest(_in ; Thomas, who resides 
near the old homestead; Alary, the wife of 
Darwin Pierce, who is living in Madison 
township; Evan, who married Minnie Wil- 
son and is living in Ford county, Illinois ; 
and iMinnie. also a resident of South 
Charleston. The father voted with the Re- 
publican party but the honors and emolu- 
lents of office had no attraction for him. He 
was reared in the Episcopalian church, but 
there was no organization of that denomina- 
tion near his home in Ohio and he was 
therefore not connected with any church 
after his removal here. 

Charles Mattinson spent his boyhood 
days on' the old home farm and in the win- 
ter months attended school, while in the 
snmmer season he workeil in fiekl and mead- 
ow early gaining practical experience that 
has proved of value to him in his later years. 
At the age of twenty years he responded to 
his country's call for men, enlisting in 
Company I, One Hundred and Forty-sixth 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private, for 
one hundred days' service. He was on duty 
in West Virginia, but the regiment was 
never under tire. In 1S66 he went toi Ford 
coimty, Illinois, and there purchased land 



• and carried on farming. He afterward 
went to Champaign county and condncted 
a farm for his father. 

While in the west Mr. Mattinson was 
married on the 24th of Xo\ember, 187S. to 
Miss Ida Drossel, who was born in She- 
lx)ygau county. Wisconsin, a, daughter of 
Martin and Christina ( Hyzer) Drossel, 
bcjth of whom are natives of Germany, the 
father 'boa-n in Hano'\-er and the mother in 
Leipsic, Saxouy. Both had about reached 
adult age when the}- came to America with 
their respective parents. \Miile cm the 
voyage they became acquainted. Tliey 
started from Gern^any in May and arrived 
in Xew- York on the 4th of July, following. 
The Drossel family settled in Fairfield 
county. Ohio-, and the mother's people in 
Sheboygan county, AX'isconsin. The two 
young people, who^ had formed an acquaint- 
ance on 'board the \'essel, kept up a corre- 
spondence and in due course of time were 
iKarried. The}- lived for a tin:e in Co'lum- 
bus. Ohio, where Mr. Drossel was employed 
as bookkeeper, and subsequently they re- 
mcned to Wisconsin, where he engaged in 
business on his own account. He died in 
that state when Airs. Alattinson was quite 
}-oung. Her mother afterwards n:arried 
again, becoming the wife of August Zim- 
ball, and they are now li\-ing in Sheboygan, 
Wisconsin. Mrs. Alattinson was born Au- 
gust 8, 1857, ^"<^1 t)y '1^'' marriage she has 
become the m.other of three children, Minnie 
and Esther, who were born in Champaign 
county, Illinois ; and Lee. who was born on 
the farm in Ohio, \a here oiu" subject now re- 
sides. 

Mr. Mattinson continued to make his 
home in Illinois until 1893. \vhen he returned 
to Ohio and began farming on the place 
where he yet lives. He has a good tract of 



[86 



JHE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



land here ami in the cultivation of tlie fields 
is meeting with good success, annually gar- 
nering rich harvests, which retur^i to him a 
good income. In politics he is a Republican 
and he belongs to ^^IcMillan Post, G. A. R. 
While residing in Illinois he was a memljer 
of tlie Independent Order of Odd Fellows 
Lodge at Fisher and of the Knights of Pyth- 
ias Lodge there, but has not continued his 
connection with these organizations. In his 
farm work he is progressive and practical 
and the neat and thrifty appearance of his 
place indicates his careful supervision. 



BEX'JAMIX F. KEIFER. 

Benjamin Franklin Keifer is one of the 
early settlers of Clark county, Ohio. His 
parents were Joseph and Mary (Smitli) 
Keifer. The father came to this county in 
the year 1812 and settled in Bethel town- 
ship, near Tecumseh Park, where he en- 
gaged in farming. In 181 5 he was united 
in marriage to ]Mary Smith and they be- 
came the parents of fourteen children, three 
of whom are now living, namel}- : Sarah, 
of I,ogan county, Ohio, who married Lewis 
James, and after his death married Richard 
Youngman. who has also passed away; 
Benjamin F.. of this review: and Joseph 
Warren, a distinguished citizen of Spring- 
fielfl, whose sketch appears on another page 
of this volume. 

Benjamin Franklin Keifer. of this re- 
view, was born upon his father's farm in 
i8ji and was reared amid the wild scenes 
of pioneer life. All an mud stretched the 
green forests, the trees having been uncut 
and the land uncleared for purposes of civ- 
ilization. Everything was wild and unim- 



proved and the work of progress was large- 
ly \et to be performed by the pioneer set- 
tlers. 'Sir. Keifer, of this review, pursued 
his education in a log schoolhouse such as 
was common at that time. There was little 
instruction given beyond that of writing, 
reading and arithmetic. His training at 
farm labor, however, was not limited, for, 
from the time of early spring planting until 
late in the fall, he worked in the fields, do- 
ing his part in the farm work. He was thus 
engaged imtil he purchased a farm of his 
own. On the 12th day of September, 1854, 
he bought the land upon which he now re- 
sides, becoming the owner of one hundred 
acres six miles from Springfield on the Fair- 
field road. To this he has since added, 
liowever. until he is now the (jwner of a 
very valuable tract of two hundred and 
ninety acres of land. Here he is now en- 
gaged in general farming and he keeps on 
hand about forty head of stock. 

'\\v. Keifer was married in 1846 to Eme- 
line F. Henkle, a daughter of Silas H'en- 
kle. one of the old settlers of Springfield, 
coming to Clark county from Virginia. Six 
children have been born of this union : Cy- 
rus H.. at home; Joseph, deceased; Mary 
and Frank Irwin, at home: ^Montgomery, 
wjio has passed away; and Benjamin \\'., 
who married Ethel Christ, a daughter of 
-Martin Christ, of Mad River township. 
They h.ave one child, A\'ilbur. 

Mr. Keifer is a member of the Methodist 
church and has lived an upright, honorable 
life in consistent harmony with his profes- 
sions. 'He has now passed the eightieth 
milestone on life's journey, but is yet a hale 
and hearty old man and gives his personal 
supervision to the management of his farm. 
He is, indeed, a worthy representative of an 
honored pioneer family, the name of Keifer 




^m 



BENJAMIN F. KEIFER. 



} 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



89^ 



having- long been associated witli the work 
of progress, development and improvement 
here. 



THE JOHN PERRIN FAMILY. 

No history of Clark county would be 
complete without mention of the John Per- 
rin. family, one of the oldest of this por- 
tion of the state, its representatives having 
been identified with the growth and upbuild- 
ing and with the agricultural, intellectual 
and moral welfare of the city and county 
from 1806 down to the present time. The 
(lays of chivalry and knighthood in Europe 
can not furnish more interesting tales than 
our own pioneer history. Into the wild re- 
gions of the unexplored west went brave 
men whose courage was ofteu called forth 
ni>t only to meet the conditions of the land 
as yet unculti\-ated and of the forests un- 
cut, but also to meet the hostile savages. The 
land was rich in all natural resources and 
sim]ily awaited the demands of the white 
race to yield up its treasures ; but the moun- 
tains separated Ohio from the older east; 
its forests were difificult to penetrate, so 
densely grew the magnificent trees. The 
establishment of homes in this beautiful re- 
gion therefore meant sacrifices and liard- 
ships, but there were some men lirave 
enough to undertake the task of reclaiming 
tlie district for purposes of civilization and 
tn make this one of the productive sections 
of the country. Taking an active part in 
this work the representatives of the Perrin 
family therefore interwo\'e their name in- 
separabU- with the history of this region. 

The Perrin family is doubtless of French 
origin, although the immediate ancestors of 
John Perrin, the first of the name in Ohio, 



came from England. It is supposed that 
those who lived in France were driven out 
of that country at the time of the Catholic 
persecution ; that they came to America and 
eventually returned to the old world, but 
did not again go tO' their native land, locat- 
in.,g, instead, in England, whence at an early 
day representati\-es of the name sailed for 
the new world and the family was then es- 
tablished in ]\Iar}'land, where they purchased 
land in 1740. 

John Perrin, the first to locate in Clark 
county, Ohio, was born in Washington 
county, ]Maryland, November 12, 1778, and 
there married Amelia Ingram, who was 
born in the same county September 26, 
1778. He was a son of Joseph and Rachel 
Perrin, who lie side by side in an old bury- 
ing ground in Hagerstown, Washington 
county, Maryland. 

In 1804 he made a trip to the west, go- 
ing as far as Fort Wayne, Indiana, and at 
that time he returned to jNIaryland, and it 
was not until 1806 that he took up his 
permanent abode in Clark county, bringing 
his family to this new and wild region.. 
They journeyed to what is now the beautiful 
site of Springfield, Ohio, and settled on: 
section 3, in Springfield township, Mr. Per- 
rin purchasing the entire section. For miles 
around them stretched the dense forests ; the 
uncultivated tracts of valley land. The work 
of progress and improvement seemed scarce- 
ly begun, and it remained to such brave meiii 
and women, as those of the Perrin family, 
to establish homes here upon the frontier 
and utilize the natural recources, thus re- 
claiming the land and making it one of the 
most attractive sections of this great com- 
monwealth. 

The family of John and Amelia In- 
gram Perrin consisted of six children : 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Edward, Joseph. Jolin. William. Minerva 
and Emery. The first child. Edward, was 
horn in Maryland, and the others were add- 
ed to the family after the removal of tlie 
parents to Ohio. 

When John Perrin purcliased his sec- 
tion of land in Springfield township, there 
had been only a small clearing made, but 
by incessant effort and unremitting industry 
he cleared a large portion of this tract and 
placed it under cultivation, so that the fields 
returned to him good crops. He also added 
to his real estate holdings until at his death 
he owned more than twelve hundred acres 
of land. He continued the work of culti- 
vating his land until his death, which oc- 
curred December i6, 1848. He survived 
his wife only a short period, for she had died 
on- the 8th of June, 1847. Here upon the 
land which he had purchased was established 
a burial ground, called the Perrin cemetery, 
where John Perrin and his family were l)ur- 
ied and but few others outside of the family 
bave been laid to rest in this city of the 
dead. 

William Perrin, a son of John and 
Amelia (Ingram) Perrin. was born in the 
little log cabin, which was the family home 
in Springfield township, die date of his 
birth being January 22, 1815. He was reared 
upon a farm amid the wild .scenes of pioneer 
life, but while the early settlers were de- 
prived of some of the advantages of the 
older east, they also enjoved privileges and 
pleasures which were unknt>wn to the more 
thickly settled districts. He had little oi>- 
p:^rtunity to attend school, but he gained 
nuich knowledge in the school of experience. 
Throughout his entire life he followed the 
ix-cupation of farming and his work was 
c :uinued in such a manner that he won 
.splendid sucess. He always followed pro- 



gressive methods of farming and every- 
thing about his place was neat and attrac- 
tive in appearance and indicated his care- 
ful supervision. He was married ^larcli 
25, i8.}.9, to ^liss Dorothy Sturgeon, a 
daughter of Jeremiah and Phoelje ( .\n- 
drews) Sturgeon, both of whom were na- 
tives of the north of Ireland, and were of 
Scotch descent. Mrs. Perrin was also l)orn 
on the Emerald Isle and came to America 
w hen she was about twenty years of age. By 
her marriage she became the mother of but 
one child, John E. Perrin. She was a \ery 
devoted Christian woman, who held mem- 
bership in the United Presbyterian church, 
and her religious faith permeated her en- 
tire life. In harmony with her "belief she 
was kind and helpful to friends and neigh- 
l)ors. loving and devoted to her family and 
at all times strictly adhered to the rule cf 
upright conduct. 

]\Ir. and .Mrs. Perrin lived in the little 
cabin in which he was born until 1849. when 
they removed into the home where he died. 
ha\ing erected a good brick residence, which 
was one of the fine homes of the county, 
and one of the largest brick structures 
erected here. William Perrin was the own- 
er of five hundred acres of land at the time 
of his death and his farming interests were 
capably contlucted. bringing to him a satis- 
factory financial return. As a citizen he 
was public spirited and progressive, and gave 
a generous co-operation to all movements 
and nieasures which he believed would prove 
of good to the majority of the people in his 
district. He became a supporter of the Re- 
publican party upon its organization and 
when the country became involved in Civil 
war. he stood as one of the stanch advocates 
of the Union cause. He was one of the 
well knnwn citizens of the countv, honest 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and upright in all his dealings with his fel- 
low men, an obliging neighbor and a man 
of domestic tastes, who found his greatest 
happiness in providing for his family. All 
who knew him. respected him for his gen- 
uine worth, and when called to the home 
beyond, both he and his wife were deeply 
mourned by many who had known them. 
jNlrs. Perrin died on the 27th of October, 
1878, and Mr. Perrin departed this life 
March 30, 1890, being laid to rest in Fern- 
cliff cemetery. 

John E. Perrin, their only son, and a 
grandson of John Perrin who foimded the 
family in Clark county, was born in Spring- 
field October 4, 1850. He always lived upon 
the old home farm in a brick bowse, which 
was one of the first of the kind built in 
Spi-ingfiekl township. Although erected 
many years ago, it has been remodeled and 
is a fine, large, modern home. John E. Per- 
rin obtained his early education in the dis- 
trict schools and later supplemented his 
knowledge gained in boyhood, by a course 
of study in a commercial college in Spring- 
held, Ohio, whereby he was well eirpipped 
for the practical and responsible duties of 
life. His natural taste and his early train- 
. ing led him to adopt the life of an agricul- 
turist, and his occupation was ever that of 
a farmer. He ranked, however, among the 
best. He was quick to utilize any new idea 
of machiaery that would facilitate his work 
or make it of greater value; he used the 
latest improved machinery and he always 
kept e\-erything about his place in good re- 
pair. He planted the grains best adapted 
to the soil and climate, and his fields annu- 
ally returned to him golden harvests. His 
business methods were above su.spicion or 
reproach; he was honorable and reliable in 
all his dealings: and no man ha<l au;dit to 



say against him. He was without ostenta- 
ticm or displa}-, yet liis genuine worth of 
character commanded for him the high re- 
gard of all with whom he came in contact. 
Through his business interests he accumu- 
lated a handsome fortune, which was in- 
dicative of his life of industry and useful- 
ness. His death occurred July 2, 1902, and 
he was laid to rest in Fernclifif cemetery. 
He was a life-long Mason, very prominent 
in the fraternity, and in his life he exempli- 
fied its beneficent teachings. He enjoyed 
the highest esteem of his brethren of the 
order and when he was called to rest, on the 
2d of July, 1902, his remains were interred 
with Masonic honors. 

This, in brief, is the hist(jry of a fam- 
ily which has through almost a century been 
a prominent one in Clark county. Its mem- 
bers have ever commanded the warm re- 
gard of a large number of friends and at 
the same time their efforts have been of ma- 
terial benefit in promoting the progress and 
improvement of this portion of the state. 



TOHX PERRIX. 



The members of the Perrin family have 
ever been w^orthy of respect and regard, and 
John Perrin possessed a character that com- 
manded the esteem and good will of all 
with whom he came in contact and for many 
years was classed among the valued and rep- 
resentative citizens of his community. He 
was born in Springfield township. Clark 
county, April 15, 1812, on the farm now oc- 
cupied by his fainily, and was a son of John 
Perrin, whose sketch Ls given above. He 
\\-as reared upon the home farm, pursuing 
his education in a log schoolhouse, and he 
remained with his parents until their death, 



JHE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



when he inherited the old homestead. He 
continued to reside upon tliat place unti' 
liis deatii. which occurred June 27, 1888. 
In the meantime he had erected a tine l)rick 
residence, had built good outbuildings and 
liad greatly improved his farm, making it 
one of the valued and attractive country, 
seats of the locality. His birth occurred in 
a log house which stood upon the site of the 
present home of the family. Tiie latter was 
erected in 1870 and is the fourth house 
which had occupied the same site on the 
Perrin farm. The Pcrrin homestead com- 
prised twelve hundred acres of land, owned 
by his father, John Perrin. The first house 
built here v,as of rough logs and after a 
time it was replaced by a more substantial 
and comfortable residence, built of hewed 
logs. The third house was built of brick. 
In 1870 John Pcrrin, of this review, remod- 
eled the building and improved it as we see 
it to-day. At the time of his death he owned 
over si.\ hundred acres of land. He wTis a 
representative and energetic farmer, and 
everything about the place was kept in good 
condition. He used the latest improved 
machinery in operating his land and was 
untiring in his work, so that he was enabled 
to provide his family with a good living. 

On the 9th of March, 1853, ^I''- Perrin 
w^TS united in marriage to ^liss Mary Dunn 
Roush, who was born in Berkeley county. 
West Virginia, on the 2(1 of February, 1825, 
her parents being Martin and Margaret 
(Patton) Roush. Her paternal grandpar- 
ents were natives of Germany and on lea\- 
ing that country crossed the Atlantic to 
America. The grandfather was quite well- 
to-do and became the owner of a goocf plan- 
tation and n number of slaves in \'irginia. 
It is thought that Martin Roush was bom 
at the old familv home in that state. He. 



to:j, was a ])lanter and slave-holder, and he 
continued to conduct his plantation until 
1847, when he sold out and came to Ohio, 
residing in Madison county for alwut twelve 
months. On the expiration of that period 
he removed to Springfield, purchasing a 
fami near the town, now known as the 
Slaughter farm. Upon that property he 
spent his remaining days, passing away in 
1877, when eighty-six years of age. His 
wife, who bore the maiden name of Mar- 
garet Patton, was born in Greencastle, 
Franklin county, Pennsylvania. She, too, 
passed away and was laid to rest by the side 
of her husband in F'erncliff cemetery. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. John Perrin were 
Iiorn seven children : ^largaret Amelia ; 
Ellen Nora, the wife of Dr. James E. Stu- 
debaker, a resident' of Springfield: John 
Martin; Mary Belle: Ida Lavina, who died 
Xovember 28, 1897, and was buried in 
Ferncliff cemetery; ilinerva Cooper: and 
Catherine McKee, who died December 23. 
1864, at the age of seven years and five 
months. Mr. Perrin, the father, was in- 
rerretl "in the old family cemetery, \\ ithin 
two hundred yards of where he was born, 
but on the lith of October, 1898, his re- 
mains were removed to Ferncliff cemetery. 
While he led a quiet life, his attention be- 
ing given to his farm, he was a man who 
p(jssessed many sterling traits of character. 
He was prompt and honest in all of his bus- 
iness dealings, was energetic in carying on 
his work, was true to his duties of citizen- 
ship and devoted to his family. 



JOSEPH INGRAM PERRIN. 
The Perrin family has been so clo.^^ely 
and prominently connected with the history 
of Clark county and its dexelopment that its. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



193 



members well deserve specific mention in 
tills \-(jlume and we are glad to- present to 
our readers tlie life record of Joseph Ingram 
Perrin, wliose circle of friends was almost 
co-extensive with the circle of his accinaint- 
ances. He was born on the old Perrin 
homestead in 1813, a son of John and 
Anielia Perrin. A complete history of the 
family is given on another page of this 
work. During his boyhood days Joseph 
I. Perrin remained at home and assisted his 
father in the work of the farm. He early 
learned what it was to care for the stock and 
culti\ate the fields and his early experience 
enabled him to successfully carry on farm 
work for himself in later years. He contin- 
ued under the parental roof until his mar- 
riage. He wedded INIiss Elizabeth Abigail 
Bailey, a nati\'e of New Hampshire, and 
thev became the parents of two children, of 
whom one died in infancy, the other being- 
Emily Amanda, who is the wife of John E. 
Driscoll, a native of Springfield, and a son 
of Elias Driscoll, a member of an old pioneer 
family. After the death of his first wife 
Mr. Perrin married Eliza Jane Hamilton, 
who is yet living, an'd they had one child, 
Jo.seph Ingram, Jr., who now resides in 
Springfield township. 

After his first marriage Mr. Perrin re- 
moved to a farm not far from the old home- 
stead and there spent his remaining days. 
He was a sitccessful agriculturist in every 
sense of the term. He knew how best to 
manage his property so that it would yield 
to him good returns and from his fields be 
ap.nually gathered rich harvests. H'is stock 
dealing was also a profitable source of in- 
come to him and whatever he undertook he 
carried forward to successful completion. 
He owned about three hundred and fifty 
acres of land, but part of this has since been 



subdi\'i(led into city lots and forms what 
is kno\\n as the Melrose addition to Spring- 
field. In Iiis political views he was a Re- 
publican, and voted conscientiously because 
he believed in the principles of the party. 
Howe\^er, he never sought office, but was 
content to give his time and attention to his 
business affairs in order that he might pro- 
vide well for his family. His death oc- 
curred December 30, 1865, and he was bur- 
ied in the Perrin cemetery, but after a pe- 
riod of thirty-seven years his remains were 
rcmo\-ed to Fernclifif cemetery, September 
18, 1902. 

His surviving daughter, Emily ^Amanda, 
became, as above stated, the wife of John 
E. Driscoll. Mr. Driscoll was educated in 
Springfield and learned the trade of a car- 
riage trimmer, but after bis marriage he 
suffered greatly from ill health, which pre- 
vented him from continuing work along his 
chosen line. Accordingly he removed to the 
farm belonging to his affianced wife's father 
and throughout his remaining days he car- 
ried on agricultural pursuits, finding in the 
outdoor life of field and meadow much that 
pro\-ed to him beneficial in restoring his 
health. He was a successful agriculturist, 
car}-ing on his work with skill, energy and 
determination. 

I'nto Mr. and Mrs. Driscoll were born 
■en children, of whom two died in infancy, 
while eight are yet living, namely: Julia, 
the wife of Albert Rebert. Edward E., 
who married Grace Swonger, and lives with 
his mother upon the home farm, which he 
operates. By his marriage he has four chil- 
dren — Harry, Nora, Clara and Helen. Nan- 
cy is the wife of Joseph McDonnell, and 
they have one child, Mary. John married 
Miss Izora Hedrick and with their daugh- 
ter, Nellie, thev reside in De Graff, Ohio. 



194 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Elisha married Miss Carrie Long and tliey 
liave two children, Lamar and an infant 
not named. Emma, Catherine and Rachel 
are all at home. With the exception of 
John, all the children reside in Clark coun- 
ty. The father of this family died July 15, 
1895, and was buried in Ferncliff cemetery, 
and since his death his widow, by the aid 
of her children, has carried on the home 
farm. Mr. Driscoll was a man who made 
friends wherever he went, because he was 
honest, true and faithful. Those qualities 
characterized his citizenship as well as his 
business relations and his private life, and 
when he was called to his final rest many 
friends, as well as his immediate family, 
mourned his loss. Mrs. Driscoll and her 
children have a wide acquaintance in the 
community and are highly esteemed for 
their arenuine worth. 



JAMES HATFIELD. 

.\ record of those agriculturists who 
have promoted the improvement and devel- 
opment of Clark county, causing the fields 
to yield abundantly for their well directed 
efforts, must necessarily include the name 
of James Hatfield, who is successfully en- 
gaged in farming and stock raising and the 
breeding of Poland-China hogs, in Green 
township. Mr. Hatfield was born in Spring- 
field township April 12, 1844, '"i^' '^ 'i ^'^'i 
of James and Margaret (Kitchen) Hatfield. 
The father was born in 1803 and came to 
(lark county with his parents, Nathaniel 
and Xancy (Judy) Hatfield, in 1808. when 
he was alxiut fwt years of age. The grand- 
parents were among the first settlers of 
Clark county, having taken uj) iheir abode 



about one and one-half miles northeast of 
Pitchin. in Springfield township, where Na- 
thaniel Hatfield became the owner of three 
or four hundred acres of land. He was not 
an old man at the t,ime of his death, his de- 
mise being caused by milk sickness. James 
Hatfield, the father of the subject of 
this review, was also called to his final rest 
at a comparatively early age, dying when 
his son James was but eleven years of age. 
The mother was a native of Pennsylvania 
and had come to Clark county, Ohio, with 
her parents when a girl. By her marriage 
she became the mother of fourteen children, 
of whom the subject of this record is the 
. tenth in order of birth. Of these, eleven 
grew to maturity, but only four are yet 
living. 

At the time of the death of his fatlier, 
Mr. Hatfield, whose name introduces this 
review, was bound out to a brother-in-law, 
to remain with him until eighteen years of 
age. He performed such labor in repayment 
for his board and clothing as he was able, 
attending school during four months in win- 
ter, but at the age of fifteen he began to 
work by the month for himself. For one 
year he continued in this way and, at the age 
of sixteen, went to Hillsdale. Michigan, 
where he attended Hillsdale College for 
two. years. About this time the Civil war 
was inaugurated and. roused by a spirit of 
patriotism and the desire to serve his coun- 
try in her time of need, he returned home 
and enlisted, in the spring of 1862. as a pri- 
vate, under Howard D. Johns, in Company 
B, Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. 
He was stationed at Camp Chase, thence go- 
ing to Clarksljurg, West Virginia, remain- 
ing there for about four months. His en- 
listment had been for three months, and his 
term having therefore expired, he re-en- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



195 



listed as a member of Company D. Eighth 
Ohio Volunteer Cavah-y. With his regi- 
ment he -went to the Shenandoah valley and 
was with the gallant "Little Phil"' Sheridan 
m several engagements. At Beverly, Vir- 
ginia, he was captured, but regained his 
freedom in about- fifteen minutes. Having 
served his country faithfully and well, and 
his efiforts, combined with those of the other 
hra\-e boys in blue, had resulted in quelling 
the Rebellion, at the close of the war in 
1865, he was honorably discharged, and re- 
turned to his old home in Clark county. 

Before his enlistment he had taught 
school for a short time in Liberty township, 
Clark county. After remaining a short time 
in Clark county, in 1865, upon his return 
from service in the army, he went to Logan 
county, Illinois, and there engaged in teach- 
ing. There he also purchased one hundred 
and fifty acres of land, which at the present 
time is worth one hundred dollars per acre. 
He remained in Logan county for about 
< ine year, when he returned to Clark county. 
Ohio, and there, on the 12th of April, 1866, 
was united in marriage to Miss Harriet J. 
Stewart, a daughter of Captain Perry and 
Rlioda A. (Wheeler) Stewart. With his 
liride he returned to Logan county, Illinciis, 
but in 1867 sold his farm in that county and 
returned to Clark county, Ohio, and for a 
few years ' rented and then purchased one 
hundred and twenty-five acres of land, which 
forms part of his present farm. This pur- 
chase was made in 1872. He has placed his 
land under a high state of cultivation, hav- 
ing made all the improvements thereon, 
which are of the latest and most modern 
kind. The well tilled fields and neat and 
attractive appearance of the farm indicate 
the practical lousiness methods of the owner, 
who, in his varied experiences in life has 



witnessed many vicissitudes, but through 
them all his brave and indomitable spirit 
has conquered, and in his private life, as 
on the field of battle, he has turned many a 
threatened defeat into a glorious victory. 

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hatfield 
has been blessed with three children, as fol- 
lows : Charles Stewart, born in Logan 
county, Illinois, May 27. 1867, resides at 
home with his parents. Jessie R., born in 
Clark county, Ohio, also lived at home un- 
til she became the wife of Alonzo Strecher, 
a resident of Green township. They have 
two children — Edwin and Robert. Julia 
M. married Clarence Anderson, and also 
resides in Green, township. 

In his political aftiliations Mr. Hatfield 
is a Republican, having first cast his ballot 
for Abraham Lincoln in 1864 while in the 
army. His fellow citizens, recognizing his 
integrity, have called him to positions of 
public trust and he served at treasurer of 
Green township. In 1902 he canvassed the 
county for cotinty commissioner, and his 
popularity is shown by the fact that of six 
candidates he was the second highest. He 
and his wife are earnest and consistent 
members (if the High street Christian 
church, and in their quiet way perform many 
acts of kindliness and charity, thus doing 
what they can for the benefit of their fellow 
men. Mr. Hatfield is a charter member of 
James A. Elder Post, G. A. R., and has filled 
all the chairs connected therewith. He has 
attended most of the natiiinal reunions and 
attended the World's Fair in Chicago in 
1893. .Faithful in one thing — faithful in 
all : such is the record. As a bra^-e soldier 
and a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Hatfield 
has performed his duties well and faithfully, 
aiding his country in times of war, and in 
times of peace contributing- to the substan- 



196 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tial gniwtli of his community and state. His 
measure of prosperity has been meted to 
liiin witli -liberal hand, because he has never 
been sparing of his efforts for the welfare 
of his country. 



THOMAS C. ACKERSOX. 

J Tonored and respected by all, Thomas 
(\ .\ckerson occupied an enviable position 
in business circles not only on account of the 
success he achieved, but also because of his 
honorable, straightforward business policy 
which he ever followed. His success in his 
undertakings was so marked that his meth- 
ods were of interest to the commercial 
world, lie based his business principles 
and actions on strict adherence to the rules 
which govern industry, economy and strict, 
iins\\erving integrity, and although he had 
few achantages in early life, he steadily 
prcjgressed and commanded tlie respect and 
confidence of all with whom he was associ- 
ated. He served his country in the Civil 
war and was ever a loyal and patriotic citi- 
zen. He was also a faithful friend and one 
in whose career were many elements that are 
worthy of emulation. In his death the com- 
munity in which he lived lost one of its val- 
ued citizens. He l)elonged to that pul^lic- 
spirited class who, while advancing indi- 
vidual prosperity, also labor earnesth- for 
the general good. 

Air, .\ckerson was born June 5, 1829, in 
Alnnniouth county, Xew Jersey, his parents 
being John and Eliza ( Hay ward) Acker- 
son, wiio were also natives of that state. 
'The Ackerson family is of German lineage 
Mil the grandfather, 'i'lKmias Ackerson, 



came to America in colonial days and when 
the country resolved to throw off the yoke 
of oppression he joined the American arm\- 
and fought for the independence of the na- 
tion. The Hayward family is of English 
origin and was founded in this country by 
Abraham Hayward, the maternal grandfa- 
ther of our subject. John Ackerson was a 
stone mason, brick layer and builder, hav- 
ing mastered all of those trades during his 
residence in New Jersey. About 1S47 'i*^ 
removed to and became identified with the 
agricultural interests of Clark county, as a 
farmer of Springfield township. There he 
made his home until his death, which oc- 
, curred in 1853. His wife survived him for 
a number of years and was then called to her 
final rest. This worthy couple were the 
parents of eight children, five sons and three 
daughters. 

Thomas C. Ackerson, the fourth in or- 
der of ])irth, remained with his parents un- 
til he was eleven years of age and then went 
to live with his uncle. Dr. J. S. English, of 
Monmouth county. New Jersey. While 
there he attended school and assisted the 
Doctor until he was seventeen years of age, 
w hen he was apprenticed tf) learn the black- 
smith's trade. At the close of his term of 
service, during which time he accpiired a 
good knowledge of the business, he came to 
Ohio, locating in Harmony township, Clark 
county, where he established a shop and 
there coiulucted successfully a growing 
business for a period of seven years. He 
tlien came to Springfield and here en- 
tered into partnership with James Neily in 
the conduct of a smithy. Again his e.xcel- 
lent workmanship and honorable business 
methods won him a large patronage anil he 
continued business tmtil after the breaking 
out of the Civil war when, feeling that his 




THOS. C. ACKERSON. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



199 



first duty was to his country, he put aside 
all business and personal considerations, 
joining an independent company of light ar- 
tillfery, which was assigned to the Sixteenth 
Ohio Regiment, and with that command he 
went to St. Louis, Missouri, wdiere he 
joined the troops under General Fremont. 
Three months later he was made wagon- 
master of the train and later was appointed 
fjuartermaster of the battery, acting contin- 
uously in that capacity until he was mustered 
out at Columbus, Ohio, on the expiration of 
his three years' term of service, in 1864. 

At the close of his army life, Thomas C. 
Ackerson returned to Springfield, Ohio, and 
then went to his native state of New Jersey, 
where he remained for three }'ears. devoting 
his energies to farming. On the expiration 
of that period he again came to Springfield, 
where he entered into business with his 
brother, David Ackerson, with whom he 
was associated for a time, when David sold 
out to their younger brother, E. H. Acker- 
son, and the business was continued under 
the' firm name of T. C. and E. HO. Ackerson. 
Almost from the beginning this firm en- 
joyed a very liberal patronage, doing an ex- 
tensive business in slate roofing materials. 
Their trade constantly grew in volume and 
importance and their sales became exten- 
si\e, shipments being made to various places. 
They furnished employment to a large num- 
ber of workmen and in business relations 
they sustained an unassailable reputation. 
Mr. Ackerson, was watchful of all the de- 
tails of his business and of all indications 
pointing toward prosperity, and from the 
beginning had an abiding faitli in the ulti- 
mate success of his enterprise. He possessed 
untiring energy, formed his plans readily 
and executed them with precision and deter- 



mination. His close application to business 
and his excellent management brought to 
him a high degree of prosperity which he 
enjoyed. 

In 1872 Mr. Ackerson was united in 
marriage tc? Miss M. Jennie Hluffman, a 
daughter of Lewis C. and Eliza Huffman. 
They became the parents of two children — 
Lydia H., the wife of Charles R. Ried. of 
Springfield, by whom she has one child. 
Thomas; and Bessie H., who resides with 
her mother. Fond of his home and his 
family, Mr. Ackerson took great delight in 
ministering to the happiness of his wife and 
children and he counted no personal sacri- 
fice on his part too great if it would enhance 
the welfare of those dear to him. 

He was a member of the High Street 
Methodist Episcopal church. Li his politi- 
cal \iews Mr. Ackerson was a stanch Re- 
publican, but the honors and en:oluments of 
office had no attraction for him, as he pre- 
ferred to give his attention to his business 
pursuits. He was a member of Mitchell 
Post, No. 45, G. A. R.. and enjoyed the es- 
teem of his old army comrades. He died 
May 23, 1896, and was laid to rest in Fern- 
cliff cemetery. Starting out in life for 
himself at an eaidy age, dependent entirely 
upon his own resources, he steadil}' worked 
his way upward. In thought and action he 
was always independent, carrying out his 
honest views without fear orTavor. In pi'i- 
vate life he gained that warm personal re- 
gard which arises from true nobility of 
character, deference to the opinions of oth- 
ers, kindliness and geniality. Thus, hon- 
est and honored in business, faithful in 
friendship and loyal to home ties, Thomas 
C. Ackerson commanded the respect of all 
with whom he was associated. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ADDISOX HAGAN. 

Addison Hagan is a well known resident 
of Mad River township, Clark county. His 
father, James Hagan, was born in Lancas- 
ter, Pennsylvania, and at an early day came 
to Clark county, Ohio. He wedded Cath- 
erine Kimball, also a native of the Keystone 
state, and they became the parents of the 
following children: John, who married 
Caroline Benjamin, was a well known ed- 
ucator of Springfield for many years, but 
at the time of his death was an attorney 
of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he passed away 
July f). 1873; Louisa is living on the home 
farm with our subject; Julia is deceased; 
]\iargaret married James Robinson and died 
August 20, 1862, leaving one child; Susan 
died March 18, 1892; Sally is the wife of 
l-'r.-iiik l'"ryant. who resides upon a farm 
near the old homestead; and Kate and Ad- 
dison, of this review, are yet living on tire 
old home place. The father of this family 
was (|uite active in politics and was a lead- 
ing and. inllnential citizen of his community. 
He sewed as township clerk for many years 
and was also a candidate on the Democratic 
ticket for the legislature. For twenty-five 
years he was engaged in teaching school 
and his devotion to the general good was 
cordially acknowledged. He died February 
4, 1874. and his wife departed this life April 
2, 1856. 

Air. Hagan. of this review, has always 
resided upon the old home farm, where he 
was born on the 24th of July, 1847. In his 
youth he attended the district schools of his 
neighborhood and also assi.sted in the task 
of improving and cultivating the fields. This 
work he has since continued and since his 
father's death he has assumed the manage- 
ment of the farm, which c<insists of eightv- 



four acres, and on which he is living with 
his sisters, Louisa and Kate. In connection 
with the raising of grain best adapted to 
the .soil and climate lie is also engaged in 
the raising of stock to some extent. Every- 
thing about the place is neat, thrifty and at- 
tractive in appearance. In his political views 
Mr. Hagan is a Democrat, having always 
supported this party, but has never been an 
oftice seeker, i)referring to give his time and 
attention to his farm work. 



HEZEKIAH KERSHXER. 

Hezekiah Kershner has been a resident 
of Clark county since 1828 and since 1848 
has !i\ed on the street where he yet makes 
his home, although when he took up his 
abode here his house was practically situated 
in the midst of a cornfield. The growth 
of the city, howevef, has included that 
place within its limits, and with the public 
progress and imjirovement Mr. Kershner 
has been identified. .\ native of Ilagers- 
town, Maryland, he was born October 24, 
1826, and is a son of Jacob Kershner, also 
a native of Maryland, who served in the 
war of 1812. By trade he was a blacksmith 
and in the year 1828 he brought his family 
to Clark county. In 1806, however, he 
had \isited this county and had purchased 
government land three miles south of the 
present site of Springfield. He became the 
owner of six hundred and forty acres, which 
was purchased at the usual government 
price, but when he removed to the county he 
sold one-half of this to his brother, Alartin. 
As the year passed he carried on agricu- 
cultural pursuits. He saw many changes in 
the growth and develoi)ment of the coun- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ty as it emerged from the wilderness to a 
po]nilons residence district, replete with all 
the advantages of the east, with all of its 
improvements and its comforts. He was al- 
way an industrious man, energetic and dili- 
gent, and thus in his business affairs he 
prospered. He was also a well educated 
man of his da}-, was a fine penman and read 
extensively. He voted with the Democracy, 
but in anti-bellum days was an Abolitionist, 
his home being near the famed underground 
railroad, and by this road many a slave was 
aidetl northward on his way to freedom. 
In religious faith Mr. Kershner was a Pres- 
byterian. He was twice married and by 
his first uniou he had three sons : Isaac, 
^^'illiam and Jacob, who carried on the 
farm work, while the father followed his 
trade, but all are now deceased. A daugh- 
ter, Mary, died when about twenty-two years 
of age. For his second wife Mr. Kershner 
chose Catherine Kline, and like her husband, 
she was of German lineage. She was a wid- 
ow, having been pre\-Ious!y married, and by 
her first union there were ])orn three chil- 
dren : Henry Albert, who is married and 
lives with his children in Illinois; Mary Al- 
bert, who became the wife of Mr. Lehman, 
and died in Illinois; and Catherine Albert, 
the widow of Henry Starrett, who was a 
shoemaker by trade and was an early settler 
of Springfield, his birth having occurred in 
Champaign county, Ohio. Mrs. Starrett 
noiw resides in Springfield at the age of 
eighty-two years. By the second marriage 
of the parents of our subject five children 
were born, but two died in early childhood. 
The others are : Hezekiah, Philip and Le- 
onidas. The last named is a carpenter and 
is li\-ing in Penns_\lvania. Philip was also 
a car])enter and l^uilder and died in Detroit 
^Michigan." He raised a company for serv- 



ice in th.e Civil war, became its captain and 
wcut to the front with the Second Ohio 
Regiment. He afterward veteranized and 
remained \\\\h the army until the close of the 
war, taking part in numerous engagements 
until wounded and incapacitated for further 
duty. .\t the time of his re-enlistment he 
became colonel of his regiment and in this 
capacity served until, through his valor and 
meritorious service, he was promoted to the 
rank of director general. He was born and 
reared in Clark county and reached the age 
of sixty-five years. The father of our sub- 
ject died upon the home farm at the age 
of seventj^-six years, while his wife passed 
away at the age of seventy-three. ^Ir. 
Kershner, of this review, received a district 
school education in what is now the Possum 
schoolhouse. At that time the "temple of 
learning" was a log- building, seated with 
slab benches and the same kind of desks. 
After leaving school he worked upon the 
home farm for a time and in 1842 he went 
to Dayton, Ohio, where he apprenticed him- 
self to a brick contractor, there remaining 
for three vears, during which time he mas- 
tered the trade. He then came to Spring- 
field and worked for Mr. Trimmer, stone 
and brick contractor, with whom he re- 
mained for four months. In 1846 he began 
contracting on his own account on a small 
scale. He did his work well, was honorable 
in all business transactions and thus gradu- 
ally his patronage increased. He has erected 
many of the leading bltx:ks of the city, in- 
cluding the Ross shop, the Foos manufac- 
tory, the old Zimmerman block and many of 
the residences of Springfield. He is widely 
known as a mason contractor, having- gained 
a prominent position in building circles here, 
although at the present time he is living re- 
tired. ha\ing in 1898 put aside Iwsiness 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



cares. His home is at No. 167 West Pleas- 
ant street, where he has lived since i8j.8, 
having built a home at the corner of Cen- 
ter and Pleasant streets when this locality 
was surrounded by a cornfield. 

In 1849 ^fT- Kershner wedded Miss 
Eliza Johnson, who was l)orn in Ireland, 
in May, 1827, and is a daughter of James 
Johnson, who came to Springfield about 
]849. and a sister of James, Robert and 
Isaac Johnson. Four children have been 
born unto our subject and his wife, of whom 
one died in infancy and another, Jacob H., 
died at the age of nine years. Edwin Al- 
len, a carpenter, now in the employ of the 
Superior Drill Company, is married and has 
three children — Harry, Frederick and Rob- 
ert. Nanc\'. the daughter, is the wife of 
Robert Singer, a resident of Columbus. 

At the time of the Civil war Mr. Kersh- 
ner raised Company A, of the Ninety-fourth 
Ohio \'olunteer Infantry and enlisted in 
i^()2. He served for six months and then 
(jn account of ill health was obliged to re- 
sign. At that time he was first lieutenant 
of this company and he t(X)k part in the bat- 
tles of Perryville and a number of skirmish- 
es, being in an engagement three days after 
leaving Camp Pickaway. Mr. and Mrs. 
Kershner have for about fifty years been 
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
On the organization of St. Paul's church 
they transferred their membership to .that 
body. In politics he is a Democrat, save at 
local elections, when he supports the men 
best cpialified for office. He gives to his 
business his personal supervision and has 
always lived a quiet home life, caring not 
for political i)referment. .\s the years have 
passed his close attention to business, his en- 
terprise and his honorable methods, have 
been the means of bringing to him consider- 



able success, and with the handsome com- 
petence acquired from his own labors he is 
now living retired in the enjoyment of the 
fruits of his former toil. 



MARSH FIELD STEELE. 

In a history of those who have con- 
tributed to the upbuilding, improvement and 
commercial prosperity of Springfield men- 
tion should be made of Marshfield Steele, 
who, through an active business career 
proved a valued addition to commercial 
circles here, so that his death was deeply 
deplored by many who had come to enter- 
tain for him high regard by reason of his 
sterling worth, his prominence in trade cir- 
cles and his possession of those traits of 
character which draw man to man in ties of 
warm friendship. 

Mr. Steele was born in Caklwcll. New 
Jersey, August 27, 1822, a son of Marsh- 
field Smith and Mary (Carlock) Steele. By 
intermarriage of the Steele and Bradford 
families shortly after their settlement in 
America, he was a direct descendant of 
Governor William Bradford, who came 
over in the Mayflower, and therefore be- 
longed to one of the most prominent old 
Puritan families of New England. On the 
paternal side he traced his ancestry back to 
John Steele, who was born in Essex coun- 
ty, England, and became a resident of New 
England about 1631 or 1632, .settling at 
New Town, now Cambridge. Massachusetts, 
He afterward removed to Hartford, Con- 
necticut, becoming one of the first settlers 
of that place. His son, John Steele, Jr., 
wedded Mary Warner, and on the 15th of 
.March, \i)},2. there was liorn to them a son. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



203 



Samuel Steele, who married Mercy, daugh- 
ter of Major William Bradford. Their son, 
Eliphalet Steele, was born June it,, 1700, 
and married Catherine Marshfield. The 
next in direct descent was Josiah Steele, 
who was born in West Hartford, Connecti- 
cut, Februaiy 2^, 1724, and on the 2nd uf 
Decen:ber, 1753, married Elizabeth, daugh- 
ter of Rev. Benjamin Cnlton. Their son, 
Josiah Steele, Jr., was the grandfather of 
our subject and a cousin of Noah Webster. 
He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, Aug- 
ust 24, 1760, and was a student in Yale 
College at the time when the Revolutionary 
war was inaugurated, but ran away from 
school in order to enter the ami}- and fight 
for the cause of liberty. He enlisted in the 
First Connecticut Regiment and was soon 
commissioned sergeant. This commission, 
dated at West Point, August 4, 1780, is a 
valued possession of the family. He was 
married August 15, 1790, to Phoebe Smith, 
and died October 22, 1836. Marshfield S. 
Steele, the father of our subject, was born 
;\lay I, 1797. and on the 20th of March, 
1820, was united in marriage to Mary Car- 
lock. In 1848 he came to Ohio and after 
spending a short time in Dayton, located in 
Springfield, wliere he made his pemianent 
hom.e, becoming one of the prominent busi- 
ness men of the city. Here he died in 
1868, his remains l;eing- interred in Ferncliff 
cemetery. 

]\Jr. Steele, of this review, was educated 
in the schools of New Jersey and New York 
and lived in those states until 1846, when 
he made his way westward to Urbana, 
Ohio, where he engaged in teaching for one 
year. He then returned to his native state, 
but again came Xo' Ohio in 1848, accompan- 
ied by his father and mother. They all lo- 
cated in Dayton, but in 1848 or 1849 '^'-"' 



subject became a factor in the business life 
of Springfield, and until the time of his 
death his efforts returned to him not only 
creditable success, but also contributed to 
liie general prosperity of the city. He was 
engaged in the wholesale tobacco business 
for a number of years and was also^ identified 
with the conduct of a foundry. He was en- 
gaged in the manufacture of radiators un- 
der the firm name of M> Steele & Company, 
which was later incorporated as the M. 
Steele Company, Mr. Steele being its pres- 
ident. He constructed the first cable for 
the New York city cable cars. He also 
owned a large sugar plantation in Louisi- 
ana, and was a stockholder in the Baton 
I-iouge Sugar Refinery Company, of Baton 
Rouge, up- to the time of his death. His 
lousiness interests were of a varied nature, 
but all where successfully controlled, the 
business judgment of Mr. Steele being sound 
and practical. He carefully reviewed the 
possibilities of a business situation and his 
conclusions regarding such were usually ex- 
ceptionally correct, the wisdom of his opin- 
ions and his advice being demonstrated Iw 
the splendid success which attended his ef- 
forts. 

In 1853 occurred the marriage of Mr. 
Steele and Aliss Martha Lehman, a daughter 
of Jonathan and Mary C. (Cannon) Leh- 
man. Her father was a native of Frederick- 
town, Alaryland, and c:i..ie to Ohio when 
only four years of age with his father, Da- 
vid Lehman, who emigrated westward in 
1805 and settled near Dayton, where the 
family always lived. Jonathan Lehman 
learned the trade of wagon-making and 
when a young man came to Springfield, af- 
ter which he was identified with the indus- 
trial interests of this city. His wife came 
frrim Marvland to \isit her sister, \\'ho re- 



204 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sided in Springfield, and here she formed 
the acquaintance of Jonathan Lehman, who 
souglit and won her hand in marriage. Af- 
ter following tlie business of wagon-making 
for a few years, Mr. Lehman turned his at- 
tention to the Inmlier trade and later became 
an extensive manufacturer of linseed oil. 
He made judicious investments in property 
and thus accumulated considerable real es- 
tate. For fifty years he was an elder in the 
Presbyterian church, and although his busi- 
ness interests were extensive and important, 
he yet found time to devote to church and 
kindred work, and his influence was strong- 
Is- felt in the moral development of the com- 
nnmity. Both he and his wife have now 
passed away, i)ut their memory is still en- 
shrined in the hearts of many who knew 
them. 

L'nto Air. and Mrs. Steele were Ixnn 
seven chiklren : Charles L. ; Mary, the wife 
of E. D. Plaisted; Elizabeth, the wife of 
Frank Webb; George M. ; Anna B., the wife 
of H. H. Cowherd; Martha, who married 
W. \\". Keifer: and Helen A., wife of A. 
.\. Ridder. The family is oneof pron:inence 
in the comnuuiity. Here the children were 
reared and have lived to take a leading part 
in the social and business life of the city. 

In politics Mr. Steele was a stanch Re- 
puljlican and his influence and aid were giv- 
en to the party which he believed would best 
conserve the nation's welfare, although he 
never sought or desired public office. In 
early life he became a member of the Afa- 
sonic- fraternity and he was a devoted mem- 
lier of the Second Presbyterian church, of 
Springliekl. Through the years of a success- 
ful business career he providently provided 
for his family, jjlacing considerable money 
in that safest of all investments — real es- 
tate--:md thus his wife and children have a 



good income from his estate. He passed 
away June 13, 1898, and was laid to rest in 
Ijeautiful I'-ernclifif cemetery. His life rec- 
ord e.xceetled the Psalmist's span of three 
score years and ten, for he reached the age 
of se\enty-six. He had long been a resi- 
dent of Springfield — -a citizen of worth, in- 
terested in public progress and adxancaiient 
and contributing of his time and means for 
the general good. He was a man of domes- 
tic taste, whose greatest happiness centered 
in his family, to whom he was a devoted 
husband and father, carefully rearing his 
children in accordance with ])rinciples that 
develop good character, and winning their 
confidence, respect and love l)y devoted 
kindness, while the companionship of hus- 
liand and wife deepened and broadened as 
the years went by. Such a record influaices 
individuals and. leaving its impress upon 
])nblic progress, well deserves perpetuation 
in this \olume. 



CHARLES A. JUERGEXS, M. D. 

The world instinctively pays deference to 
the man whose success has been worthily 
achieved, who has attained wealth by hon- 
orable business methods, acquired the highest 
reputation in his chosen calling by merit, and 
whose social prominence is not the less the 
result of an irrqiroachable life than of rec- 
ognized natural gifts. \\'e pay the highest 
tribute to the heroes who t.m bloody battle 
fields win victories and display a valor that 
is the admiration. of the world. Why should 
the tribute be withheld from those who wage 
the blomlless battles of civil life, who are 
conquerors in the world of business? Great- 
er than in almost anv other line of work is 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



205 



the responsibility which rests upon the phy- 
sician. The issues of Hfe and death are in 
his hand. A false prescription, an unskilled 
operation, may take from man that which 
he prizes above all else — life. The physi- 
cian's power must be his own. Xot by pur- 
chase, by gift or by influence can he g-ain it. 
He must commence at the very beginning, 
learn the rudiments of medicine and surgery, 
continually add to his knowledge by close 
study and application, and gain reputation 
b}- merit. If he would gain the highest 
prominence it must come as the result of 
superior skill, knowledge and ability, and 
these qualifications are possessed in an emi- 
nent degree by Dr. Juergens, of Springfield. 

Dr. Juergens is a native of Germany, his 
birth having occurred in Oldenburg, xApril 
2, 184 1, his parents being Henry and Ann 
(Wohlers) Juergens. who were born and 
reared in Germany, where the father carried 
on merchandising. At the usual age the 
Doctor began his education in the pulilic 
schools, sliowing- special aptitude in his stud- 
ies, and when a youth of twelve }cars he 
entered a gymnasium, where he pursued a 
rigid course of study in the leading sciences, 
languages and kindred subjects, devoting his 
attention to the mastery of the branches 
therein taught, for si.x; years. He is a man 
of scholarly attainments, able to read and 
translate thirteen different languages, a num- 
ber of which he speaks fluently. After pass- 
ing his gy^mnasium examination he entered 
the University of Goettingen, and studied 
theology, but while there changed his mind 
about his life work and entered upon a medi- 
cal course, attending lectures at Goettingen, 
Alarbourg, Berlin and Greifswald. 

When he had completed his studies the 
Doctor resoh-ed tO' seek a home in America, 
for he believed that in the new world he 



might find better professional oiDportunities 
than in his fatherland. Accordingly, he 
made his way across the Atlantic and for a 
time engaged in teaching languages and 
music in various cities of this country. He 
also to some e.xtent eng'aged in the practice 
of medicine until his skill and ability in the 
latter direction became so widel}' recognized 
that his practice grew to extensive propor- 
tions and he was obliged to give up teaching. 
He resided for a time in Chicago, Illinois, 
and subsecjuently removed to Cincinnati, 
where almost immediately he entered on a 
large and successful business. In addition to 
his medical duties his thorough knoivyledge 
of the German language and his ability in 
translation placed him on the editorial staff 
of the Courier, a daily newspaper now pub- 
lished under the name of Anzeiger. 

The year 1868 witnessed the arrival of 
Dr. Juergens in Springfield. Already he 
was known by reputation to many of the resi- 
dents here, and within a short time he had 
gained a liberal clientage from among the 
best class of Springfield's citizens. In 1873 
he was appointed by the Springfield school 
board to conduct special examination of high 
school classes and also of applicants for posi- 
tions in German. For several years the 
Doctor served in that capacity. He also be- 
came an active factor in mnsical circles of 
the city and a director in the Mannerchor 
Singing Society. He organized the Har- 
monia Music Society, and' his efforts and en- 
thusiasm were potent factors in developing 
the musical taste of this city. In 1879 ^^^ 
returned to Cincinnati, and again his prac- 
tice there grew to extensive proportions. He 
li\ed in a beautiful \-illa in Elmwood, which 
was erected under his direction, and gained 
prominaice socially as well as professionally. 
In 1892 he again came to Springfield, which 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



will probably be liis permanent place of resi- 
dence. \\t has held leading positions in 
fraternal circles; he was medical director of 
the Knights of the American Brotherhood, 
president of the Phoenix Mutnal Aid Asso- 
ciation and medical director of the Universal 
i5rotherhood. He is also examiner of the 
Prudential Life Insurance Company, of New 
jersey, and the Catholic Mutual Benefit As- 
sociation, of Ohio. He has also been hon- 
(jred with the apointment to a position on 
the medical staff of St. Luke's Hospital, in 
Xiles, Michigan, and he belongs to the 
Springfield board ol trade. In \-aried lines 
of activity he has thus proved his usefulness 
and capability, and his worth is widely ac- 
knowledged wherever he is known. 

The Doctor has by his first wife two chil- 
dren living: Arthur and Amma. The lat- 
ter is the wife of John Distler, of Buffalo, 
Xew ^'ork, and the fomier, Prof. Arthur 
Juergens, has for the past seven years been 
superintendent of music in the public schools 
of Springfield, is a composer of note, an 
artist (in the violin and a thoroughly well 
educated man. For his second wife the Doc- 
tor chose Miss Bernhardine Mueller, and 
they have two children: Otto and Oscar. 
The Doctor's reading has never been con- 
fined afone to his profession, but has em- 
braced subjects of wide range, making him 
a man of broad general information and 
scholarly attainments. He has the German's 
lo\e of music^and ixjssesses marked ability in 
the art. He has a large circle of warm 
friends and his friendship is best prized by 
those who know him best. In bis pro- 
fessional capacity he is widely kncwn. his' 
reputation extending beyond the limits of 
his state, and he is an honor tn the pro- 
lession in which he has won creditable dis- 
tinction. 



THOMAS MATTIXSOX, Sr. 

Tliomas Mattinson, Sr., is toilay one 
of the esteemed and venerable citizens of 
Clark county, where throughout a success- 
ful business career he has ever maintained 
a re]nitatiou for incorruptible integrity and 
fair dealing-. A native of England, Mr. 
iMattinson was born in Westmoreland coun- 
ty on the 24th of .Vpril, 1820, and when a 
youth of fourteen years he came to America 
with his father, Tliomas Mattinson. His 
mother, who Ixjre the maiden name of 
Jane Beedham, had died in England 
l)ri()r to this time, and with his chil- 
dren the father sought a home in the new 
world, settling- uptin the farm which is now 
occupied by his grandson, Thomas Mattin- 
son, Jr. Here the father of our subject 
spent his renuuning days and prospered in 
his undertakings, becoming the owner of 
several hundred acres of land. He assisted 
in the arduous task of developing the wild 
region and opening up this section of tlie 
country to civilization, and his labors not 
only resulted in bringing him a comfortable 
competence, but were also of marked value 
to the community. In his family were sev- 
en children, of whom Tbonias Mattinson 
of this review was the fifth in order of birth 
antl is the only one now living. 

As above stated, Tboiras Mattinson, Sr., 
spent the lirst fourteen years of his life in 
his native country and there acquired his 
early education. After coining to America 
his life was not exempt from the hard toil 
incident to pioneei- settlement upon the fron- 
tier, for he assisted his father in develop- 
ing the old home place. After arriving at 
\-ears of maturity he was united in marriage 
to Elizabeth A. Wilkinson, who was lx)rn 
in Ashtalnila counlv, Ohio, October 15, 




), 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1834, a daughter O'f Henry and Elizabeth 
lIMitchell) Wilkinson, both of whom were 
natiN-es oi England, her father having been 
bom in \\'estnioreland county. He was 
acquainted with the parents of Mr. Mattin- 
son before the emigration of the family to 
America and he came to the new world sev- 
eral years prior tO' the arrival of the 2^Iat- 
tinsons. The daughter, Elizabeth A. Wil- 
kinson, was reared to womanhood in her 
native county, and her marriage to Mr. ]\Iat- 
tinsoai was celebrated at Springfield, this 
state, since which time they have lived iipon 
the farm that was settled by hi^ fatlier. 
Four children have been Ijorn tO' thau, but 
all died in youth with the exception of one 
son, who is his father's namesake and is a 
prouiinent and influential farmer and stock 
dealer of Clark comity. 

From his fatlier Thomas Alattinson, Sr.. 
inherited two hundred acres of land, and it 
was upon that farm that he settled with his 
bride, giving his attention to agricultural 
pursuits. He worked earnestly and long 
in his efiforts to make his farm productive 
and valuable, and as he prospered he added 
to his place from year to year, purchasing 
adjoining tracts of land until his possessions 
aggregated sixteen hundred acres, all in one 
body. Not only did he. engage in the culti- 
vation of the cereals best adapted to the soil 
and climate, but throughout his acti\-e busi- 
ness career he also successfully carried on 
stock feeding. He no.w owns in addition to 
his Clark count)' property five hundred and 
twenty-fi\-e acres of land in Madison county 
and his real estate is the visible e\-idence 
of ills life of thrift, industry and enterprise. 
He was one of the incorporators of the 
Farmers National Bank of South Charles- 
ton, and served as one of its directors for 
many years, but when the bank gave up its 



charter he withdrew from lianking interests 
and his stock was turned over to his son, 
Thomas ]\Iattinson, Jr., whO' is now a direc- 
tor in the Citizens Bank of South Charles- 
tun, the successor of the Farmers National 
Bank. ]\Ir. Mattinson of this review is now 
living a retired life, having turned all his 
business and property interests oiver toi his 
son, Thomas Mattinson, Jr. He has reached 
the age of eig-hty-two years and well dbes 
he deser\-e the rest from further labor which 
is vouchsafed tO' him. In his political views 
he has always beai independent, having no 
desire for office and preferring to give his 
time and attention to his business affairs, 
in w hich he has indeed n-.et with signal pros- 
perity. Both he and his wife are Episcopal- 
ians in rehgious faith and are numbered 
among the esteemed citizens oif the county 
where from pioneer days to the present they 
have continuoiusly resided, watching witli 
interest its substantial growth and upbuild- 
ing. In all business relations Mr. Mattin- 
son has been found reliable and trustworthy 
and sustains an unassailable reputation for 
integrity that makes his example well worthy 
of emulation. 



THO-MAS :MATTIXS0N, Jr. 

Thomas ^Mattinson. Jr., is the most ex- 
tensi\'e breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle in 
Ohio, and is a progressive, wide-awake busi- 
ness man, whose efforts ha\-e resulted not 
alone toi his individual good,- but have been 
of marked benefit to agricultural classes. 
The m.an who is instrumental in improving a 
grade oif stock whereby higher market prices 
are received is just as worthy to be termed 
a benefactor of his fellow men as is he who 
gives directly from his ca])ital the means for 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the founding- of institutions or for tlie up- 
building of communities. 

Mjr. 'Mattinson makes liis home near 
South Charleston upon the old family home- 
stead which was at one time in. the 
possession of his grandfather. He was 
born upon this farm December i8, 
1864, his parents 1>eing Thomas and 
Elizabeth (\\ilkinson) Mattinson. The 
sketch of his father is given alxwe. Un- 
der the parental roof he was reared. 
Having obtained a coir.mon school edu- 
cation, he entered a business college in 
Columbus and subsequently became a stu- 
dent in the State University of the capital 
city, remaining there for two years. He 
afterward matriculated in Jiliami University 
at 0.\ford, where he also continued his 
studies for two years, and since that time 
he has gi\-en his attention to the work of 
the farm, which he has carried on in an 
energetic and profitable manner. His fa- 
ther, after obtaining his share of the grand- 
fatlier's estate — two hundred acres — added 
to his iK>ssessious until he l>ecame the own- 
er of about two thousand acres of land, of 
which six hundred acres is coanprised with- 
in the home farm and the rcn.ainder is in 
Madison coimty, Ohio. 

In 1896 the subject of this review be- 
came the owner of the old homestead near 
South Charleston, and at that time he began 
raising Aberdeen Angus cattle, beginning 
Avitli alxiut fifty head of thoroughbreds. He 
has greatly increased the numljer until now 
he owns over two hundred pure bred regis- 
tered cattle, together with aliout five hun- 
dred and fifty high grade cattle, this being 
the largest herd in the state of Ohio of that 
l)reed. He has had his cattle at the com- 
bination sales in Indianapolis, Giicago and 
Oni.aha. \\hcre only ])ure bred cattle are 



sold, and has disposed of many animals at 
fancy prices, receiving an average price at 
those sales of n:ore than two hundred dol- 
lars per head. He is a member of the Amer- 
ican Aberdeen Angus Breeders' Assojcia- 
tion. covering the United States and Canada. 
;Mr. Mattinson is also a director in the Citi- 
zens Bank of South Charleston, in which 
he owns considerable stock. 

On the 2ist of October, 1896. ^Ir. Mat- 
tinson was united in marriage to Miss B\rd 
Damarus Pugsley, of Clark county, a daugh- 
ter of James F. and Damarus Byrd (Ltmg) 
P'ugsley. . Her father was bom Octoter 3, 
1824. in the town of Claverack, Columbia 
county. Xew York, and the mother's birth 
c;ccurred at Sinking Springs in Highland 
county, Oliio. She died July 3, 1895. Eight 
children were bom unto this worthy couple, 
of whom six are yet living, and Mrs. Mat- 
tinson is the fourth in order of birth. Her 
nr.iternal grandfather was Judge Charles 
Willing Byrd, governor of the Northwest 
Territory. Unto our subject and his wife 
have been lx>rn three children: Margaret, 
born August 7, 1897: Thomas Janes, born 
I'ebruary 7, 1899; and Byrd, born March 
-•3, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Mattinson are 
widely and favorably known in this county 
and he is one of the most progressive and 
successful farmers and stock dealers here. 
He thoroughly understands his business, 
gives it close attention and his laudable am- 
bition, his close application and his earnest 
purjwse have resulted in the acquirement of 
a handsome competence. 



JACOB C. KELLER. 
A man's reputation is the property of 
the world. The laws of nature have for- 
])iclden isolation. Everv human being sub- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mils to the controlling influence of others, 
or as a master spirit wields a power either 
for good or evil on the masses of mankind. 
There can be no impropriety in justly scan- 
ning the acts of any man as they effect his 
public and business relations. If he ig hon- 
est and eminent in his chosen field oif labor, 
in\-estigation will brighten his fame and 
point the path that others may follow with 
like success. From among the ranks of 
quiet, persevering yet prominent citizens — 
prominent on account of what he has done 
in commercial circles — there is no one more 
deser\-ing of mention in a volume Oif this 
character than Jacob C. Keller, who is now 
living in Springfield, where he has made 
his home since 1867, and has been the gen- 
eral superintendent of the P. P. Mast & 
Company since 1898. 

Mr. Keller was born in Reading, Penn- 
sylvania, September 8, 1848, and is a son of 
John Keller, who was a school teacher, and 
was educated in Philadelphia. He married 
Esther Clouscer, who was likewise a native 
of Pennsylvania, born in 1810. He died in 
185 1, but his widow now resides in Read- 
ing. They were the parents of fourteen chil- 
dren, eight of whom grew to maturity : Will- 
iam, who died in August, 1902, near Read- 
ing: Daniel, who is living near Springfield, 
llHnois; D. C, who served as colonel of a 
J'ennsylvania regiment throughout the Civil 
war, died in Reading in May, 1902; Sam- 
uel, a farmer; Jeremiah, who was a lieuten- 
ant of a company of Union soldiers in the 
Civil war; Sally, who is the wife of William 
Yauch and resides on a farm in Reading; 
Caroline, the widow of Alfred Brumbach, 
living at home with her mother; and Ja- 
cob C. 

The last named was the thirteenth in or- 
der (if l:>irth in the family. He pursued a 



public school education and remained at 
home until eleven years of age, when he 
started out upon his business career, going 
to Philadelphia, where he was employed for 
a lime in a hotel. He then returned to the 
farm, where he remained until fifteen years 
of age, after which he began learning the 
molder's trade, and when he had served a 
three years' apprenticeship he remained with 
his employer as a journeyman for one year. 
On tlie expiration of that period he went 
to Decatur, Illinois, in 1866, remaining there 
for a year, and in 1867 he came to Spring- 
field, Ohio, where he has since made his 
home. Here he found emplo}'ment in the 
old Champion Foundry, and for many years 
has been identified with the industrial pur- 
suits of Clark county. 

In the year following his arrival — 1868 
— in Springfield, Jacob C. Keller was mar- 
ried to Fmma De Vault, who was born in 
this city, a daughter of Henry De Vault, 
who was a cooper by trade and a pioneer 
settler here. Mr. Keller began work for the 
New Champion Binder Works on the 7th 
of December and was married on the 8th 
of that month. He worked as a molder 
until 1870, when he entered the employ of 
P. P. Mast & Company, and in 1873 took 
charge of their foundry as foreman, filling 
that position continuously until 1898, wdien 
he was promoted to the superintendency of 
the plant. He now has under his superin- 
tendency about three hundred and fifty men, 
employing competent foremen to^ assist him. 
Not a little of the development and success 
of tlie business is justly attributable to his 
efl'orts. He has the entire confidence of the 
members of the compan}' and justly merits 
their good will and respect. He has worked 
his way up gradually from the time when he 
became connected with the trade at the age 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of titteen years. By experience and nl)ser- 
vation he has become well versed in me- 
chanics and is thoroughly competent to su- 
perintend any branch of the business. In 
his labors he has thus met with success and 
is to-day a well known and prominent fac- 
tor in industrial circles of Springfield. 

In 1 88; ilr. Keller erected his present 
home at Xo. 217 South Factory street and 
remodeled it in 1900. Unto him and his 
vile ha\e been born five children, but two 
of the number died in early childhood. The 
others are: Harry H., who is employed 
in the ofiice of P. P. Mast & Company, and 
is a graduate of the public schools of this 
city: Hcltie B., the wife of George Lennert, 
inspector nf the water works of Spring- 
field : and Gertrude A., the wife of August 
Du\e. a lithographer of Dayton, Ohio. 

Mr. Keller is a Republican and an active 
worker in the city and county conventions, 
but the honors and emoluments have had 
no attractions for him personally. Pie has, 
however. lieen elected as a member of the 
board of trustees of the Springfield water 
wi;rks and is serving his second term as 
])n\si(lcnt i>f the board. Pie has always been 
an njiright and honorable man and would 
never stoop to anything dishonest, either in 
private life or public affairs. He has never 
missed a meeting of the water works board 
and in his official service has labored earn- 
estly for the best interests of the people. 
He belongs to Anthony Lodge, F. & A. M. ; 
to Springfield Chapter, R. A. AI. ; to Red 
Star I.odge, K. of P. : and to the Benevo- 
lent and Protective Order of Elks. H'e has 
also been a meml)er of the board of trustees 
of the Springfield Building and Loan Asso- 
ciation since 1885. His success has been by 
no means the result of fortunate circum- 
stances, but has come to him through en- 



ergy, labor and perseverance, directed b\ 
an evenly l)alanced mind and by honorable 
Inisincss principles. From early life he 
made it his plan to spend less than his in- 
come. In manner he is quiet and straight- 
forward, saying exactly what he means 
without the addition of useless compliments. 
Although rather retired he has a host of 
warm friends throughout the city and is a 
man whom to know is to esteem and honor. 



HON. ORAX F. HYPES. 

Among the leading and influential citi- 
zens of Springfield is numbered Hon. Oran 
F. Hypes, whose successful mercantile in- 
terests have made him a prominent factor in 
trade circles, while activity and loyalty in 
public affairs have classed him ahiong the 
valued residents of his district, in which he 
has been honored with the office of legis- 
lator, having served as a member of the sev- 
enty-fifth general assembly of Ohio. 

Mr. Hypes was born in Xenia, Ohio. De- 
cember 18, 1862, his parents being Samuel 
H. and Hannah (Van Brocklin) Plypes. 
His father, also a native of Obio, was born 
in Greene county in 1826 and is now living 
in Xenia. where he is engaged in the in- 
surance business. His wife is a native of 
Springfield. The paternal grandfather. 
Henry Plypes, was born in Virginia, but his 
father came from Germany, near Bingen on 
the Rhine, and on crossing the Atlantic to 
the new world he took up his abode in ^'ir- 
ginia, establishing his home in the vicinity 
of the Xatural Bridge. From that place, 
early in the nineteenth century, he removed 
to Xenia, Ohio, and down to the present time 
the family has been pnjmincnt in the affairs 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



which ha\-e led to tlie sul3stantial progress 
and improvement of the state. 

Oran F. Hypes spent liis boyliood days 
in his nati\-e city, being reared under the 
parental roof. He was a student in the com- 
mon schools, after which he entered the high 
school and was graduated with the* class of 
1879. He then Ijecame connected with mer- 
cantile interests in Xenia, helping build up 
the Inisiness with which he was identified 
until 1882, when he came to Springfield and 
at first opened a store on Main street, but 
later removed to No. 43 South Limestone 
street, where he deals in hats and nien's fur- 
nishing goods, his being one of the leading 
establishments of the kind in the city. He 
was not long in demonstrating to the public 
that he was worthy of their patronage, and 
almost from the beginning of his residence 
here lie has enjoyed a large and prosperous 
trade. His business methods are such as 
will bear the closest investigation and scrut- 
iny, and his earnest desire to please, com- 
bined with reasonable price, has secured to 
him a liberal and well deserved patronage. 

In 1889 occurred the marriage of Mr. 
Hypes and ]\Iiss Jessie B. Johnson, a daugh- 
ter of Richard and Dorothy Johnson, the 
family being a prominent old one of Spring- 
field. They have two children. Dorothy and 
Douglas. Fraternally Mr. Hypes has long 
l:)een connected with the Masonic order, and 
is a past n- aster oi Anthony Lodge, No. 455, 
F. & A. 'y.l., and past commander of Pales- 
tine Commandery, No. 33, Knights Ten-.plar. 
Li his life he exemplifies the beneficent spirit 
of the craft. He has served as director of 
the Board of Trade, and is a charter mem- 
ber of the Commercial Clul>. Mr. Hypes 
is a Methodist and is one of the directors of 
the Young Men's Christian Association, and 
takes a deep and lasting interest in all that 



pertains to the material upbuilding of social 
welfare, the intellectual and moral advance- 
ment of his adopted city. 

With a firm faith in the principles of the 
Republican party, Mr. Hypes has been loyal 
and active in support of that great political 
organization since early manhood, even be- 
fore beconTing a voter, and has put forth 
every effort in his power to promote the 
growth and insure the success of the party. 
In 1 90 1 he was elected a member of the gen- 
eral assembly of Ohio and served in the regii- 
lar and extraordinary sessions of 1902; was 
appointed upon se\'eral important commit- 
tees ; was secretary of the committee on tax- 
ation; chaimian of the committee on public 
buildings and lands ; and a memlier of the 
committee on insurance. In the extraor- 
dinary session called to create a new cixle 
of laws for municipal government ]\Ir. Hypes 
was named by the speaker to serve on the 
special committee to report a bill to the 
house. Such, in brief, is his life history. 
In whatever relation of life we find him — 
in business, in society, in government circles 
or in political service — he is always the same 
honorable and honored gentlen-an \\liose 
worth well merits the high regard which is 
uniformlv given him. 



ALEXAXDER C. PATTOX. 

Alexander C. Patton, now deceased, was 
a mon whose upright Christian character had 
marked influence on the development of the 
comnnmity. Not by precept but b}- example 
did he demonstrate the better way of life, 
and thus to- his family he left the priceless 
heritage of an untarnished name. He was 
liorn January 14, 1838. in Belmont county. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Oliio. and was a son of \\'illiam and Ann 
(Clark) Fatten. Our subject grew to maii- 
Iicud in Belmont county, was reared upon 
a, farm and received a gcwxl common-school 
education. He was married October lO, 
1861. in that county, to Miss Agnes J. 
Sharp, who was born and reared there and 
was a (laughter of William and Caroline 
I llarrah ) Sliarp. She received a goo<l edu- 
, nil n. her early educational privileges af- 
1 -rded l)v the common school being supple- 
mented by two years' attendance in the sem- 
inary in \^■ashington, Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Patton's father had given him a 
farm in Belmont county, and there the young 
ciaiple began their domestic life, his atten- 
tion being then given to the culti\ation of 
his fields until he joined the army. In 1863. 
feeling that his first duty was to his country, 
. he organized a company of soldiers and was 
elected captain. They went to the front as 
Company I, of the One Hundred and Sev- 
enth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, for one hun- 
dred days, and were sent to Harper's Ferry. 
Two companies were there consolidated, 
and on that occasion Mr. Patton was made 
first lieutenant. After about four months' 
service he recei\ed an honorable discharge, 
having in the meantime participated in sev- 
eral skirmishes around Harper's Ferry. Be- 
coming ill, he was sent to the hospital at 
Annapolis. Maryland, from which place he 
was granted a furlough which allowed him 
to return home, where he remained until the 
expiration of his temn of service, when he 
was lionorably discharged at Columbu;^. 

Captain Patton continued a resident of 
P>elmont county until 1869. when he sold his 
farm there and purchased a tract of land in 
Clark ctunty. comprising two hundred and 
fortv-six acres, which is yet the homestead 
of the familv. He was an industrious, en- 



terprising man, who labored earnestly, be- 
ing never negligent in his work. His efforts 
brought good results, and he became one of 
the prosperous and well-to-do agriculturists 
of this community, providing his family with 
a good home and comfortable living and 
leaving to his widow an estate ample for her 
needs. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Patton were born two 
children: William S., who married Flor- 
ence Creagar, by whom he has four children 
— Helen M., Grace J., Raymond and Paul- 
ine, their home being in Harmony township : 
and Anna I., who is yet with her mother. 
Both children were provided with good edu- 
cational privileges, and the son was for one 
year a student in \\'ittenl3erg College and for 
one year studied in \\'ooster College. Miss 
Anna entered O.xford College, where she was 
graduated on the comjiletion of a musical 
course, and later spent one year in the Bos- 
ton Conservatory of Music. 

In his political views Mr. Patton wa.s a 
Republican. He kept well informed on the 
issues of the day, and for several years he 
served as township trustee. He took an ac- 
tive part in everything pertaining to the 
growth and success of his party and fre- 
quently served as a delegate to its conven- 
tions. He was a member of the United 
Presbyterian church and for several yertrs 
served as clerk of sessions. He had an un- 
usually retentive memory, and could repeat 
whole chapters in the Bible and the entire 
l)Ook of Psalms. If any (-ne would begin 
a Biblical quotation lie would take it up, com- 
plete the chapter and even tell what verse 
was used in the beginning. He had, too. 
a great love of music and poetry, and many 
poems which he loved he could recite with- 
out once referring to the book. Blank verse 
was his especial favorite, and the kindly na- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



2 1.5 



ture whicli usually accompanies a Io\-e of 
music, poetry and the Bible was his in an un- 
usual degree. He died July lo, 1899, se- 
cure in his Christian faith. He had sO' lived 
as to be honored by his fellow men and his 
memory is as a blessed benediction to those 
who knew him. 



\MLLIAM SHARP PATTOX. 

\Mlliani Sharp Patton, who is carrying 
on general farming and stock raising in Har- 
mony township, is a native son of Belmont 
county, Oliio, his birth having occurred there 
July 28, :862, his jMrents being Captain 
Alexander Clark and Agnes J. (Sharp) Pat- 
ton. The first years of his life were spent 
in the county nf his nativity, and he then 
accompanied his parents toi Clark county, 
where he was reared to manhood on the 
home farm. At the usual age he entered the 
public schools, and when he had coinpleted 
the course of instruction there he spent a 
year as a student in Wittenberg College and 
also one year in study at W'coster. The 
occupation to which he was reared he has al- 
ways made his life work, and in his farming 
methods he has kept abreast with the im- 
provements of the times. On the 24th of 
October, 1889, in Harmony township, he 
wedded Miss Florence Creagar, who was 
born in Frederick county. ^laryland, and 
came to Ohio in i86g with her parents, Jo- 
seph and Mary A. (Smith) Creagar, who 
located in Springfield township, where her 
father carried on farming. Both were born 
in Frederick county, Maryland, and became 
highly respected residents of this locality. 
Her father died in 1888, at the age of sixty- 
one vears, Init her mother is still living, and 



makes her home in Springfield township. 
Airs. Patton received a good common-school 
education, and is an estimable lady, who pre- 
sides with gracious hospitality over her 
home. By her marriage she has became the 
mother of four children: Helen M., born 
in Knox county, Indiana, October 19, 1890; 
Grace Jeanette, born on the home farm in 
Harmony township, December 5, 1896; Ray- 
mond Alexander, born December 24, 1897; 
and Myrtle Pauline, born November 17, 
1899. 

At the time of their marriage Mr. and 
Airs. Patton removed to Knox county, In- 
diana, where he owned one hundred and fifty 
acres of land and for five years they resided 
upon that farm. On the expiration of thst 
period, however, they returned to Clark 
county and Mr. Patton purchased his present 
farm of two hundred and ten acres in Har- 
mony township. Upon this he built a very 
fine residence in 1901. He has his farm well 
tiled, and has cleared forty-five acres of his 
land. He is wide-awake, enterprising ag- 
riculturist, and his life shows the force of 
industrv and perseverance in the acquirement 
of success. He votes with the Republican 
party and is a member of the Presb)-terian 
church at South Charleston. 



CLARENCE S. RAAISEY, M. D. 

It is a noticeable fact that in this land, 
as in no other, young men are found at the 
front in professions and in business life. 
Dr. Ramsey is a notable example of this 
fact. Although he has attained the age of 
only twenty-eight years, he has advanced in 
the medical fraternity to a position of dis- 
tinction, and his work in the line of his pro- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



fession has been of such a nature as to gam 
for him the recognition of his professional 
bretliern as well as of the public. 

Tlie Doctor was born in Steubenville, 
Oliio, January 6, 1875, and comes of Scotch 
lineage. Throughout almost his entire life 
he lias resided in Springfield. He obtained 
his common school education in the public 
schools, his collegiate work being prosecuted 
in Wittenberg College, in which institution 
he was graduated with the class of 1895. 
He then entered the business world, accept- 
ing a position as bookkeeper with the firm 
of William Ramsey & Company, commis- 
sion merchants. He acted in that capacity 
for some time, but believing that he would 
find professional life more congenial, he be- 
came a student of medicine in the office and 
under the direction of Dr. Buckingham, of 
Springfield, and continued his studies in the 
Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, 
in which he was graduated with the class of 
1900. Again taking up his abode in this 
city, Dr. Ramsey opened his office in the 
King Building. He was appointed house 
]>hysician to the Charity Lying-in Hospital. 
Phihdelphia, his duties being largely in the 
line of oljstetrical work. In 1901 he re- 
ceived appointment as resident physician in 
the Jefferson Medical College, which he saw 
fit to decline. He is physician to the county 
infirmary, also examiner in the United 
States recruiting service. 

His military record consists of connec- 
tion with the National Guard from 1892 un- 
til 1899. He first servefl in the Hospital 
Corps, of which he afterward became hos- 
pital steward. He was then promoted to 
regimental commissary. Third Regiment. 
Ohio National Guard, and during the Span- 
ish-.\merican war was made regimental 
quartermaster of the Third Ohio \'nlunteer 



Infantry. He is a close student ;Of text 
books bearing upon the science of medicine 
and its principles, as also its practical work- 
ings, and further extends his knowledge and 
usefulness through association with the 
members of the Springfield Acadany of 
Medicine and the Clark County Medical So- 
ciety. 

In the year 1902 Dr. Ramsey was united 
in marriage to Miss Delia Wilson, of this 
city. The Doctor is a member of Clark 
Lodge. No. lOT, F. & A. M. His choice of 
a profession seems to have been wisely made, 
for he finds it congenial and has a deep in- 
terest in his work, both from a scientific 
standpoint and from the position of one who 
possesses broad humanitarian \iews. He 
was endowed by nature with a good mind 
and strong purpose, and these, supplemented 
by a laudable ambition and unfaltering de- 
votion to. his chosen calling, have gained him 
already a creditable place in the ranks of 
the medical fraternity. 



ELZA ANDERSON DYE. M. D. 

E. A. Dye, M. D., one of the most skilled 
and prominent physicians and surgeons of 
Clark county, now practicing in \^ienna. 
v.as born near Woodview, Morrow count}'. 
Ohio. July 13. 1871. His parents were the 
Rev. Iliomas \\'. and Alice (Krout) Dye. 
The father, also a native of >Iorrow county, 
was reared upon a fami there, and was in- 
debted to the common school system for the 
educational privileges he enjoyed in his 
■vTOuth. He was always a student, reading 
and thinking deeply, and he became a suc- 
cessful teacher, being emi)loyed for nineteen 
\cars in the same school. .\t the time of 




DR. E. A. DYE. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tlie Civil war he joined the Union, army and 
served lor three years as a private in de- 
fense of the old flag and the cause it repre- 
sented. Soon after his return, froair the war 
he was married and began preaiching in 
Butler, Ohio, as a minister of the Free Will 
Baptist church. Throughout his remaining 
da}-s he de\ i.ited his attention largely to 
the work of the ministry and his influence 
Wis widely and strongly felt in 'behalf of the 
church.. 

Dr. Dye of this review was only about 
eiglit or nine years of age when his father 
died, and for five years thereafter he was em- 
ployed on a farm ty one man. At the age 
of sixteen he entered the Jobnsville high 
school and was graduated at the age of 
twenty with the class of 1890. He was 
am.bitious to gain an education and jjrepare 
for some useful walk in life and resolved to 
make the practice of medicine his chosen 
work. He began studying in Wittenberg 
College as a preparation for some advanced 
professional line. In 1894 he entered the 
Ohio Aledical College at Cincinnati and was 
graduated in that institution with the class 
of 1897. He also recei\ed the diploma of 
graduation from the eye and ear department, 
having made a specialty of that branch of 
medical science. 

Dr. Dye entered upon the practice of 
medicine in Indiana, where he remained for 
two and one-half years. He then went to 
Chicago and was afterward in the south, 
being associated with an uncle. Dr. J. B. 
Krout. whom he assisted in performing an 
operation for umbilical hernia, which opera- 
tion proved a success, although it was a 
m.ost difficult one. In Decembei-, 1899, the 
Doctor came to Clark county, locating in 
Harmony township. In 1901 he was called in 
in a case of appendicitis, on which he oper- 



ated, and his patient was- the only one of 
eight operated upon in this neighborhood 
that lived through an attack of that disease 
and the only case of which the Doctor had 
charge. He has been most successful in 
his practice and is continually augmenting 
his skill by reading, in\'estigation and re- 
search along the line of medical science. 

On the loth of April. 1902, in H^armony 
township. Dr. Dye was united in marriage 
to ^liss Xina Smith, who' was born in Har- 
mony township and is a daughter O'f Amos 
and Catherine (Wirt) Smith. She is a 
most estimable lady and one well read. She 
completed a public school conrse in 1898 
and spent the year of 1900-1901 as a student 
in ^^'ittenberg■ College. The Doctor is a 
Republican in his political \-iews, having 
always voted for the presidential candidates 
v.ith the exception of the year 1892, whtn 
he cast his ballot with the Prohibition party. 
He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fra- 
ternity at Vienna, to the Junior Order of 
.Vmerican Mechanics, and also to the Inde- 
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. In the 
line of his profession he is connected with 
the Clark County Medical Association and 
with the State Medical Society and through 
the interchange of thought, experience and 
knowledge in these meetings he is continual- 
ly broadening his o-\vn knowledge and thus 
adding to his usefulness as a member of 
one of the most valued professions of the 
world. 



ALOXZO F. TAFT. 



.Vlonzo F. Taft. who is connected with 
farming interests in [Madison township, was 
born in Franklin count}-, [Massachusetts, May 
^*^- ^^?>o- '''i* i-iarents being Chapin and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Harriet (Bardwell) Taft. The boyhood 
(lays of our subject were spent upon his 
father's farm of one hundred and sixty acres 
and in addition to the common school privi- 
leg-es which he enjoyed, he attended the 
Shelburn Falls Academy for two years at his 
own expense, having previously earned the 
money to meet his tuition. He entered that 
institution wherv a youth of fifteen. He per- 
formed all of the chores upon the home farm 
in the morning and evening and then had to 
walk^a distance of four miles to the high 
school at Montague, which was the nearest 
town to his home. Before he entered the 
academy he had been employed by the month 
as a farm hand at eight and twelve dollars 
per month and thus earned the money with 
which he met the expenses of his academic 
course. His father had died when the son 
was only four years of age, leaving the moth- 
er with nine children, so that the advantages ' 
which the family received were very lim- 
ited, save those which they acquired for 
themselves. 

After leaving the academy Mr. Taft en- 
gaged in teaching for some time during the 
winter months, and thus had acquired capital 
sufficient to enable him to continue his own 
education in the State Xormal School at 
Westfield. The tuition there was free, but 
he had to meet his Iward bills and other 
necessary expenditures. He entered into 
a contract to deliver books that had been sold 
on the subscription plan and was then sent 
to Jonesville and Hillsdale. Michigan, in the 
interest of Mr. Bills, of Xorwich, Connecti- 
cut. When he reached his destination he 
received word that the lx)oks had been 
shipped to Bufifalo and from there would be 
transmitted over the lake route, but this could 
not be done, for the lake was then frozen 
over and navigation for the season was 



closed. ^Ir. Taft then secured a situation 
as a teacher in a school, which he conducted 
for four months. This provided him with 
some ready inoney, and the next spring he 
began the delivery of the books, which had 
ultimately arrived. During three winters 
he continued his school work and in the sum- 
mer months engaged in delivering books. 
He was then taken ill and went to the water 
cure in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was ad- 
vised to go south. Following this advice, 
he secured a position as a teacher in a school 
in Clermont county, Ohio, where he re- 
mained for three years as a teacher in a small 
village. 

During the last year there Mr. Taft was 
united in marriage on the 17th of March, 
1858, to Miss Mary J. Bragg, and three chil- 
dren were born to them: William II. . who 
is now a resident of Springfield, Ohio; .Mon- 
zo F., who married Amanda White and lives 
in Dayton, Ohio ; and Charles R., of Spring- 
field, Ohio. 

After his marriage Mr. Taft turned his 
attention to merchandising in Clermont 
county, but after a year he removed his store 
to Martinsville, Clinton county, and for sev- 
en 3'ears was there successfully engaged in 
merchandising. He then determined to 
change the field of his labor, and selling out 
at that place came to South Chtirleston, 
where he was in business for fourteen years. 
Severing his connection with mercantile af- 
fairs, he became a representative of the agri- 
cultural interests of Clark county and ])ur- 
chased a place of one hundred and sixty 
acres in Madison township, formerly known 
as the Joshua Harrison farm, whereon he 
made his home until March 5, 1902, when 
his residence was destroyed by fire and he 
returned to the town, where he is now living. 

In 1877 Mr. Taft was called upon to 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mourn the loss nf his wife, who died in South 
Charleston, in the month of Ofctober of that 
year. In December, 1S78, he was again 
married, his second union being with Miss 
JMary Sweet, who was born in Soiith Charles- 
ton and is a daughter of Griffith F. and Mar- 
tha (Jones) Sweet. She is a lady of su- 
perior education and culture, and for sixteen 
}-ears was engaged in teaching school in 
South Charleston. 

In his political views Mr. Taft has been 
an earnest and stalwart Republican, since 
casting his ballot in support of Jobn C. Fre- 
mont, the first candidate of the party. He 
has never been an office seeker, yet he was 
elected and served for three years as justice 
of the peace in Clinton county and for eight 
or ten years in ]\Iadison township, Clark 
county. Of all the cases he has ever tried, 
his opinion has been reversed by a higher 
court in only one instance. He has per- 
formed many marriage ceremonies and 
otherwise faithfully and acceptably dis- 
charged the duties of his office. He was 
reared in the Congregational church, but af- 
terward became a member of the Baptist 
church, and both he and his wife are now 
members of the ^lethodist Episcopal church, 
in wliich he is an earnest and faithful work- 
er. He has also been superintendent of the 
Sunday • school and Mrs. Taft a teacher 
therein, and their influence and labors in be- 
half of Christianity have been effective and 
far reaching. ]\Ir. Taft became a member of 
the Masonic order in Xew Vienna. Clinton 
county, and was connected with that lodge 
for about two' years. He afterward aided 
in organizing and became a charter member 
of Martinsville Lodge, F. & A. M., serving 
as its master until his removal from that 
place, when he demitted to l>ecome a member 
of Fielding Lodge. F. & .A. M., of South 



Charleston, of which he has served as mas- 
ter for thirteen years. He has also attended 
the meetings of the grand lodge and is a 
worthy representative of the craft and in his 
life shows forth its teachings concerning 
brotherly kindness and mutual helpfulness. 



\MLLI.-\AI COXKLIN. 

For forty-two years William^ Conklin has 
been a resident of Spring-field, and his worth 
as a citizen in public affairs and as a repre- 
sentative of business interests is widely ac- 
knowledged. At the present time he is liv- 
ing a retired life, in the enjoyment of a rest 
which he has truly earned and richly de- 
serves. He was born in Sonijerset county, 
Xew Jersey, August 18, 1827, and was edu- 
cated in the subscription schools, wdiile ! ^ 
was reared upon the home farm of his par- 
ents, \\'illiam and Cornelia (Goltry) Conk- 
lin, both of whom were natives of New Jer- 
sey and were of English ancestry. The 
father was a well known farmer, and died at 
the home of his son in Spring-field at the age 
of seA'enty-nine years. He was 'a man 
of strong constitution, and in his busi- 
ness affairs was energetic and deter- 
mined, acquiring all that he possessed. 
\Mien the country liecame involved in the 
second .war with England, in 1812, he joined 
th.e amiy as a private. His political support 
was given the Democracy. In his family 
were six children, but only two are now liv- 
ing: William, who was the eldest, and 
Mrs. Elizabeth Trowell, of Franklin, Indi- 
ana. ■ Those who have passed away are : 
John, who was a well known grocer of 
Springfield and for four years served as a 
soldier in the Civil war: Stephen: James, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



who made his home in Springfield for a time ; 
and Augusta, who was the wife of Granville 
Winger. 

William Conklin was educated in the 
subscription schools and remained upon the 
home farm until sixteen years of age, when 
he went to Brooklyn, New York, where he 
learned the mason's and plasterer's trade, 
serving a four years' apprenticeship. He 
afterward worked in that city as a journey- 
man, and in 1859 he located in Yellow 
Springs, Greene county, Ohio, where he be- 
gan doing contract work. In 1863 he came 
to Springfield and has since continuously re- 
sided in this city. He located at his present 
home in 1865. it being a country residence 
at that time. He purchased property and 
built tor himself thirty-three dwellings in 
this city. He was also one of the pioneer 
mason contractors and employed many men, 
for a large share of the business in his line 
was awarded him. He was generally en- 
gaged as a plasterer, and during the busy 
seasons had a force of ninety workmen. His 
extensive operations and capable manage- 
ment made him well-to-do, and at length he 
retired with a handsome competence. His 
own home, which he erected, was one of the 
first built in the neighborhood. The last 
contract which he took was on the Savings 
Bank in 1899. and since that time he has 
lived retired from business cares. He was 
one of the prime movers in the purchase of 
the plant now operated by the Trump Manu- 
facturing Company, and since the incorpora- 
tion of this company he has been its vice- 
president. He is also one of the directors 
of the Lagonda National Bank and of the 
Champion Coal & Ice Ccvmpany. 

Mr. Conklin has been twice married. On 
Long Island, on the 3d of January. 1854. he 
wedded Mary Sellcck. who died in Sjiring- 



field. ;March 20, 1863. She had four chil- 
dren, of whom three died in infancy, while 
Anna is the widow of Charles Atkinson and 
has two children, Charles Dewitt and Cieorge 
Harry. In Marcli. 1865. ilr. Conklin was 
again married, his second union being with 
Emily E. Cole, who -was a school teacher in 
Springfield. She was born in Pulaski. Ot- 
sego county, New York, in October, 1833, 
pursued a public school course and in 1855 
came to this city, where for eight years she 
was closely and actively associated with edu- 
cational work, being one of the most capable 
instructors in the schools here at an early 
day. She has always had considerable in- 
fluence along such lines and has been a popu- 
lar member of social circles where true worth 
and intelligence are received as the passports 
into good society. When she was a little 
maiden of twelve year.s she went with an 
uncle in 1836 to Racine county, Wisconsin. 
This was during the territorial days of the 
state and her uncle, Alliert G. Cole, engaged 
in the practice of law there and was one of 
the delegates who framed the constitution 
when the state was admitted to the IJnimi. 
His efforts, too, were effective in securing its 
admission, and he was a prominent and in- 
fluential citizen. ]\Irs. Conklin remained in 
\\'isconsin for nine years. By her marriage 
she became the mother of two child.ren : 
Alexander C. and Emily C Init botli died in 
early childhood. 

^Ir. Conklin has been a member of the 
city council, and for eleven years was a mem- 
ber of the 1x)ard of education. He has never 
sought official honors, being of a modest and 
rather retiring disix-)sition, but these were 
conferred upon him by his fellow towns- 
men, who recognized his worth and ability. 
Tic belongs to Springfield Lodge. No. 33. I. 
O. O. P.. has passed all of the chairs and is 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



a member of tlie encampment. His identi- 
fication with the order dates from 1865. 
Eotli he and his wife hold membership with 
the First Congregational church, take an 
active part in its growth and in the extension 
of its influence and for several years he has 
served as church treasurer. He has always 
been active in promoting any enterprise tend- 
ed to advance the interests of the city and its 
people, and his unswerving purpose, his un- 
questioned fidelity, his unfaltering honesty, 
and his unchanging will have commanded the 
highest respect of all. A leader in the cause 
oif lil:)erty, of freedom and of progress, his 
hearty co-operation lias ever been gi\-en to 
that which tends to ele\-ate mankind. 



CHRISTIAN ^lARTIN. 

Christian [Martin is numbered among the 
progressive and influential farmers of Green 
township, where he has also' been extensively 
engaged in stock raising and the breeding" of 
shorthorn cattle. He is well posted on the 
latest and best methods of practical farm- 
ing, his valuable farm- being kept in- good 
condition. On it he raises cattle of good 
grade, and is authority in his community on 
the subject of shortiiorn cattle, having had 
wide experience in the raising of these, in 
which occupation he has met with excellent 
success. "Mr. Alartin was born in Washing- 
ton county, Maryland, October 20, 1836, and 
is a son of Emanuel and Anna (Doyle) Mar- 
tin. The parents both died in Maryland, 
the father at the age of eighty-one years and 
the mother at the age of sixty-six. 

On the home farm in \\'ashington coun- 
ty, [Maryland, Christian [Martin was reared, 
recei\ing the privileges of a fair common 



school education. He worked on the farm 
for his father until he was about twenty- 
seven years of age, or until the time of his 
marriage, and from the time of reaching, his 
majority he received from him a remunera- 
tion for his services. On the ist of Janu- 
ary, 1863, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Sarah E. Bowers, a former school- 
mate, who was also a native of Washington 
county, Maryland. She was born Decem- 
ber 10, 1843, and was a daughter of Jacol:) 
and Mary Ann (Bergesser) Bowers. Her 
father died in Maryland at the age of fifty 
years, while her mother is still living at the 
age of ninety years, making her home" in 
Springfield. 

At tlie time of his marriage Mr. Martin 
received from his father the earnings that 
had accumulated during the years he had 
worked on the home farm — about five hun- 
dred dollars. With this start he began his 
doauestic life and rented a farm for five years. 
On the expiration of this period he had ac- 
quired about five thousand dollars. In 
1869 he removed to Ohio, settling in Green 
township, Clark county, where he purchased 
eighty acres of land and lived thereon for 
about sixteen years. In the meantime he 
had purchased eighty acres upon which his 
home now stands, and on his removal to the 
latter place he rebuilt the house and also 
erected a substantial barn. The neat and 
thrifty appearance of the farm indicates the 
careful supervision of the owner, who is 
ever awake to the improved methods of the 
day in regard to farming and stock raising. 
Everything is in good sanitary condition, 
the farm is rich and productive, and the suc- 
cess of ilr. Martin has been assured from 
almost his first business ^■enture, showing 
that he has sound Imsiness judgnnent and ex- 
ecutive force to carrv to a successful com- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



pletion plans which seem to him to be best. 
His landed possessions are considerable. 
Besides the property above named, he owns 
a lot. in Spring^field and one hundred and 
sixty acres of land between the Springfield 
pikes. 

Eight children have graced the union of 
Mr. ]\Iartin and his wife, but one died in 
infancy. Harvey Grant, born March 27, 
1864, in Washington county, Maryland, is 
a graduate of \\'ittenberg College, in Qark 
county, of the class of 18S9, and has engaged 
for .some time in teaching; Silas Clinton, 
born in Washington county, Maryland, De- 
cember 4, 1865, also received a good educa- 
tion; Emanuel Jacob, born Septemljer 12, 
1867, in Washington county, IMaryland, 
married Anna German, and resides in 
Springfield township, with his wife and five 
children — Ernest P., Lola, Walter, Jennie 
and Charles Lewis : John Henry, born Janu- 
ary 15, 1869. in Washington county, ilary- 
land, married Edith Davis, and has two chil- 
dren, Edna May and Alice Lenora; Charles 
Lewis, born February 21, 1872, died in 
March, 1872, in Springfield; IMary Cather- 
ine was born June 23, 1873; Albert Lewis, 
born October 17, 1876, married Ethel Grin- 
die and has two children — Cecil and Harry 
Leo; Jessie Lulu, born August 30, 1882. was 
a graduate of Clifton College, in the class 
of 1899, receiving high honors. 

Mr. Martin has strong faith in the princi- 
ples of the Republican party, and has always 
advocated its cause, although he is retiring 
and does not desire office, preferring rather 
to devote his time and attention to his busi- 
ness pursuits. Both he and his wife were 
reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, 
but are now identified with the Presbyterian 
church, as are two -of the children. The 
family is highly resjiected for their genuine 



worth of character, and in the enjoyments 
of the comforts of life and many of its pleas- 
ures, which are the result of their years of 
industry, they live in peace with their fel- 
low men, respected and honored by all. 



JOHX C. CLIPPLXGER. 

John C. Clippinger is connected with the 
industrial interests of Springfield as foreman 
of the P. P. Mast Manufacturing Company. 
He was born in Cumberland, Allegany coun- 
ty, Maryland, October 3, 1856, and is a son 
of Valentine B. and Catherine (Startzman) 
Clippinger. The father was born in 
\\'aynesboro, Pennsylvania, in 1823, while 
the mother's birth occurred near Hagers- 
town, Maryland, in 1826. Valentine B. 
Clippinger followed the trade of a copper- 
smith and tinsmith in the employ of the Bal- 
timore & Ohio Railroad and remained in the 
service of the company a long time, living in 
Cumberland, Maryland. In 1863 he re- 
moved to New Carlisle, Ohio, where he was 
in business for alx>ut two years, and on sell- 
ing out at the end of that time came to 
Springfield, where he followed the tinsmith's 
trade as a journeyman until 1898, since 
which time he has lived retired at No. 255 
West North street. He has always been an 
active man in business and public affairs, and 
by reading has kept well infomied on the i?- 
sues of the day. He belongs to the Royal 
Arcanum, and both he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the First Lutheran church. In poli- 
tics he was in early life a Whig, and upon 
the dissolution of that party he joined the 
ranks of the new Republican party and has 
since fought under its banner. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. \'alentine B. Clip- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



225 



pinger have been born twelve children, seven 
of whom reached years of maturity : Will- 
iam H., who is a bookkeeper and salesman 
in Indianapolis, Indiana; Charles Edward, 
who formerly resided in Springfield, but is 
now a confectioner of Bellefontaine, Ohio; 
Emma, the wife of Abram Myers, who is a 
foreman pattern maker for the Springfield 
JNIalleable Iron Company ; John C. ; Joseph 
A., who is an employe of the P. P. Mast 
Company of Springfield; Effie, the wife of 
A. M, Dissinger, who has charge of the 
opera house of this city ; and Clara Belle, 
the wife of Hayes Stockstill, a salesman of 
Dayton, Ohio. 

During his boyhood John C. Clippinger 
came to Springfield with his parents and 
here attended the public schools. He was 
also a student in a select school for a year, 
and then began tO' earn his own livelihood 
as an employe in a furniture factory of Eons, 
Mulligan & Kyle, learning the trade of a fin- 
isher. He served a four years' apprentice- 
ship, during which time he became an expert 
workman in the line. He afterward entered 
the employ of Baker & Christie, a new firm, 
with which he remained for eighteen months, 
after which he entered the Lagonda shops of 
\\'arder, Bushnell & Glessner, He was in 
the paint department, remiaining there from 
1874 until 1876, when he obtained a posi- 
tion with the Xew Champion Company, be- 
ing thus engaged until 1885. In that year 
he entered the service of the P. P. INIast 
Company, and has gradually advanced to a 
prominent position. In 1889 he was ap- 
pointed foreman of the paint department, 
and now has under his supervision fifteen 
men. He is thoroughly competent to take 
charge of any branch of the business in this 
line, to control the department and e.xpand 
its usefulness, and he has the unreserved 



confidence of the house, his employers recog- 
nizing his ability and fidelity to duty. 

In 1880 jNIr. Clippinger was joined in 
wedlock tO' Miss Mary Ellen Kohler, who 
was born in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, in 
1863, and is a daughter of Daniel and Eliz- 
abeth (Croft) Kohler. The former is de- 
ceased, while the latter is living with her 
daughter in this cit}-. She was born in 
1 83 1. They had eight children, of whom 
four are yet living: Catherine, wife of 
Clarence Chrissinger, of Hagerstown, Mary- 
land; Martha J., the wife of Clarence M. 
Miller, of Springfield : Mrs. Clippinger ; and 
Da\-id S., who is chief engineer in the Edi- 
son light plant of Columbus. The parents 
came to this city in 1877, and in 1883 re- 
turned to Maryland, but Mrs. Clippinger was 
here educated. By her marriage she became 
the mother of four children : Lester died in 
infancy. The others are: Delmer K., who 
was born in August, 1882; John Sherman, 
born in June, 1885 ; and Catherine Eliza- 
beth, born in December, 1891. The eldest 
son is now a student in Nelson's Business 
College, and the others are in the public 
schools. 

^Ir. Clippinger has always taken an ac- 
tive part in politics since becoming a voter. 
He cast his first presidential ballot for the 
candidate of the Republican party and has 
since been ever loyal to its principles. He 
has served as a delegate to cit}' and county 
conventions, but has never been an aspirant 
for office, although he was elected as a mem- 
ber of the city council in April, 1902, for a 
two years' term, r.nd is now chairman of the 
committee on police and fire. He has also 
served on various other committees. He has 
taken an active interest in municipal affairs, 
putting forth every effort possible to promote 
the general welfare and advance public prog- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ress. His wife is an active member of the 
First Lutheran church, and he belongs to the 
Independent Order of Foresters, in which he 
has held the office of court deputy for sev- 
eral years. He also belongs to the Protec- 
tive Home Circle. He is a man of domestic 
tastes and habits and finds his greatest hap- 
piness at his own fireside, having built a nice 
modern house at Xo. 69 South Race street, 
in 1894, where he has since resided. 



XATHAX O. .MIXEAK. D. O. 

There has been n'.arked ad\ancen'.ent — 
in fact, almost a revolution in the methods 
of treating disease in the past quarter or 
half O'f a century. Inyestigation, study and 
research have brought to light many valua- 
ble truths in connection with the work of 
healing and restoration of the vital forces 
of the l»dy, and the practice of osteopathy 
has won recognition as one of the most 
important elements in the great work which 
falls to the lot of the physician. Dr. !Minear 
is a representative of this department of 
practice and during his four years' residence" 
in Springfield he has gained a very liberal 
patronage, as he has demonstrated his skill 
and ability to successfully cope with disease. 

The Doctor is a native oif Elkhart coun- 
ty. Indiana, his birth having occurred near 
the city of Elkhart on the 13th of February. 
1861. He is a son of Qiarles W. and Cath- 
erine (Miller) Minear, who are now resi- 
dents of Kirksville, Missouri. Tlie father 
lormerly followed agricultural pursuits, but 
since 1880 has lived retired in Kirksville. 
Both he and his wife are about sixty-five 
years of age. On leaving Indiana the fa- 
ther removed with his familv to Iowa. 



where he carried on farming until 1867, 
when he took up his abode in Kirksville, 
Missouri, there continuing to engage in the 
tilling of the soil until his retireiv.ent from 
active business life. Both he and his wile 
are earnest workers and loyal men^bers of 
the ]\Iethodist Episcopal church, and Mrs. 
Minear is of German lineage. By their 
marriage they Jjecame the parents of three 
children, the eldest being Dr. Minear of this 
review. James F., the second son, is a 
graduate of the College of Osteopathy in 
Kirksville, Missouri, and is now practicing 
in Fort Scott, Kansas. The youngest son 
died in infancy. 

In the district schools Xallian O. Minear 
pursued his early education and at the age 
of fcmrteen became a student in the public 
school of Kirksville, where he was gradu- 
ated. Subsecjuently he entered the State 
Xormal there and was graduated in the lat- 
ter institution with the class of 188 1. He 
possessed special aptitude in his studies, hav- 
ing a great fondness for books, and for 
four years enga.ged in teaching in Missouri, 
after which he turned his attention to n:er- 
chandising, becoming connected with a gen- 
eral store near Kirksville. There he re- 
mained until 1895, when his inclination for 
professional life led him -into another depart- 
ment of labor. Uixni leaving school he had 
studied medicine for a short time but had 
been dissauded from continuing his prepara" 
tion for medical practice and had taken \\\) 
teaching instead. In 1895, however, he sold 
his business interests and entered the Ameri- 
can School of Osteoijathy. ccniducted by 
Professor A. T. Still, and was graduated in 
1898. having gained a broad and compre- 
hensive knowledge of the science whose 
\ alu.e to the world has l)een recognized at 
a comparatively late date, but its worth has 




N. O. MINEAR, D. O. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



been so manifest that it has receiveil ahnust 
universal recognitioii and support. 

Dr. Minear tirst located in Xenia, Greene 
count}', Ohio, but believing that there was a 
better field oif labor in Spring-field, he came 
to this city in 1898 and opened his present 
office, since which time he has enjoyed a 
large and constantly growing practice. He 
gradually influenced the public to iiiivesti- 
gate his methods and his honorable dealings, 
combined 'with his skill in his profession, 
has won for him steady success. He was 
one of the Jirst to introduce the treatment 
according to osteopathy in Springfield. The 
word comes from two Greek words, "os- 
teon," meaning bone, and "pathos," suffer- 
ing. Therefore osteopathy is the science oif 
treating diseases manually, by the adjust- 
m.ent of all the parts and organs to^ their 
natural relations, thus removing the irrita- 
tions resulting from abnormal relations and 
removing obstacles to vital forces and fluids 
of the body, also by stimulating mechanical- 
1\- all organs to their prosper functions or 
inhibiting abnormally active processes or 
movements of portions of the bodily or- 
ganisni. It therefore must have for its 
ioimdation a thorough and comprehensive 
knowledge of human anatomy and physiol- 
ogy and of the normal and abnormal action 
and metabolism of all parts oi the bodily 
mechanism. Osteopathy reorganizes man 
as a human machine capal>le of self rqiair 
when adjusted in all its parts as nature in- 
tended it. Health is our natural right and 
disease is the result of some abnormal de- 
rangement of the human mechanism. An 
osteopath is simply an engineer who recti- 
fies and repairs any such derangements act- 
ing upon ihe human "body the same as a jew- 
eler examining and keeping in repair a 
watch. The forces that tend tO' derange 



the human mechanism are over e.xertion, 
extreme heat and cold, external violence, 
use of poisons, entering of germs intO' the 
system. The vital forces in a state of health 
have facilities at hand to thoroughly protect 
the organism against the attack o^f gemis. 
The duty of the physician is to so carefully 
read and to so interpret the expressions of 
life as to determine to what degree it is wise 
to equalize the distribution of functional ac- 
tivities of the body. To a certain degree 
this lack of balance may be corrected and 
a more ecjual distribution of functional ac- 
tivities of vital forces realized by the sci- 
entific manipulation of the human mechan- 
ism. Osteopathy can accomplish this by 
keeping the structural adjustment perfect, 
by maintaining functional adaptation and 
co-operation among the organs directing en- 
ergy so as to secure equal distribution of 
force, lessening and removing muscular rig- 
idity; all this through sensations which act 
upon the senso^rium and through it upon the 
entire motor mechanism of the body. In his 
continued practice Dr. Minear has been ex- 
tremely successful and his business is con- 
stantly increasing as the practicability of 
his methods are recognized by the public. 

In Calloway county, Missouri, near the 
town of Fulton, Dr. Minear was united in 
marriage to: Miss Georgia Darnes, in 1883. 
She was educated in the public schools of 
that locality, her father being a farmer 
there. They have six children: Xollie O., 
who is a bookkeq>er; Lloyd V. and James 
F., students in the high school ; Norman 
W. ; and Mabel and Myrtle (twins). The 
children ha;ve all been educated in the 
sciiools of Springfield. The parents are 
members of the Presbyterian church. The 
Doctor is a R-epublican in his political \-ie\vs. 
The family has a pleasant home at No. 356 



2 30 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



South Center street and tlie members of the 
household have already gained an enviable 
position in the social circles of the city. 



J. XEWTOX GRISSO. 

J. Newton Grisso, the manager of the 
Spot Cash grocery, located at Xo. 385 South 
Fountain avenue in Springfield, has always 
lived in Clark county, his birth having oc- 
curred at Grisso Mills, in Springfield town- 
ship, January 22, i860. He is a son of 
John Grisso and a representative of one of 
the oldest pioneer families in this portion of 
the state. The founder of the family here 
Avas his great-grandfather, George Grisso, 
who was a farmer by occupation. He was 
bom in Coffintree township. Lancaster coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania. July 6. 1783. and died in 
-March. 1884, when nearly one hundred and 
nne years of age, being the oldest man in 
Clark county at that time. When a child 
he removed with his parents to Virginia, and 
at a very early day came to Ohio, settling 
on a tract of land west of Springfield when 
that city was a collection of but fifteen or 
twenty log houses. This was in 1812, and 
the rival "city" at that time was Boston, near 
the present home of Leander Baker, on the 
^'alley pike, which was jierhaps half as large. 
Mr. Grisso well remembered the contest be- 
tween these places for the court house and 
how rejoiced the citizens of Springfield were 
over their victory, although they came out 
but a few votes ahead. In politics he was 
always a Democrat, as most of his family 
have been, but he paid little attention to pub- 
lic affairs and very seldom voted. Re- 
lii^musly he was a quiet, though consistent, 
nicnihcr of the Crerman Baptist, or what is 



more commonly called the "Dunkard" 
church, and he said "I was baptized in 1812 
in Peter's creek, Salem, Virginia." During 
the war of 1812 he was drafted, but as his 
church was opposed to warfare and taught 
that disputes should be settled by peaceful 
methods, he left his home and with his little 
family came to the west to try his fortune. 
He was married in Virginia in 1809 to Cath- 
arine Frantz, who was the mother of all his 
children, eight in numl>er, and died in 1841 
at the age of fifty-five years. Two years 
later he married her cousin, Xaijcy Frantz, 
who died in 1870. Of his children one died 
in infancy, while the remaining seven lived 
to rear families of their own, and five of his 
sons were still living when he celebrated his 
"centennial," July 6, 1883, at which time he 
was in comparatively good health. Besides 
his sons there were present thirty-nine grand- 
children. sixty-si.K great-grandchildren and 
two great-great-grandchildren. His chil- 
dren in order of birth were as follows: 
Christian, the grandfather of our subject, 
was born in Virginia in 1810, and had ten 
children. \\'hen his father celebrated his 
one hundredth birthday he had five children 
living, twenty-three grandchildren and two 
great-grandchildren. He died in this county 
when about eighty years of age. George, 
Jr.. the well known miller at Ricky Point, 
had two children, one of whom is still liv- 
ing. Catherine became IMrs. Brubaker, of 
Preble county, Ohio, and died at the age of 
si.Nty, leaving five sons, who have twelve 
children altogether. John was the father of 
thirteen children and died in Indiana at the 
age of fifty-two years. Benjamin died at 
the age of si.\ty-two. leaving nine children. 
Emanuel died in Laketon. Indiana, leaving 
si.x children living, while si.x had previously 
passed away. Joseph, the \oungcst son and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



231 



last siir\i\-ino- meirljer of tlie family, died at 
the old "Patriarchal Homestead." west of 
Springfield, on the National pike, in the 
spring of 1902. He was the father of six 
children. George Grisso, Sr., lived a quiet, 
]3eaceful life, and on his one hundredth birth- 
day said that he had lived long enough and 
was ready to be taken home. He had no 
disease, and at the time of his death was 
seemingly a healthy man. He was temper- 
ate in labor, eating and drinking ; ne\-er used 
tobacco or tea and but very little coffee ; and 
he never used liquor as a beverage, but, as 
was the old custom, he kept his pure "bitters" 
on the shelf. 

John Grisso, the father of our subject, 
was born in this county in 1836 and in early 
life followed milling. He afterward turned 
his attention to farming, which he carried on 
in Clark county for a number of years, and 
in 1868 he went to Shelby county, Illinois, 
w here he purchased a farm. On account of 
ill health, however, he was advised to return 
to Ohio, but he died in Bethel township soon 
after reaching the county of his nativity. 
His wife, who bore the maiden name of 
Elizabeth Weaver, and was born in this 
county in 1840, is still living. Her father. 
John Weaver, now deceased, was a veteri- 
nary surgeon and farmer and made his home 
in Pike and German townships. Mrs. 
Grisso is a resident of Springfield. By her 
marriage she became the mother of six chil- 
dren : Mary, the wife of D. S. Gordon, of 
Springfield; J. Newton, of this review; Ida, 
the wife of John Eversole, of Bethel town- 
ship ; Oros, who was a m:ember of Battery E 
and was killed by the explosion of a cannon 
at the unveiling of the monument at Gettys- 
burg. Pennsylvania, in 1887; Oron, a twin 
brother of Ores and now a farmer of Spring- 
field township; and Hester E., the wife of 



Dr. Frank Riegel. of Thackery, Ohio-. The 
children all attended the district schools of 
Clark county and Hester E. and J. N. were 
students in the Olive Branch high school of 
Bethel township, while the subject of this 
review also pursued a business course in 
Valparaiso, Indiana. After the death of the 
father the widow remained with her family 
in this county until 1884 and since that time 
has lived in Springfield. , 

J. Newton Grisso, of this review, was 
provided with good educational privileges, 
as previously indicated. During his youth 
he w^orked for a short time as a farm hand 
and was afterward employed at quarrying 
until he had attained his miajority. when he 
accepted a position as clerk in a grocery 
store in Tower Hill. Illinois, remaining in 
that state until 1883, when he became a clerk 
in the store of Stein & Tremont, of Spring- 
field. Subsequently he entered into part- 
nership with William Gordon and they con- 
ducted business for about a year. Later Mr. 
Grisso opened a store alone, and in 1887 he 
became a partner of John Troutman, this 
relation being maintainetl until 1891, when 
our subject sold his interest in the business 
and became a partner of D. S. Gordon. He 
has remained with the company through 
various changes, and since 1892 has been 
manager of the Spot Cash grocery, its suc- 
cess being largely due to his capable control 
and enterprise. 

On the 7th of April, 1891. in Fort 
Wa}'ne, Indiana, Mr. Grisso was married to 
Miss Alice Vordermark, wdio was born there 
in 1 87 1 and pursued a college course after 
completing her common school education. 
She also engaged in teaching in the neigh- 
borhood of Fort Wayne. By her marriage 
she has become the mother of two sons : 
John Palmer, born December 9. 1892; and 



232 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Jay Xewton, born February 2, 1894. Mr. 
Grisso votes independently at local elections, 
but supports the state and national candi- 
dates lit the Democracy. He and his wife 
are charter members of the First Church of 
Christian Scientists and he belongs to An- 
thony Lodge, F. & A. M., having been 
made a Mason in Illinois when twenty-one 
years of age. He is also a member of the 
Commercial Club and nf the Springfield 
Grocers' .Association. He represents a 
worthy and honored pioneer family, and, 
like his ancestors, he is interested in the 
work of improvement and development and 
has carried on the task which they begun by 
contributing to the general progress here. 



WILLIAM P.. MOORES. 

William B. Moores is tlie resilient super- 
intendent of The ^loores Lirae Com]xmy and 
in this capacity is conducting an excellent 
business at Springfield. He was born in 
Springfield township. Hamilton county, 
Ohio. October 5, 1869. His father, John 
P>. C. Moores. also a native of that county, 
was born in 1844 and was a son of William 
B. Moores, Sr.. who was the original con- 
ductor and owner of the business now car- 
ried on by our subject, having established it 
in the early '60s. He was a resident of Cin- 
cinnati. Ohio, and was a prominent and in- 
fluential man. He died in 1870, at which 
time John B. C. ?^Ioores assumed control of 
the enterprise in behalf of his mother. Later 
he and his brother. H. H. Moores. conducted 
the business until the latter purchased the 
interests of his brother in 1890. Iit that 
year a new company, known fts Tbe Moores 
Lime Company, was organized, and in 1895 



the business was incorporated. During the 
past twelve years our subject has been the 
resident manager at Springfield, while F. 
Lawson Moores. who resides in Cincinnati, 
is the president of the company. 

The father of our subject was united in 
marriage to Caroline A. Lawson, who was 
reared in Cincinnati, is a graduate of the 
Glendale Female Seminary and now makes 
her home in her native city. She is a daugh- 
ter of Fenton Lawson. who was the first 
man to introduce gas into Cincinnati, that 
being in the early '40s. He established a 
metal business there about 1823 and the en- 
terprise has gradually grown until it is now 
one of the largest of the kind in the city. 
It is still in possession of the family, being 
controlled by F. H. Lawson. an uncle of our 
subject. Fenton Lawson was one of -fifty 
men who left Cincinnati and established the 
city of Glendale, and both he and \\'illiam 
B. Moores. Sr., the paternal grandfather of 
our subject, became residents of that place. 
His death occurred in the early '50s. The 
Lawsons are a very distinguished people in 
Cincinnati, prominent in both business and 
focial circles. They have contriljuted in no 
small degree to the commercial prosperity 
and upbuilding of that city and other por- 
tions of the state and have also advanced the 
social and intellectual status. The parents 
of our subject also became residents of 
Glendale and there the father died in 1894. 
since which time the mother has returned to 
Cincinnati. They were the parents of three 
children : F. Lawson. who is married and 
resides in Ciincinnati : Florence, the wife of 
George S. Keck, of that city, by whom she 
has three children; and William B.. of this 
icxiew. 

In the ])ublic schools of Hamilton county 
William B. Moores pursued his education. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and at the age of eighteen years lie entered 
into tlie hme business with his uncle and 
father, with wliom he was associated for 
two years. In 1890 he joined liis father and 
brother in the organization of The 'Moores 
Lime Company, which five years later was 
incorporated. Since that time Mr. Moores 
lias been a resident of Springfield, personally 
su]3erintending the conduct of the business 
from that point. In 1895 he began doing a 
retail Inisiness in all kinds of building ma- 
terial, with offices located at the corner of 
Linden a\enue and Washington street. The 
quarries of the company are at Durbin sta- 
tion and a wholesale business is carried on 
nil a very extensive plan, large shipments 
being made throughout Kentnck\, huhana 
and Ohio, while an extensive retail trade is 
conducted in both Cincinnati and Spring- 
field. One hundred and twenty-five men are 
employed at the quarries in getting out stone 
and the product is such as finds a ready sale 
on the market. All kinds of building ma- 
terials of a high grade are also handled and 
the business has increased annually until the 
output now brings a very gratif}'ing and 
satisfactory financial return. 

In the county of his nativity, in 1894,- 
Mr. Moores wedded Miss Leila Huston, who 
was born in Butler county, Ohio, a daughter 
of David and Emih^ Huston, prominent 
people of that locality. Mrs. Moores is a 
graduate of Glendale College and is a most 
highly esteemed lady. They now have three 
children, William Huston, John S. L. and 
Emily Caroline. Their home is at Xo. 48 
Park Llace. ^Irs. Moores is a member of 
tlie Presbyterian church, to the support of 
whicli her husband contributes liberally. 
He belongs to the Commercial Club and 
\'otes with the Republican party when ques- 
ti(.nis of state- and national importance are 



involved, and at local elections casts his bal- 
lot regardless of party affiliations. Through- 
out his entire business career he has been 
connected with one line of business activity. 
This concentration of his energies has en- 
abled him to gain a thorough and accurate 
knowledge of the business in every detail 
and department and his comprehensive un- 
derstanding and unremitting diligence have 
been the means of building up an enterprise 
of importance. All trade transactions have 
been conducted with strict regard to com- 
mercial ethics and therefore the house bears 
a reputation which is commendable and 
worthy of emulation. 



RICHARD THOMAS KELLEY. 

Richard Thomas Kelley is engaged in 
Ijlacksmithing in Green township and his life 
of earnest toil, characterized by fairness in 
his dealings, has made him a respected cit- 
izen of his community. He was born in 
Springfield township, near Beatty, Novem- 
ber 24, 1843, 'i"tl is a son of William C. and 
Miranda C. ( Dudley) Kelley. The father 
was also born in this county and represents 
one of its pioneer families. The first of the 
name tO; come to America was James Kel- 
ley, who was born in Scotland and crossed 
the broad Atlantic to the new world in 
1773, accompanied by a younger brother, 
John Kelley. He settled in Monongalia 
count}', Virginia, where he was married and 
followed farming. At the time when the 
colonists attempted to throw ofi the voke 
of British oppression he joined the Ameri- 
can army and served under Washington at 
\'alley Eorge. ' The sufl'ering enrUned by 
the American heroes at that iilace has be- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



come a matter of history. Mr. Kelley's 
face, ears and head were frozen there, but 
w itli cmn-ageons spirit he and his fellow sol- 
diers endured their sufferings for the cause 
of liberty. When American independence 
was achie\ed he was united in marriage to 
Catherine Stuart, of Virginia. She was of 
Scotch-Irish ancestry. The young couple 
remo\-ed to Fleming county, Kentucky, and 
in the year 1808 came to Clark county, Ohio. 
They were the great-grandparents of our 
subject. Joseph Kelley, the grandfather, 
was- born in [Monongalia county. West Vir- 
ginia, and in Kentucky was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Mary Detrow. In 1813 they 
became /[prominent residents of Clark coun- 
ty, although Mrs. Kelley had visited the 
county the previous year, while her husband 
was serving as a soldier in the war of 181 2. 
William C. Kelley. thefather of om- sub- 
ject, was here Imrn nn the 28th of January, 
1820. and in his youth he learned the black- 
smith's trade, which he followed for a num- 
ber of years in Green and Springtield town- 
ships. Later in life he purchased of his fa- 
ther fifty-seven acres of land and began 
farming, carrying on that pursuit through- 
out the remainder of his business career. Al- 
though reared in the Democratic faith he 
endorsed tlie Whig party on attaining his 
mainritv. and when the Republican party 
sprang into existence he joined the latter or- 
ganization and continued thereafter to fol- 
low its banners. A devoted anil faithful 
member of the Methodist Episcopal church 
be took an active part in its work and served 
as class leader, Sunday-school superintend- 
ent and church trustee and steward. He 
died October 11. 1901, at the very advanced 
age of eighty-one years, and thus passed 
awav one of the honored ]Moneer settlers of 
Clark countv. who for manv vears had been 



a witness of the changes which had occurred, 
the transformation which had been wrought, 
and the progress which had led to the sub- 
stantia! development and prosperity ijf this 
section of the state. In the family of Will- 
iam C. and Miranda C. ( Dudley) Kelley 
were ten children, of whom our subject is 
the eldest, and foiu" sons and two daughters 
are yet living : Lavina is the wife of James 
B. Toland and resides in Jewell county, 
Kansas ; Frances Asbery is married and is 
living in Lyon county, Kansas; George is 
a resident farmer of Urbana, Ohio; Martha 
Ann is the wife of William Baldwin, of 
Madison township, Clark county ; and James 
Edwin is living in Green toumship. 

If one could draw back the curtains of 
the years that cover the boyhood of our 
siil)ject he would find a little lad standing 
before his fatl er's forge blowing the bellows 
in the blacksmith •^bop. He was soi snail 
that he bad to stand on a block in order to 
reach the pole and his stature was also 
heightened in the same way when he began 
swinging the hammer. It will thus be seen 
that his early youth was one of toil. When 
lie was fourteen years of age his father aban- 
doned blacksmithing and turned bis atten- 
tion to farming, so that Mr. Kelly of tliis 
review had a change of work. He tixik his 
place in the fields and was employed on the 
hom.e farm until twenty-one years of age. 
when he began working at the blacksmith's 
trade on his own account and has since fol- 
lowed that pu'-suit, being for thirty-five years 
situated at his present location. Many of 
his present patrons have been with him 
througout this perio<l. It is a noticeable 
fact in his career that when he once secures 
the patronage of a person be has no difficulty 
in retaining it. This is due to his excellent 
workmanship, his jiromiitness and his earn- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



235 



est desire to please, and tliroug-h tlie exer- 
cise of his business ability and his unremit- 
ting diligence he has gained a comfortable 
competence which is well merited. 

On the 24th of October, 1867, Mr. Kelly 
was married to Miss Mary Jane Smith, 
of Springfield township, in which locality 
she was born. Their union has been blessed 
with eight children : Ida Elnora, the wife 
of S. O. Rush, of Springfield, by whom she 
h.as one child, Kenneth : Leo Rush ; Forrest 
Ehner; Charles O. ; Elsie R., the wife of 
John Anderson, of Springfield, by whom she 
has one child, Roland R. ; William Earl ; 
Garwin Chester; and Zoe Goldie. 

Mr. Kelley cast his first presidential vote 
for Grant in 186S, and has since endorsed 
Republican principles and voted for the men 
and measures of the party. He was elected 
and serxed for nine consecutive years as 
justice of the peace and after an interval of 
six years was again elected tO' that position. 
He has tried many cases and, of the seven 
cases wdiich have been appealed, his decision 
has been reversed in only one instance and 
that because of new evidence which was in- 
troduced. He has performed a number of 
marriage ceremonies and was a candidate 
for the nomination for county infirmary di- 
rector in 1902. He belongs to the Method- 
ist Episcopal church, is a class leader, Sun- 
day-school superintendent and licensed ex- 
horter. He has assisted in holding many 
revival meetings and is most earnest and 
-•zealous in his chtuxh work. He belongs to 
Springfield Lodge, Xo. 33, I. O. O. P., and 
for twenty-five years he has been the corre- 
spondent for the Press-Republic, his arti- 
cles, o\-er the initials R. T.. becoming quite 
noted. He gathered the data for the his- 
tory of the Kelley family, which was pub- 
lished in 1900 by Oliver S. Kelley, of 



Springfield. During leisure hours he has 
also written some poetry and various poems 
liave appeared in the Press-Rq^ublic. He is 
a gentleman of strong mentality, of wide 
reading and is a deep thinker, and his in- 
fluence in the intellectual and moral develop- 
ment of his section of Clark county has been 
an important one. 



FRANK L. HATFIELD. 

Frank L. Hatfield, who recently founded 
a tailoring establishment and has already 
won fa\-or with the public, commanding" for 
himself a place as a representative business 
man of Springfield, was born in Wyoming 
count}-, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1867. His 
father. William Hatfield, was born in New 
Jersey and is noAV living retired in this city 
at the age of sixty-seven years, making his 
home with his son Frank. The mother, 
Mrs. Mary E. Hatfield, died in Pennsyl- 
vania in 1897, at the age of fifty-five years. 
The\- had but two children, and the daugh- 
ter, Olivia, died in Boston, Massachusetts. 
The birthplace of our subject was on a farm 
which had been cleared and improved by his 
maternal grandfather, but when Mr. Hat- 
field was only about two years of age his 
parents removed from Wyoming county to 
Pittston, Pennsylvania, where he was reared. 
At the age of sixteen he began earning his 
own living by learning the trade of a coat- 
maker and tailor in this city. When he had 
completed his apprenticeship he was em- 
ployed as a journeyman for a time, working 
as an experienced cutter in various places, 
his term of service extending from a few 
months to four years. He finally came to 
Ohio and followed his trade, locating in 



236 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Springfield in 1898. He accepted the po- 
sition of cutter with Bruce & Pursell. and 
after eighteen months, upon the death of 
Mr. Bruce, he succeeded to a partnership 
in the business, the firm of Pursell & Hat- 
field being formed. After a year he sold 
his interest, however, but continued in the 
house as a cutter for six months. He then 
withdrew and began business for himself 
in March, 1901, locating in the Johnson 
building on East High street. In the spring 
of 1902 he removed to his present location. 
His store is fitted up in a model manner and 
he employs only experienced workmen, so 
that the garments sent out from his estab- 
lishment give uniform satisfaction. He is 
always courteous and obliging, reliable and 
honest and has therefore won a large pa- 
tronage, although he has been in business 
alone lor only about a year and a half. He 
is fast gaining a reputation for conducting 
an up-to-date establishment and his trade is 
increasing rapidly. He has given his per- 
sonal attention to every detail of the busi- 
ness and he buys direct from the wholesale 
houses, making semi-annual trips to the 
east in order to purchase goods and get new 
styles. He has a thorough practical ac- 
quaintance with all branches of the busi- 
ness and is thus capable of directing the la- 
bors of those whom he employs. His store 
is adorned with pictures of his own design- 
ing and he carries a high grade of goods 
ond has a select patronage. 

In Trumanburg. Xew York, in Septem- 
ber. 1890, Mr. Hatfield was married to 
Miss Elizabeth M. Harneston, who was ed- 
ucated in an academy of the Empire state. 
Thev have three children: Elma Hermi- 
■nc. I-'thel Winifred and Vernon LeRoy. 

In church and charitable matters ]Vlr. 
Hatfield is found as a liberal supporter, al- 



though not connected in membership with 
any religious organization. He is quite 
prominent and popular in fraternal circles, 
being a member of Friendship Lodge. No. 
153,- F. & A. M.. of Owego, Xew York; 
Xew Jerusalem Chapter. Xo. 47, R. A. M., 
of Owego: Palestine Commandery. K. T., 
of Springfield : and Antioch Temple (if the 
Mystic Shrine in Dayton. He was made a 
Mason when twenty-one years of age. He 
also belongs to the Benevolent and Protec- 
tive Order of Elks, to the Commercial Club, 
to the }klatinee Gentlemen's Driving Club, 
to the Springfield Gun Club, and to the Co- 
lumbian Republican Qub. The last named 
is indicative of his political views. He and 
his estimable wife, who is a lady of culture 
and refinement, have a pleasant home at 
Xo. 344 W'oodlawn avenue, which is noted 
•for its hospitality and good cheer. The 
strong qualities of Mr. Hiitfield's nature 
h.ave made him popular with many friends, 
while in his business career he has gained 
success by indomitable energy, his skill and 
integrity in the line of his chosen pursuit. 
When he embarked in business here he had 
strong competition to work against, but his 
capability, determination and evident fair- 
ness in all trade transactions have won for 
him the favorable opinion of the public and 
a fair share of public patronage. 



GUSTA\'US S. FOOS. 

There are no rules for building charac- 
ters; there is no rule for achieving success. 
Tlie man who can rise from the ranks to 
a position of eminence is he who can see 
and utilize the opportunities that surround 
his path. The essential conditions <>f human 




GUSTAVUS S. FOOS. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



life are ever the same, the surroundings of 
in(U\iduais ditil'er but sHghtly ; and when one 
man passes another on the liig-hway to reach 
the goal of prosperity before others who 
perhaps start out before him it is because 
he has the power to use advantages which 
probabl)' compass the whole human race. 
For m<_}ire than a half century among the 
most prominent business men of Obio stood 
Gustavtis S. Foos, and his name at once 
brings to mind accomplishments of great 
value. The history of such a man can not 
fail tO' be oif widespread interest, for he 
ranked high in commercial and industrial 
circles, and furtliermore, he proved that ac- 
coimplishnient depends upon the man, and 
not npoai inheritance, or upon influential 
en\iro'nmcnts. Starting out in early boy- 
hood upon his own account, he worked his 
way steadily upward and in the face of dif- 
ficulties anld obstacles he progressed and 
gained foir himself not oaily wealth but an 
honorable name. 

GustaA'US S. Foos was born in Colum- 
bus, Obio, July 8, 1818, representing one of 
the pioneer families of this state. His father. 
General Joseph Foos, was born in Ken- 
tucky, while the mother was a native of 
Virginia and remoived tO' Ohio at a very 
early da,te. When the country became en- 
gaged in the second war with England Gen- 
eral Foos entered the army, serving with 
distinctin-n as a defender of his country. 
He gained prominence in civil affairs in his 
adopted state and for twenty-one years was 
a member of the Ohio legislature, and his 
labors and influence were very effective in 
promoting some of the most inipoirtant leg- 
islation that has established the policv of 
this great commonwealth. 

Mr. Foos of this review was reared in 
the usual manner of farmer lads, earlv ac- 



quiring habits of industry, economy and 
hiinesty, which pro\'ed the foundation upon 
which he reared the superstructure oif his 
prosperity in later years. His preliminary 
education, acquired in the public schools, 
was supplemented by one year's study in 
the high school of Springfield, entering that 
institution at the age o.i sixteen years. Tbe 
west attracted him and he then left hoiiie, 
g"oing to Illinois, where he was engaged in 
farming and in trade pursuits, but after 
three years he returned to his native state, 
settling in Logan county, Ohio, where he 
secured anployment in the store of his 
brother, William Foos, who was a resident 
of Springfield, but is now deceased. After 
three years experience as a salesman, he, in 
partnership with his brother, Lewis, pur- 
chased the store and for several years suc- 
cessfully conducted the 'business. He then 
disposed of his interest to his brother, Lewis 
Foos. 

The year 1848 witnessed the arri\-al of 
Gustavus S. Foos in Spring-field. Here he 
joined his brother William in the ownership 
and conduct of the store and from the for- 
mation of the partnership the business stead- 
ily increased until it reached mammoth pro- 
portions, being second to none in the city. 
A man of resonrceful business ability, Air. 
Foos did not confine his efforts to one line. 
He was cjuick to note, appreciate and in> 
proA-e opportunities. He saw that Spring- 
field had a bright future and had faith in its 
rapid and permanent growth, so that in 1848 
he and his brother purchased fifty acres 
of land, which they laid out in town lots, 
niiw forming the best residence district of 
the city. In 1858 they sold their mercantile 
l:usiness and the subject of this re\'iew 
turned his attention to the stock business, 
purchasing a tract nf lanrl in Illinois which 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lie greatly iir.proved. Another field of busi- 
ness activity claimed his attention in 1858 
;i;i(l he and his brother opened a broker's 
• ,ilice in Springfield. In the meantime he 
had disposed of his land in Illinois at a 
much advanced price, and also disposed of 
his slock l>usiness. Another enterprise of 
\alue to the city owed its origin to 
William and Gustavus Foos, who in i860 
established a private bank in Springfield 
that later became the Second National Bank, 
with William Foos as its president and Gus- 
tavus S. Foos as cashier. The confinemait 
of the bank, however, was not to his liking, 
and in 1862 he resigned his position as 
cashier, although he still remained a stock- 
holder in the institution. The next um- 
portant industry claiming his attention was 
liie purchase and sale of wool, and with his 
usual determination and ability he soon rose 
to the front in this line and became the larg- 
est wool buyer in this section of Ohio. His 
1 usiness interests in various lines prospered 
;is the }-ears passed by until the country be- 
came involved in financial panic in 1873, 
when, with many others of the test business 
men throughout the land, he lost his entire 
fcjrtune. Such a misfortune wowld have ut- 
terly discouraged many a man of a less reso- 
lute spirit. 

Mr. Foos was then fifty-seven years of 
age, with a family about him. He bravely 
faced the situation, however, looked over 
the business fielil and summoned all his en- 
ergv and strength tn meet conditions. As- 
sociated with his two sons, he began the 
manufacture of wringers in a small way, 
and the business capability of the firm, their 
resolution, their honorable dealing and the 
excellent rpjality of the commodity which 
thty placed upon the market soon wrought 
a change in the prospects of the new house 



and their sales continually increased, and 
as their financial resources were thus aug- 
mented they extended the field of their op- 
erations until they became well known as 
nan.ufacturers of agricultural in:plements, 
and this industry reached successful and ex- 
tersive proportions. It was in 1884 that 
Gustavus Foos disposed of his interests in 
agricultural implement manufacturing and 
with his two sons organized the Foos 
Alanufacturing Company, of which he l>e- 
came the president, while Roibert H. Foos 
was vice-presidait, and \\'illiam F. Foos 
treasurer. They began the manufacture of 
grinding mills and portable forges and from 
the beginning met with gratifying success 
in the new undertaking, which in the course 
of a few years becajne one of the largest and 
most important industries in the city, llie 
father was a man O'f excellent abilit_\-, keen 
foresight and sound judgment. He pos- 
sessed, moreover, unfaltering courage and 
determination and throtighout his long ca- 
rter he maintained a reputation that has 
ever made his an honored name in trade cir- 
cles. 

On the .i8th of June, 1849, was cele- 
brated the marriage of Gustavus S. Foos 
and ]\Iiss Elizabeth Flouston, a daughter of 
Dr. Robert Houston, of South Charleston, 
Clark county. Ohio'. Two soais were born 
unto them, Robert H. and William F., who 
became associated with their father in busi- 
ness, and since the death of their father 
they ha\e conducted the large enterprise 
anil n et the demands of their constantly 
growing trade. 

Mr. Foos was a man of don:estic tastes, 
his interest centering in his family, yet he 
found time to faithfully perform his duties 
of citizenship and was always ready to co- 
operate in any movement for the general 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



good. Diirin.o- llie dark daxs of the Rebel- 
lion tlie administration at \\'ashington liad 
no more stalwart friend or supporter than 
Gustavus S. Fuos. He was elected a mem- 
ber O'f the county executive committee and 
gave liberally of his time and means for 
the presei-vatioii o.f the Union. In early life 
he had been a Whig, but when the Republi- 
can party .was fo-rmefl tO' prevent the further 
extension of slavery he joined its ranks and 
was ever afterward one oi its stanch adher- 
ents. The Fo-rty-foiu'th Ohio Regiment was 
largely organized as the result of his efforts 
and his financial aid. It camfe intoi existence 
at a time when public confidence was some- 
what shaken, owing to- the prolonged war 
and the great loss of life on both sides, so 
that few had strong faith in the ultimate 
success of the Union arms, but Mr. Foos, 
in connection with J(bn Alinnick, a worthy 
and wealthy citizen, gave his personal guar- 
antee that all claims against the regiment 
for provisions wo'uld be paid by them, if 
not accepted by the government, and they 
also agreed to see that the families oif those 
enlisting should be cared for. Tliis agree- 
ment was carried O'Ut, both in the letter and 
in the spirit, and many a soldier's home was 
made brighter by the substantial assistance 
^^hich he rendered to the family. 

On tlie nth of July, 1900, death came 
to ;\Ir. Foos. He had attained the ripe old 
age of eighty-two }'ears. In his character 
there was something he. obtained in the 
prin.itive schools where he was educated and 
in Ids early farming experiences, something 
that might be termed solidity Oif purpose, 
and which is a characteristic worthy o-f emu- 
lation. His school privileges were meager, 
yet in the school of experience he had 
learned lessons that made him a well in- 



formed man, broad-minded and liberal in 
his \-iews and witji a charity that reached out 
to all humanity. 



CHARLES A. GASSER. 

A fact of which due recognition is not 
usually accorded in coimection with the 
commercial history of Springfield, is that to 
no foreign element is its development due 
in so large a measure as to those who have 
had their nativity in or trace their lineage 
to the great empire of Germany. Among 
those who left the fatherland to identify 
themselves with American life and institu- 
tions, who have pushed themselves to the 
front and are a credit alike to the land of 
their birth and that of their adoption, is 
Charles A. Gasser, now a successful grocer 
of Springfield, located at No. 238 Clifton 
street. He has made his home in the city 
since 1889 and when his labor had brought 
him capital large enough to enable him to 
begin business on his OAvn account, he estab- 
lished a small store, which has since grown 
until it is now one of the leading grocery 
houses of this city. 

Mr. Gasser was born in Baden, Ger- 
many, January 18, 1867, and is one of two 
sons. His brother John, older than he, 
came to America about 1889, locating in 
Buiifalo, New York, and is now in the em- 
ploy of the Erie Railroad shops at that place. 
Both parents died in Germany. In the 
schools of the fatherland our subject pursued 
his education and when fourteen years of 
age he began earning his own living. He 
spent one year in Italy and was also in 
Switzerland and Austria, being employed in 
the difterent hotels as an experienced waiter. 



242 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



He has traveled all over Europe and has a 
broad knowledge of the old world, its peo- 
ples and their manners and customs. At the 
age of twenty he determined to come to 
America, and in 1887 first visited Spring- 
field, but did not make a permanent loca- 
tion at that time. Going to Cincinnati he 
was there employed in hotels for twenty 
months, after which he returned to this city 
and pursued a course in Nelson's Business 
College, feeling the need of further educa- 
tional training as a preparation for the re- 
sponsible duties of business life. He then 
purchased a small grocery business of Lu- 
ther Smith, located at the corner of Clifton 
and Taylor streets, where he remained four 
and a half years. He secured a new stock of 
goods and afterward removed to No. 2 1 1 
Clifton street, where he spent the succeeding 
six years. He then purchased a lot at No. 
238 Clifton street and erected there a build- 
ing suitable for his business. He now car- 
ries a large line of staple and fancy grocer- 
ies and provisions. When he began business 
for himself he had a cash capital of only 
four hundred dollars. His trade, however, 
has increased many fold and he has substan- 
tially enlarged his stock to meet the grow- 
ing demands of the business until he now has 
a splendidly appointed grocery store and is 
enjoying a profitable trade. 

Mr. Gasser was married in S]iringfield. 
Ohio, in 1895 to Carrie Pfeififer. who was 
born in this city in 1868, a daughter of 
Charles Pfeift'er, who for about twenty-five 
years was foreman for Mast. Foos & Com- 
pany. Mrs. Gasser pursued her education 
in the public schools of this city and by her 
marriage has become the mother of two 
daughters, LilHan and Eliza. The parents 
hold membership in Zion's Lutheran church 
and Mr. Gasser votes with the Repulilican 



party on questions of state and national im- 
portance, but at local elections casts his bal- 
lot independently. He belongs to the 
Springfield Mannerchor and to the Spring- 
field Grocers' Association. He is a self- 
made man whose success has been gained 
through good management and business 
judgment, and from the age of fourteen he 
has depended upon his own resources for a 
Ifving. He realizes that there is no royal 
road to wealth and that the surest way to 
gain prosperity is through indefatigable in- 
dustry. Therefore he has given close at- 
tention to his business, considering no de- 
tail too unimportant to claim his attention, 
and his energy has brought to him a very 
desirable competence. 



PERRY M. STEWART. 

On the roster of county officials in Clark 
county is the name of Perry M. Stewart. 
ni(jre familiarly known as Pearl .M. Stew- 
art, and public commendation is given 
him for capability as the count\- treas- 
urer, for in the exercise of his duties in the 
office of trust which he so ably fills, his 
l)rompt, systematic and thoroughly reliable 
methods have won recognition. As the fam- 
ily name indicates he comes of Scotch an- 
cestry. He was born in Green township. 
Clark county, July 6. 1866, and his father. 
Perry Stewart, was born in the same town- 
ship. June 6, 1 818. The grandfather. John 
T. Stewart, was born in Dauphin county. 
I'ennsylvania. and in 1806 came to Clark 
county. -being one of the first settlers in 
Green townshi]i. where he ")]iened up a farm 
and took an active part in the pioneer de- 
velopment of this piirtiiin of the state. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



243 



Tliroiighniit the first half of tlie last century 
he witnessed the growth and improvement 
of Clark county and passed away in the 
year 1850. In his family were ten children, 
of whom one daughter died in early child- 
hood. Samuel passed away in 1892, antl 
Mrs. David Anderson died in 1901. The 
living members of the family are: Perry, 
the father i:if our subject; Elder R., a miller 
by trade, who makes his home with his 
daughter, JMrs. L. B. Corry ; Charles, who 
is living retired in Springfield; James M., 
who served as probate judge for six years 
and is living in Xenia. Ohio: Thomas E., 
of Clifton, Ohio; Oscar X., who resides in 
Plattsburg; and William C, who is now 
living retired in Springfield. All of the 
members of the family were reared upon the 
home farm and only two of them ever turned 
from agricultural pursuits to enter other 
branches of life. 

Perry Stewart, the father of our sub- 
ject, pursued his studies in the district 
schools of his native township and on enter- 
ing a business career followed the occupa- 
tion to which he had been reared. He car- 
ried on farm work successfully until 1893, 
when he removed to Springfield, where he 
is now living retired. He is a well preserved 
man of eighty-four years and a venerable 
gentleman, honored and respected by all 
who know him. Prominent in public af- 
fairs his fellow townsmen called him to rep- 
resent Clark county in the state legislature, 
where he served during the sessions of 
1868 and 1869. For six years he was also 
county commissioner and was an active party 
worker, doing everything in his power to 
promote the growth and insure the success 
'if Republican principles. He married Rhoda 
\\'heeler. who was born in Clark county 
December 30, 1824. and is still traveling 



life's journey with her husband. Their 
marriage was blessed with ten children, oi 
whom one died at the age of four years, but 
the other nine are still living, as follows ; 
Harriet, the wife of James Hatfield, who 
resides near Clifton, Ohio; Julia, the wife 
of R. XT. Elder, living near Selma, Clark 
county; Da\-id \V., who was a soldier of the 
Civil war and is also living in Qark county; 
John T., an electrician of Greencastle, In- 
diana ; ]\Iary E., who is the w-idow of Sam- 
uel Kerr and makes her home in Washing- 
ton, D. C. ; Charles F.. who- resides near 
Pitchin, Clark county; Jane E., the wife of 
George Nicholson of Springfield ; Perry M., 
of this review' ; and E. W' heeler, wdio is living 
on the home farm. The children were pro- 
\ided with good educational advantages, at- 
tending the district schools of Green town- 
ship and afterw-ard continuing their educa- 
tion in the schools of Antioch and Lebanon. 
At the time of the Civil war the father mani- 
fested his loyalty to the government by en- 
tering the Union army. He and his wife 
are faithful members of the Christian 
church. 

Under the parental roof Perry j\I. Ste- 
wart of this review spent the days of his 
childhood and after acquiring his prelimin- 
ary education in the district schools pursued 
an elective course in Antioch Colege. Sub- 
sequently he took charge of the home farm, 
which he managed for a few years, and then 
for a few years he was employed in a gen- 
eral store in Selma. He was afterward ap- 
pointed as deputy county auditor, serving 
from 1893 to 1895 and in 1897 he was ap- 
pointed deputy county treasurer, acting in 
that capacity until elected to the office of 
treasurer in 1901. He has since filled the 
position and was recenti}- nominated for the 
second term, a fact which indicates that his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



has been a capable service and that he has 
won the confidence and endorsement of the 
public. 

On the i6th of October, 1901, Mr. 
Stewart was united in marriage to Irene B. 
Black, a daughter of Charles R. Black, a 
prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Ross 
county, Ohio. She is a graduate of South 
Salem Seminary. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Stewart are memljers of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church and he belongs to Clark Lodge, 
No. loi, F. & A. M.; Springfield Chapter, 
No. 48, R. A. M. ; Springfield Council, No. 
17, R. & S. M. ; and is a member of the 
Commercial Club of this city. He has made 
his home in Springfield since appointed to 
the position of deputy auditor. In political 
circles he is prominent, and his convictions 
carry weight in the local councils of the Re- 
publican party. He has frequently served 
as a delegate to county and congressional 
conventions and believes most firmly in the 
party as best calculated to promote the na- 
tion's welfare. The Stewart famil\- is an 
old and prominent one in Clark county, hav- 
ing been established here through almost an 
entire century. The record is creditable, 
for representatives of the name have ever 
l-)een honorable and worthy citizens, and the 
history of Perry M. Stewart, the efficient 
county treasurer, adds new luster to the 
honored familv name. 



MARCUS A. HATFIELD. 

It is always a pleasure to see true merit 
suitably rewarded, to behold the prosperity 
of those who eminently deserve it, as does 
the subject of this review. At an early age 
he learned one of the great lessons of life — 



that there is no royal road to wealth, — and 
as he was not above work he toiled indus- 
triously until he has won not only a snug lit- 
tle fortune but also the esteem and confi- 
dence of the people with whom he has been 
associated for many years. Work, the true 
friend of mankind, has developed his latent 
resources and brought out the strong self- 
reliant force of his character. He is widely 
known as a merchant of Pitchin and is con- 
trolling there a constantly growing busi- 
ness. 

ilr. Hatfield was born in Green town- 
ship, Clark county, April i, 1839, his par- 
ents being John and Eva (Garlough) Hat- 
field. The father was born in Henry coun- 
ty, Virginia, and the mother in ^Maryland. 
The former came to Ohio with his father, 
Nathaniel Hatfield, in 1806. The family 
home was established in Spring^eld town- 
ship. The mother of our subject also came 
to Clark county with her father, John Gar- 
lough, who located in Green townshij). and 
when they had reached adult age the }nung 
couple were married in this county. They 
became the parents of twelve children, five 
of whom are still living. 

During his boyhood days Marcus .\. 
Hatfield received a fair common school edu- 
cation and was alxDut twenty years of age 
when he began to earn his own living by the 
operation of rented land. In August, 1861, 
he enlisted in Company G of Burgess' ^\'est- 
ern Sharp Shooters and saw duty in west 
Missouri. In 1862 this regiment became the 
Fourteenth ^Missouri Infantry, and after the 
battle of Shiloh. in which Mr. Hatfield tOL>k 
part, it became the Sixty-sixth Regiment of 
Illinois Volunteers. He was at Fort Don- 
nelson, Fort Henry, Corinth and Atlanta 
and also went with Sherman on the famous 
march to the sea. which proved that the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



245 



strength of the Confederacy had heen drawn 
■from from the interior to defend the borders. 
H'e afterward went from Carolina to Wash- 
ington, where lie marclied in grand review 
throngh the streets of the capital city — one 
of the great \-ictorions host that had pre- 
served the Union. In the .\tlanta cam- 
paign he was hit by a spent ball on the left 
knee. After the battle of Shiloh he was 
taken ill and was ordered tO' go to the hos- 
pital, but would not go, reinaining with his 
company on the field of duty. He was in 
the service for almost four years, through- 
out which period he was found as a faith- 
ful defender of the Union cause, always at 
his post of duty. 

\\'hai the war was over Mr. Hatfield re- 
turned to Clark county and engaged in farm^ 
ing until his father died in 1883, when 
eighty-five years of age, his birth having oc- 
curred in 1799. The mother had died in 
1 88 1, at the age of eighty-one years. For 
some years Mr. Hatfield was in poor health, 
but he continued his farm work with reso- 
lute spirit. In 1888 he purchased a store in 
Pitchin and has since been located here, 
doing a good business as an enterprising 
merchant. 

A Republican in politics, Mr. Hatfield 
cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham 
Lincoln in i860. He has twice assessed the 
township and for many years has served as 
treasurer of the township, being the incum- 
bent of the office at the present time. He 
was appointed postmaster of Pitchin under 
President Harrison and continued in the po- 
sition during a period of President Cleve- 
land's administration. He then retired and 
was afterward appointed by President Mc- 
Kinley. He has supported his party as a 
delegate to various conventions, including 
the state convention, and has been a mem- 



ber of the central committee for several 
years. He belongs to Mitchell Post, No. 45, 
G. A. R., and in 1893 he visited the World's 
Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Mr. 
Hatfield takes an active interest in political 
affairs and in all matters pertaining to gen- 
eral progress and improvement and is a 
worthy type of an enterprising merchant of 
Ohio. 



JOHX F. WYAXT. 

Nature seemed to have designed that the 
strenuous duties of business life should be 
borne by man, \\-hile wooian should attend 
to the lighter tasks of the household. The 
history of business activity is therefore 
largely the record of the men who are im- 
portant factors in industrial, commercial 
and professional circles. One who was well 
known in this connection in Springfield was 
John Franklin Wyant, whO' became a well 
known contractor in the building of roads 
and pikes. Indefatigable and energetic, he 
successfully conducted his business inter- 
ests until his life's labors were ended in 
death. 

Mr. Wyant was born on the old family 
homestead in Moorefield township, Clark 
county, October 21.. 1855, and was there- 
fore forty-six years of age when called to 
his final rest on the 31st of December, 1901. 
He was a son of Jonas and Susan Wyant 
and in the district schools near his home he 
acquired his early education which Avas sup- 
plemented by two years' study in the Ur- 
1 ana high school. He cnntinued to^ li\e 
\vith his parents for two or three years there- 
after, w^orking upon the home farm, and 
then turned his attention to contract work 
in the building of roads and pikes in New 



246 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mooretield and adjoining townships. In 
Alarch. 1885. he removed to Springfield and 
with tliat city as his headquarters he contin- 
ued his work as a contractor, doing much 
work on Springfield's streets. He also did 
similar work in Dayton for a time and ex- 
ecuted some contracts awarded him by the 
Big Four Railroad Company. He was quite 
prosperous in his chosen field of labor, so 
irianaging his business affairs that his ser- 
\ices were of value to the pubnc anci at the 
same time profitable to himself. 

On the 2 1 St of June, 1884, Mr. Wyant 
was married to Miss Minnie Bumcrat, a na- 
tive of Moorefield township and a daughter 
of William and Xancy E. Bumcrat, the 
fi)rnicr now tleceased. while the motlier is 
yet li\ing. P'our children were born unto 
.Mr. and .Mrs. Wyant: Grace, Floyd, Inez 
and Jiihn. Fur nearly thirty years our sub- 
ject was a member of the Knights of Pyth- 
ias fraternity, connected with both the lodge 
and the uniformed rank. His political sup- 
port was given the Democracy, but his busi- 
ness left him little time to seek public olifice 
even had he so desired. In religious belief 
he was a Methodist and died in that faith, 
his remains lieing interred in the cemetery 
at New Moorefield. His record ended, the 
world's judgment upon it was a favorable 
one. He had not only won success in busi- 
ness by well directed effort and close appli- 
cation, Init had also gained a reputation for 
straightforward dealing that made his an 
hnnarablc and liDUored name. 



WILLI.VM HFXRY BERGER. 

William Henry Berger is one of the best 
iwn citizens of Spring-field township. 
Illy intelligent, and a u.-^eful member of 



the community. He was torn in Heidel- 
burg tOAVitship. Berks county, Pennsylvania, 
January 21, 1830, and is a son of Daniel 
and Esther (Body) Berger, who were na- 
tives of the same county. Henrj^ Berger, the 
father of the last named, was a native of 
Germany and became the founder of the 
family in .\nierica, establishing his home in 
Pennsylvania, where he spent his remain- 
ing days. The grandfather of our subject 
resided in the Keystone state throughout his 
entire life, while Daniel Berger was there 
torn and reared, and in his native county 
was married. In his youth he learned 
the trades of a brick and stone mason and 
of a plasterer, and followed these pursuits 
for many }-ears. In the spring of 1838. ac- 
companied by his wife and five children, he 
left Berks county, Pennsylvania, and trav- 
eled o\erland with team and wagon to Qark 
county, being four weeks in making the trip. 
He located in Springfield township when the 
city of Springfield was but a hamlet. He 
first occiipied a vacant house in Lagonda, 
and after renting it and establishing his 
family therein he liegan a search for work, 
and also sought a farm which he tlesired to 
purchase, .\fter a month he Ixnight one 
hundred and thirty-three acres of land, for 
which he paid sixteen and two-third dol- 
lars per acre, and the log building which 
then stood upon the place was tKCupied by 
him for two years. It was covered with 
clapboards, rived by hand and held in place 
by heavy poles. In this primitive pioneer 
cabin the family lived for two years and then 
the father erected a substantial brick resi- 
dence. In course of time lie al.<o built good 
barns and other buildings which are found 
uix)n amcxlern farm, and placed his land 
under a high state of cultivation. 11 is edu- 
cational privileges in youth had been limited 




WILLIAM H. BERGER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



249 



to six months' attendance in the pdjlic 
schools, but he was always fond of reading 
aiid through this means he became a well 
informed man and kept in touch with the 
advanced thought and progress of the times. 
He and his wife were members oif the Ger- 
man Reformed church while in Pennsyl- 
vania, but after coming to Ohioi placed their 
membership in the United Brethren church. 
Mrs. Berger was, like her husband, a native 
of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and her fa- 
ther, Henry Body, was bom in that state, 
where he spent his entire life as a farmer. 
They were married April 12, 1818. 

iMr. Berger, the father of our subject, 
died May 19, 1878, at the advanced age 
of eighty-four years, and his wife passed 
away August 31, 1881, when she had 
reached the age oif about eighty-four, her re- 
mains then being interred by the side of her 
husl>and in the Newcoaiier cemetery. Tliey 
had lived tog^ether in the holy bonds of mat- 
rimony for sixty years, their miutual love 
and confidence increasing as time passed by. 
Untoi them were born the following chil- 
dren : Eliza, born August 11, 1819, died in 
December, 1825; Mary, born December 22, 
1821, died March 30, 1825; Catherine, who 
was born Ncn^emiber 27, 1824, becan:e the 
wife of E. Suver, and died in Illinois, May 
24, 1889; Sairah, born October 9, 1827, mar- 
ried W. J. Shuey, the manager of the United 
Brethren Piiblishing House, and died June 
27, 1901 ; William H. is the fifth oi the 
family ; Daniel, who^ was born October 14, 
1832, and now resides in Dayton, is a min- 
ister of the United Brethren church and for 
a number of years edited the church and 
Sunday-school papers for that denomina- 
tion; and Ellen, born Decem.ber 13, 1834, 
died July 10, 1843. 

^^"illiam H. Berger of this review was 



only eight }ears ,oif age when he came to 
Clark county with his paraits. As he 
gained strength and stature he assisted more 
and more largely in the work oif the home 
farm, being thus employed through the sum- 
mer months, while for three n:onths during 
the winter he pursued his education in the 
district schools. Fond of books, he devoted 
all his leisure time to reading and study, 
and afterw'ard," to his great delight, he was 
allowed to attaid the high school of Spring- 
field for one term. Before he was twenty- 
one years oif age he began teaching in 
Moorefield township in the Hunter district 
and for twenty-six years he followed that 
profession, being for eighteen years a teach- 
er in the Lagonda. school. Diu'ing most oif 
this time he taught only during the winter 
months, while in the summer he carried on 
farm work. In 1866 he bought the old home 
farm, on which two years before he had 
made good and substantial impro\-ements, 
but these were destroyed by fire in March, 
1899. Since then he has relxiilt and now 
has a beautiful home, lying partly within 
the city limits. He has laid out two addi- 
tions toi' the city, known as Berger' s first 
and second additions. 

On the 18th oif March, 1852, occurred 
the marriage of Mr. Berger and Miss Maiy 
J. Jackson, who was born January 1 1, 1830, 
in Loudoun county, Virginia, a daughter of 
John and Mary Jackson, whoi were also- na- 
tives of "Virginia, where they died. Mrs. 
Berger afterward w-as brought to Clark 
county by her uncle, William Moore, wb.en 
seven years of age. Unto our subject and 
his wife have been born five children: Dan- 
iel Franklin, born March 24, 1853, ^''^'^ ^^O'" 
vanber i, 1855; John Mortimer, born, Oc- 
tober 5, 1856, is living in Springfield; Eliza- 
beth Ann. born Octoljer 8, 18^8, is the wife 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of Albert H. Tavenner, of Springfield; Will- 
iam Henry, born in October, 1865, died No- 
vember 9, 1866; and Mary Esther, born 
Noveir.ber 24, 1869, is now Mrs. William 
E. Sneed and resides with her father. She 
has one child, Shirley Pauline, bom De- 
cember 24. 1895. Mrs. Berger was called to 
her final rest July 11, 1.893 and was buried 
in Newcomer cemeten-, her death being 
deeply regi-etted by her m^ny frinds, and 
also in the United Brethren church, of 
which she was a consistent member. 

Mr. Berger belongs to the same church 
and he has been identified with the Prohibi- 
tion party from its organization, teing a 
warm friend of teirperance. He sen-ed for 
three years as township trustee, being elected 
on the Prohibition ticket, and endorsed by 
the workingmen's ticket. In the church he 
has served as a class leader, steward and 
trustee through many years, acting in the 
latter capacity for more than twenty-five 
years, and since 1870 he has Ijeen a Sunday- 
school superintendent without intermission 
and had served several times prior to that 
tim.e. The cause of education' has e\-er found 
in him an interested advocate and for eight- 
een years he was a member of the school 
board. Mr. Berger was one of tlie organ- 
izers of the Newcomer cen-.etery and is still 
a trustee of the same. He has often been 
appointed as a guardian of children, some 
of whom, now in business, yet come to 
him for advice. He has likcAvise settled 
manv estates as administrator and is 
a man of unquestioned probity and integri- 
ty. No trust reposed in him has ever been 
betrayed in the slightest degree and he meets 
evei-y dbligation of citizenship or friendship 
and of hoir.e life. Daily he exemplifies in 
his career his lielief in the advantages of 
education, of temperance anti niDrality and 



over the record of his public career as well 
as his private history there falls no shadow 
of wrong- or suspicion of evil. 



ENOS CONARD. 

In this age of colossal enterprise and 
marked intellectual energy the prominent 
and successful men are those whose abili- 
ties, persistence and courage lead them into 
large undertakings and assume the responsi- 
bilities and labors of leaders in their re- 
spective vocations Success is methodical 
and ci.nsecutive. and however much we 
may indulge in fantastic theorizing as to its 
elements and causation in any isolated in- 
stance, yet in the light of sober investigation 
we will find it to be but a result of the de- 
termined application of one"s abilities and 
powers along the rigidly defined line of la- 
bor. America owes much of her progress 
and advancement to a position foremost 
among the nations of the world to her news- 
papers, and in no line has the lincidental 
broadening out of the sphere of usefulness 
been more marked than in this same line of 
journalism. Springfield has enlisted in its 
newspaper field some of the strongest intel- 
lects of this section of the state, men of 
broad mental grasp, cosmopolitan ideas and 
notable business sagacity. 

Prominent among the men who have 
given the city prestige in this direction must 
be found Enos Conard. the president of the 
Sun Publishing Company. He was born in 
Lancaster. Pennsylvania, September 9, 1854, 
and is a son of Enos Conard. Sr. Tlie fam- 
ily is of German lineage, and in 1753 the 
name was changed from Cunnard to its pres- 
ent form of spelling. In colonial days the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



251 



family was established in America by repre- 
sentatives who settled in the Keystone state. 
The father of our subject was born in Lan- 
caster county, Pennsylvania, February 8, 
18 10, and followed farming as a life work. 
He resided in that state until 185S, when he 
purchased a farm in Highland county, Ohio, 
and removed from there to Hillsboro, this 
state, buying- a farm adjoining the city, upon 
which he lived until his death, which oc- 
curred in August, 1889, when he was sev- 
enty-nine years of age. His wife, who boi'e 
the maiden name of Grace Stacy, was born 
in the north of Ireland in 1818 and died in 
1877. Unto them' were bom six daughters 
and two sons, of whom one died in infancy. 
Sarah J. now resides in Hillslioro, Oliio. 
Anna Salome makes her home in Alarysville, 
Ohio. Catherine is the widow of Edward 
Beeson, of Springfield. Rachel is the wife 
of L. Piper, of Marysville. Enos is the 
next of the family. William S. is engaged 
in the wholesale grocery business in Hills- 
boro. . Elizabeth is the deceased wife of 
George X". Hartman, a successful farmer of 
^^'ilmington, Ohio. She died in 1901. By 
a former marriage the father had seven chil- 
dren, three of whom died in early childhood. 
The others are : Davis, now deceased ; 
John, who is living in Hillsboro; Isaac, a 
resident of Elwood, Illinois, where he is en- 
gaged in the hardware business ; and Emma, 
who became the wife of Cyrus Brewer, of 
Chicago, and died in 1902, while her hus- 
band passed away in this state. Davis, John 
and Isaac were all soldiers of the Civil war, 
who served from President Lincoln's first 
call for troops until the close of hostilities, 
being with the Twelfth and Forty-eighth 
Ohio Regiments. The father of this family 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. A man of domestic tastes, he found 



his greatest enjoyment when in the midst of 
his family and he put forth every effort in 
his power to promote their welfare and hap- 
piness. His children were provided with 
good educational privileges and after attend- 
ing the public schools were students in col- 
leges of Pennsylvania and in the Hillsboro 
Seminary. 

Enos Ccnard, whose name introduces 
this review, pursued his education in . the 
public schools of Hillsboro and was reared 
to manhood upon the home farm until nine- 
teen years of age, when he left the parental 
roof in order to learn a trade and entered 
the carriage shops of the firm of Black & 
Elster, of Hillsboro. There he remained for 
three }'ears, when he went to Rainsboro, 
Ohio, where he carried on business along the 
same line for three years as an employe. He 
then began business on his own account at 
New Vienna, Ohio, at manufacturing and 
repairing carriages in 1878. In 1880, how- 
ever, he sold his business interests there and 
came to Springfield, where he entered the 
paint department of the old Champion works 
of W'hiteley, Fassler & Kelly, ^^■ith that 
firm he remained until 1889, when he became 
connected with the Thomas Manufacturing 
Company as striper in the paint department. 
There he remained for five years, leaving that 
house in August, 1894. On the nth of Sep- 
tember, following, the Morning Sun was 
established, with Mr. Conard as vice presi- 
dent of the Sun Publishing Company and 
circulating manager of the western division. 
In September, 1895, he was elected presi- 
dent and business manager of the company 
and has since held that position. Cnder his 
guidance the business has grown with won- 
derful rapidity and the company has the con- 
fidence of the city and its people and the 
paper enjoys a large circulation. He is also 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



one ct the stockhrJders of the Citizens Na- 
tional Bank. 

In March. 1882, in Springfield, Mr. Con- 
ard was united in marriage to Miss Dora 
I\Iay Mendenhall. who was born in Clark 
county. Ohio, in 1861, and is a daughter 
of Samuel and ^lary (Whittingtou) ^Men- 
denhall, both of whom are now deceased, 
her father having died in 1900. He w^as one 
of the well known millers of the county and 
a reliable, enterprising business man. In his 
family were nine children, eight of whom are 
yet living: Mary, the wife of Aaron Ellis, 
of Clifton. Ohio: Jane, the wife of Henry 
Hopping, of this city ; Amanda, the wife of 
Smith Chambliss, of Xenia. Ohio, where he 
is serving as superintendent of the Kelly 
Tool \\'orks: Sarah, the deceased wife of 
Thomas Wharton, of Xenia; Laura V., the 
widmv of Jacob Fry. of Springfield: Dora, 
the wife of our subject; James, who is an 
engineer in this city ; and Bemis A., who is 
a blacksmith in the employ of the Superior 
Drill Company, of Springfield. Of this fam- 
ily James served as a soldier in the Union 
army during the Civil war. The home of 
Mr. and Mrs. Conard has been blessed with 
two daughters. Helen G.. born September 
12. 1S91 ; and Stacy M.. born December 3. 
1894. Mrs. Conard is a meml>er of the Clif- 
ton A\enue Methodist Episcopal church, 
which the children also attend. 

In his political views Mr. Conard is a 
Republican where questions of national and 
state importance are involved, but at local 
elections, where only municipal afYairs are 
concerned, he votes for the men best quali- 
fied for office. He is a member of Clark 
Lodge. Xo. loi. F. & A. M. ; Moncriefife 
Lodge. Xo. 33. K. P. : and Springfield 
Lodge. Xo. ^-. B. P. O. E. In the Knights 
of Pythias fraternity he has passed all of 



the chairs of the lodge and has been dis- 
trict deputy and special dqxity to the grand 
chancellor for two years, while for two terms 
he served as rqjresentative to the grand 
lodge. He also belongs to the Commercial 
Club and to the board of trade. His life 
history proves the value of a strong char- 
acter, of determined purpose and unremit- 
ting diligence in the active afifairs of life. 
He started upon his business career with no 
pecuniary assistance or si>ecial family ad- 
vantages to aid him, but has progressed by 
reason of his earnest purpose, close applica- 
tion and exercise of natural abilit\- and to- 
day he stands among the successful n.en of 
Springfield and is also classed among those 
that the city values because of his hearty co- 
operation in all movements and measures 
for the general good.. 



WILLIAM WHITELEY. 

For eighty-one years William Whiteley 
was a resident of Clark county and his life 
record should find a prominent place on the 
pages of its history because he was not only 
a representative of a leading pioneer family 
but also because of what he accomplished in 
the business world. He was an inventor of 
note and the founder of one of the leading 
industrial concerns of Springfield — the 
Champion Iron Works, and aside from 
business his life was of value to the com- 
munity because of the active and helpful in- 
terest which he took in many movements 
contributing to general progress and to the 
public good. 

Mr. Whiteley was b( rn in the eastern 
part of Springfield township. Clark county. 
January 18. 1815. a son of Tohn and Chris- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tiana ( HalH ^^'hiteley. The family comes 
of English ancestry and was established in 
Virginia in colonial days when this country 
still belonged to Great Britain. When the 
colonies became aroused with the attitude of 
oppression manifested by the mother coun- 
try Josq>h Whiteley, the grandfather of our 
subject, and his brother John joined the 
American army and fought for the cause of 
liberty, the latter laying doAvn his life on the 
altar of freedom. Joseph Whiteley, how- 
ever, survived his army experience and lived 
to enjoy the liberty for which he fought. 
He reared a large family, including John 
^^"hiteley, the father of our subject. 

John WHiitele}' was born in North Caro- 
lina while his parents were visiting in that 
state, but he always claimed \'irginia as the 
place of his nativity. In 1804 he journeyed 
to Ohio from Kentucky, where he had re- 
sided for several years previous. He came 
simply on a prospecting tour, and in 1810 
he made a similar trip. In the spring of 
181 1 he married Miss Christiana Hall, in 
what is now Clark county, Ohio. She was 
born in Virginia and was of English, Ger- 
man and Scotch descent. Her parents came 
to this state at a very early date in its de- 
velopment. After his marriage John \\'hite- 
ley and his wife returned to Kentucky, where 
he engaged in teaching school until 1814. 
He was a man of good education and proved 
a successful educator of his day. In 1814 
he remo^-ed to this county and became one 
of the first teachers within its borders, teach- 
ing in the neighborhood known as Fletcher 
Chapel. Both he and his wife did their duty 
Avell in the upbuilding of the moral and ma- 
terial interests of the neighborhood and they 
enjoyed the love and respect of the entire 
community. Mr. W'hiteley was for some 
years county ccmmissioner and justice of 



the peace and was known throughout the 
county as Squire \\'hitele}-. Unto him and 
his wife were born seven children : An- 
drew, Freelove, William, Abner. Joseph, 
Nancy and Sarah. 

Upon the home farm C)n which he was 
born the subject of this review was reared. 
The marked characteristic of the family was 
an inventive turn of mind, and naturally 
William Whiteley early took up work along 
this line and from his fertile brain evolved 
many ideas which took shape in devices of 
practical utility. \\'hen on the farm he be- 
gan business in a small way in the manu- 
facture of plows, which have become known 
far and wide as the product of the Champion 
Company. He was a successful in\-entor 
and business man, having not only the abil- 
ity to make improvements in the line of his 
manufactured products but ;also had the 
power to successfully control the manufac- 
ture and sale of these, so that his labors were 
attended with gratifying financial success. 
He was entirely a self-made man, for when 
he entered upon his business career he had 
no capital save the skill arid diligence which 
he put intO' his work. The years, however, 
rewarded him with the just recompense of 
labor and he became the possessor of a very 
gratifying competence. 

In 1848 Mr. Whiteley was married to 
Miss Mary Ann Stickney, a daughter of John 
and Sarah Stickne}', natives of England, 
while Mrs. Whiteley was born in this coun- 
ty. They had but one child. ]\Iary E.. who 
is now li\'ing at No. 408 South Limestone 
street, which was the home of her ]3arents in 
the later years of their life. \Mien ]\Ir. 
Whiteley removed to Springfield he located 
on Mound street, and later removed to- East 
High street, where he remained for twenty- 
five vears. going then to the residence which 



254 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



is now tlie lioiiic of his daughter. In early 
life he joined the Fletcher Methodist Epis- 
copal church, situated near his old home, 
six miles east of Springfield, and was one 
of its trustees. A\"hen he removed to the 
city in 1850 he joined the High Street 
Methodist Episcopal church, of which he 
was a faitliful member until his death. He 
was an open-lianded and large-hearted man, 
who gave freely of his time and means to 
any individual or movement that needed as- 
sistance. His benevolences were many ajid 
few men have done more for Springfield ac- 
cording to their means than did William 
\\'hiteley. It migbt be said of him. as it 
was of Goldsmith's village preacher, that 
"e'en his failings leaned to virtue's side," 
for if he erred in any direction it was on 
the side of too great generosity. His goo<l 
deeds, however, caused him to be enshrined 
in the hearts of many whom he aided and 
befriended and to-(la\- bis memor\- is revered 
by many who knew him. He passed away 
ill January, 181/'- and in January, iqoi. his 
wife was laid by his side in Ferncliff ceme- 
tery. The family name is closely associated 
with the history of tlie county from pioneer 
times down to the present and no member of 
tlie family more deserved the confidence, 
love and respect of liis fellow men than did 
William \Miitelcv. 



EDW I.V K. McIXTTRK. 

Hdwi'i K. McTntirc is the superintend- 
ent ol Snyder park and his capability and 
fitness for tlie position are widely recog- 
nized. He is an enterprising and progres- 
sive young business man and a worthy rep- 
resentative of one of the pioneer families 



of this section of the state. He was born in 
Cloufl county. Kansas, February 4. 1872. 
but since 1875 ^'^'^^ been a resident of this city. 
The ilclntire family is of Scotch lineage 
and was founded in .America at an early day. 
'I'he family was represented in the war of 
18 1 2 and in pioneer times representatives of 
the name came to Clark county, since whicli 
time their descendants have been active fac- 
tors in the work of improvement, develop- 
ment and progress here. William Mcln- 
tire. the grandfather of our subject, was one 
of the first supervisors of Springfield and 
held the office for a quarter of a century. 
His brother John was a government con- 
tractor and became quite wealthy but went 
to Chicago and invested heavily in property 
there, v.hich was destroyed in the great fire 
of October. 1871. Joseph, another brother, 
was sheriff of Clark county for sometime. 
The family was established in Springfield 
townshi]) and also purchased considerable 
land in Cernrin township. They were fam- 
ing people and William Mclntire, the grand- 
father of our subject, becane a \-ery promi- 
nent and infiuential citizen, leaving the im- 
press of his individuality upon public 
thought, feeling and action. 

.Albert Mclntire, the father of our subject. 
was 1)1 rn in Mad River township, Claik 
C( unity, in 1833, and is now living a retired 
life in Springfield. During his business career 
he followed general contracting and construc- 
tion work. He was educated in this county 
.111(1 here made his home until 1865, when he 
removed to Kansas and secured a. homestead 
claim but in 1875 he returned to his native 
county and resumed contracting here. He 
b.ad the contracts for both the old and new 
pumping stations and for the moving of se\- 
eral buildings. He took contracts for heavy 
nia.snn work and in the line of his chosen 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



255 



vocation lie recei\-ed a liberal patronage, do- 
ing a large and lucrative business up to the 
time of his retirement. He is now enjoying 
a well earned rest. By reading and observa- 
tion he" has kept abreast with the times and 
deserves great credit for what he has accom- 
plished, being both a self-educated and a 
self-made man. He was united in marriage 
to Miss Anna Peck, who died in 1888 in 
this city. They became the parents of eleven 
children. Samuel died at the age of six- 
teen years and Ada at the age of twenty 
years. The others are: \\"illiam, who is 
an insurance agent of Springfield ; Benja- 
min, who is a professor in the \V;ishington 
School ; L. May, the wife of James Dick, 
who is assistant superintendent of Fern- 
cliff cemetery; Albert H.. a medical student 
in the Columbus ^Medical College; Edwin 
K., of this review ; Jennie, the wife of Albert 
\\'right, of Springfield; Samael, deceased; 
Sarah, who is a telegraph operator and as- 
sistant manager of the Postal Telegraph 
Company at this place ; John, who is electri- 
cian at the power house for the Dayton, 
Springfield & Urbana Electric road ; and 
Pearl, who is a student in school. It was on 
account of wishing to provide his children 
with better educational privileges that the 
father returned with his family to Ohio and 
here the children were educated in the pub- 
lic schools and in Wittenberg College and 
also in a business college, of this city. 

Edwin K. McTntire was here educated 
and about 1890 he began work as a landscape 
gardener, receiving instruction in this de- 
partment of activity from ^Ir. Dick of the 
Ferncliff cemetery. After the first years" ser- 
vice he had charge of a part of the work. He 
remained in the cemetery for seven years 
and was then appointed by the Snyder Park 
board ti' the position of superintendent ijf 



this park, which he has remodeled, beautify- 
ing it in many \\ays. He now has under his 
supervision forty men, who are engaged in 
keeping up the park and continually improv- 
ing it. This tract of land consists of two 
hundred and se\-enteen acres, well laid out, 
so that it is pleasing to the eye, being one 
of the most beautiful spots in all Spring- 
field. 'Mr. Mclntire has made great ad- 
vancement in his knowledge of landscape 
gardening. He does his own engineering 
and plans his improvements himself and his 
work in all respects has been most creditable 
and satisfactory to the city. 

Mr. Mclntire belongs to the Benevolent 
and Protective Order of Elks and also to In- 
gomar Lodge, No. No. 610, K. of P., and 
to the .Logan Castle of the Knights of the 
Goklen Eagle, in which he has served as 
chief and has also been a representative to 
the grand lodge. He is a young man, of 
good business ability and with excellent skill 
in the line of his chosen pursuit. He pos- 
sesses laudable ambition and enterprise and 
while he has already achieved success he 
will no doubt gain a greater advancement in 
the future. 



HARRY HARVEY SELLERS. 

Harry Harvey Sellers, the cashier in the 
post-ofiice of Springfield, was born in ^\'ar- 
ren county. Ohio, near Lebanon, July 13, 
1868, and is a son of Ferdinand and Re- 
becca (Hormell) Sellers. On the paternal 
side he comes of German lineage and on the 
maternal side is of English descent. Three 
brothers of the name of Sellers came from 
the fatherland to America about 1690 and 
settled in Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. 
Two of them afterward removed to Ham- 



256 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



iltoii comity, Ohio. They tra\-ele(l across 
the country until they reached the Ohio 
river, where they built rafts and then floated 
down the stream to Cincinnati. This was 
in the early part of the eighteenth century 
and from the government they purchased 
land, dividing their attention between farm- 
ing and stock-raising. William Runkel 
Sellers, the father of Ferdinand, was also 
a farmer, but had two brothers who were 
members of the medical profession. He 
settled in Warren county. Ohio, where he 
owned a farm of two hundred acres and also 
conducted what was known as the Four 
Mile House. Tlie Sellers w^rt a sturdy, in- 
telligent, respected and long lived people 
and gained success in their various business 
ventures. The grandfather lived to be about 
eighty years of age and unto him and his 
wife were born eight children, of whom 
three daughters and a son are yet living: 
Mrs. Mary McDonald, who is a widow and 
rsides in Springfield ; Mrs. Melvina Burnett, 
a widow living in AX'arren county. Ohio; 
Mrs. Amanda Russell, a widow of Frank- 
fort, Indiana; and Ferdinand, the father of 
our subject. 

Ferdinand Sellers was born in this state 
in 182S and in his early life was reared on 
a farm and assisted in the work of cultivat- 
ing the fields. In later years he conducted a 
sawmill and followed general merchandis- 
ing in Clinton county, Ohio, where he also 
filled the position of postmaster. His life 
has been one of marked industry. At the 
time of the Civil war be joined the army for 
one hundred days' service. Subsequently 
he removed to Warren county, Ohio, ami 
cared for his father until the latter's death. 
Ferdinand Sellers then embarked in the lum- 
ber business and in the operation of a saw- 
mill in Greene countv. where he was suc- 



ceeded by his son-in-law. E. E. Lackey, of 
Xew Burlington, who still conducts the 
business. ^Ir. Sellers carried on operations 
there until 1895. when he retired to private 
life and is now living in Springfield. The 
family has always been identified with the 
Methodist church and the home of \\'illiam 
R. Sellers, the grandfather, was the abiding 
place of all itinerant preachers and circuit 
riders who visited this section of Ohio in 
an early day. The early political faith of the 
family was that of the Whig party until its 
flissolution. since which time they have been 
Republicans. In 1887 Ferdinand Sellers 
was called upon to mourn the loss of his 
wife, who died at Xew Burlington. Greene 
county, at the age of fifty-nine years, her 
birth having occurred in 1828. Tliey were 
the parents of nine children, of whom two 
died in infancy. The others are: Laura. 
tlie wife of Ellsworth Lackey, of Greene 
county; (^wen M.. a Methodist Episcopal 
preacher of Champaign county; Wilbur S., 
of this city ; Ettie. the wife of Frederick 
Lucas, of" Xenia ; Charles E., a grocer of 
Springfield; .\ddie. a trained nurse of 
Springfield ; and Harry H., of this review. 
The elder children were educated in the pub- 
lic schools of \\'arren county and the young- 
er members of the family in Xew Burling- 
ton. Greene county. 

At the age of fourteen Harry H. Sellers 
put aside his text books in order to earn his 
own living, accepting a clerkship in a gen- 
eral store in X'ew Burlington. He also as- 
sisted his father in the operation of the saw- 
mill. At the age of fifteen he came to 
Springfield and secured a position as wrap- 
]iing clerk in the dry-goods store of Murphy 
Brothers. He left that service in 1885 and 
was afterward taken ill. which necessitated 
his remaining at home for severrd months. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



257 



Again coming to Springfield he secured a 
position with a grocer, wlio was a short- 
hand writer and who in return, for Mr. 
Sellers' services instructed him in the art of 
stenography. When he hecame competent 
to accept a position he left his teacher's ser- 
vices and on the nth of February, 1886, 
entered the employ of Qiarles R. Grain 
with the P. P. Mast Manufacturing Com- 
pany. He filled that position for about 
twenty months, when a vacancy occurred in 
the shipping department and to this he was 
transferred, acting as assistant to the ship- 
ping clerk. He was put in charge of the de- 
partment July 15. 1892, and filled that place 
until the ist of October, 1902, when he ac- 
cepted a position as cashier in the Spring- 
field post-office. He is a man who stands 
high in business circles, because he has al- 
wa}-s been found to be trustworthy, accu- 
rate systematic and prompt. He has made 
his own way in the world from the age of 
fourteen years and his- education has been 
received through practical application and 
business experience. 

Mr. Sellers was married in Springfield 
September 26, 1888, to Miss JMillie Darrow, 
who was born in Dayton, Ohio, in Novem- 
ber, 1869, a daughter of William J. and Isa- 
belle ( Segrove) Darrow. The father is 
now deceased, but the mother makes her 
home with her only child, Mrs. Sellers. The 
latter was educated in the Springfield pub- 
lic schools and the Springfield Seminary and 
like her husband is a member of the [Meth- 
odist church. They have two sons : Dar- 
row Hormell. born June 26, 1889: and Jo- 
seph William, born March 2^, 1893. Mr. 
Sellers is a member of Anthony Lodge. Xo. 
455, F. &• A. M., and was the youngest mas- 
ter to fill that position at the time of his 
service in the office in 1900-1. He was re- 



elected, being the first one to be chosen as 
his own successor in many years. He is also 
a member and treasurer of the Commercial 
Club. Since attaining his majority he has 
lieen a stalwart Republican and is ser\-ing as 
a member of the executi\-e committee of 
Clark county. He has never aspired to any 
official honors, but has been a strong party 
worker, taking an active interest in ward 
politics and frequently serving as a delegate 
to the citv, countv and state conventions. 



JOHX ESTLE JOHXSOX. 

John Estle Johnson is engaged in gen- 
eral farming and stock raising in Green 
township, and is well known in his com- 
niunity as a breeder of polled Jersey cattle, 
having originally introduced this fine breed 
of cattle into Green township. He was born 
in the village of Clifton, Greene county. 
Ohio, April i, 18-15, '^'^^^ is a son of Joseph 
R. and Lydia E. (Estle) Johnson. Joseph 
R. Johnson was a native of Mason county, 
Kentucky, having been born near Mays- 
ville, March 8, 1819. He was a son of James 
and Clemency (Donovan) Johnson, both of 
whom \\ere natives of ^^irginia and had re- 
moved to Iventucky after their marriage, 
and in the Blue Grass state their son Joseph 
R. was born. When he was seven years old, 
his parents removed to Greene county, Ohio, 
in 1826, settling on the farm now owned by 
Charles Birch. Later they remnved to the 
farm now owned by Sebastian (jerhard, 
where the}' spent their remainng days. 
James Johnson died December i. 1830. 
while his wife. Clemency (Donovan) John- 
,son, died December 3. 1837. 

Joseph R. Johnson was the oldest of the 



JHE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



cliiklren at home at tlie time of the tleath of 
the father. He was then about thirteen 
years old, but at this early age he became 
manager of the farm and assisted his mother 
until she too passed away, seven years later. 
He then began to work in the mills of Clif- 
ton, learning the business and remaining 
there for twenty-three years. A\'hile thus 
engaged h^ was married, January 6, 1842, 
to Lydia E. Estle. who was born in Green 
township, Clark county, January 30, 1822, 
and was a daugliter (jf William and Abigail 
( Little) Estle. Byihis marriage there were 
the following children : Clemency married 
Michael iladden and resides in Kenton, 
Hardin county, with her husband and two 
children, Elizabeth and Lulu. The subject 
of this review is the next in order of birth. 
Abigail died at the age of eighteen years. 
Asahel married Lavinia Garlough, resides 
at Pennington Gap, Virginia, and has six 
children — Myrtle; Pearl, who married Dr. 
Graham: Lydia C. ; Catherine; Ulalie and 
Earl. Hannah M.. the next meml>er of 
the family, married Cicero Jacobs and lives 
at Yellow Springs, Ohio. She is the mother 
of six children — James, Elmer. Maude, 
Pearl. Charles and Homer. Ann Maria 
married Harvey Scranton, and li\es in Co- 
lumbus, Georgia. They have one child, 
Ethel. Margaret J. married William Forl^es 
and resides in Miami township, Greene 
county. Three children were born of this 
union — Xora, .\rthur and Curtis. 

Joseph R. Johnson, the father of the sub- 
ject of this review, in iS6o purchased the 
farm called the Clark County farm, compris- 
ing three hundred and thirty-three acres. 
Upon this farm he remi:)ved in 1861 and later 
added one hundred acres to his purchase, 
huilding thereon a substantial l)rick resi- 
dence. There he made his home until he 



sold the property to John H. Thomas. He 
then removed to Springfield. Ohio, wnich 
was his place of residence until the time of 
his death, November 6, 1892. His ballot 
was cast for the Republican party, but he 
never sought or desired office. He was an 
earnest Christian man, a member of the 
First Presbyterian church of Springfield, 
and was serving as one of its deacons at the 
time of his death. His wife had passed away 
twelve years before, her death occurring 
February 29, 1880. He had been a self-re- 
liant man, who through honesty, industry 
and economy had made his way in the 
world. He was faithful in all relations of 
I'fe and attentive to business. In three 
years' time while working in the mills in 
Clifton, lie was absent from his place of 
business but a day and a half, and then only 
upon being called away to Springfield on 
business. He was truly a self-made man, as 
he had neither influence or money when he 
started out upon life's journey, but it scxm 
became e\-ident that he was one whom ob- 
stacles mereh' served as a whetstone upon 
which his ambition was kept brightened, 
and difficulties in his path were brushed 
aside with ease. 

John Estle Johnson of this review was 
rather delicate in his yo^ith. He worked in 
the mill somewhat, assisting his father, and 
had a liking for the miller's trade, but his 
family dissuaded him from pursuing it, as 
it was thought the dust of the mills would be 
very detrimental to his health. His schooling 
also was limited to some extent, owing to his 
health, and when not attending school he 
was sent to 'the home of his grandfather 
Estle. where it was thought he would gain 
sirength. He did not attend school much 
after the age of fifteen. On the 15th of Feb- 
ruary. 1864, he responded to his country's 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



259 



call fnr aid. and at the age of nineteen en- 
listed in Company F. Eighth Ohio Volun- 
teer Cavalry and was sent for service in 
Virginia. He was under fire many times. 
On his first experience in the skirmish line 
a shell hin-st very close to him, in front. 
He was on the skirmish line in the Lynch- 
hnrg raid, was captured at Beverly, \\'est 
Virginia, but was soon recaptured. He was 
later captured again at Beverly, in January, 
[865. and was sent to Libby prison, march- 
ing over the mountains from Beverly. He 
was incarcerated in prison until the latter 
part of February oi that year, when he was 
paroled and sent to Columbus and thence he 
we!it home. Later he returned and served 
witli his regiment until he was honorably 
discharged, July 30, 1865. At the close of 
the war he returned to his home, where he 
remained, working on the farm." 

On the 26th of Xovember, 1867, he 
brought his Ijrirk to the houie farm in 
Green township, where he now resides. The 
lady of his choice was ^Sliss Sarah J. Weller, 
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Wyant) 
Weller. Since his marriage ]\Ir. Johnson 
has carried on agricultural pursuits, culti- 
vating his fields and raising a fine grade of 
stock. His collection of polled Jersey cat- 
tle is among the finest in the state. In 1885 
lie bought a heifer from a thoroughbred 
Jersey male and a native "muley" cow, or 
hornless cow, and from this crossing of 
breeds produced the polled Jersey stock. 
There has been an association formed for 
the breeding of this class of polled Jersey 
cattle, for they are considered very valuable. 
One Jersey cow from ^Nlr. Johnson's breed- 
ing took the premium at the Pan-American 
Exposition for richness of butter. She is 
owned b}' a brother-in-law of ]Mr. Johnson, 
while Mr. Johnsnn jnas in his posession her 



mother and sister. The breeding of fine 
stock has ever been an interesting subject 
to Mr. Johnson and he is well versed in mat- 
ters pertaining to the same. The cattle from 
this breeding are in great demand and IMr. 
Johnsou derives a good income from the 
sale of the same. 

The liome of Mr. and Mrs. Johnson has 
been blessed with five children: Samuel 
\^^, born on the home farm August 29, 
1868, for his first wife chose Alice Budd, by 
whom he had four children. His second 
marriage was with Aranunta Sproull, and 
they now reside in Mansfield, Illinois. Ger- 
trude E., born July 8, 1870, married John 
Budd, resides at New Albany, Indiana, and 
has one child. John O., born June 6, 1873, 
is now cashier for the Northern Pacific Rail- 
road at Whitehall, Montana. He was mar- 
ried November 5, 1902, to Tillie J. Need- 
ham, of that place. Joseph R., born May 
30, 1875, and Jennie A., born April 17, 
1883, '"'^ both at home with their parents. 

Mr. Johnsou has always been a stanch 
Republican. Hte cast his first vote for Abra- 
ham Lincoln in 1864, when nineteen years 
old. In 1887 he removed with his family to 
Van W^ert county, residing in Elgin. There 
he remained for five years. While living 
there he was postiuaster for one and one- 
half }ears, but resigned his position. In 
1900 he took the census in Green township, 
Clark county. He has always worked for 
his party and its interests, and has served 
as a delegate to a number of conventions. A 
member of the Presbyterian church at Clif- 
tiin. he earnestly upholds its teachings and 
principles. Fraternally he is a member of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; 
Springfield Lodge, No. t,t,. F. & A. M., at 
Yellow .Springs ; and also became a member 
oi [Mitchell Post at Springfield. He was a 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



charter member of James A. Elder Post, G. 
A. R., and has tilled all the chairs of that 
order and attended the national re-unions, 
thus keeping up pleasant relationship with 
his old army comrades who wore the blue 
and so faithfully served their country upon 
the battle-fields of the south, who were ever 
faithful in war, and now in peace, like the 
father of their country, are honored in the 
hearts of their countrymen. Mr. Johnson 
was a charter member of the Knights of 
Pythias Lodge at Clifton, has represented 
the order in grand lodge, and has filled all 
the chairs. The life record of Mr. Johnson 
stands out in bold relief, speaking for itself 
in strongest terms of a life well and nobly 
spent. He enjoys the respect, confidence 
and esteem of his fellow citizens and is a 
valued member of the comnumity in which 
he resides. 



ALFf^ED BOWX. 



Alfred Bown is a farmer and stock 
raiser of Madison township, Clark county, 
and is one of Ohio's native sons, his birth 
having occurred in the capital city on the ist 
of June, 1840. . His parents were Thomas 
and Rachel Ellen ( Phillips) Bown. The fa- 
ther was born in Upham, Hampshire. Eng- 
land. September 2, 1809, and his mother's 
liirlh (ccurred in Annapolis, Maryland, De- 
cen her 4. 1815, tlieir marriage being cele- 
brated in Columluis. Ohio, January 28. 
1836. In his native country the father 
ser\e(l a seven years' apprenticeship at the 
trade of painting, decorating and graining. 
\\'hen a young man he sought the business 
opportunities of the new world, crossing the 
Atlantic and taking up his aliode in Colun- 
bus. where he reirained until 1844. His 



wife si>ent lier girlhood days in Washington. 
D. C, and aljout 1S34 accmv.panied her par- 
rents on their removal to Ohio's capital. She 
was a daughter of Stqihen and Rachel Phil- 
lips and had been provided with fair educa- 
tional privileges. In lier new home she 
formed the acquaintance of Mr. Bown and 
to him gave her hand in marriage soon af- 
terward. The parents of our subject re- 
moved to Chillicothe. Ohio, and in 1847 be- 
came residents of Cincinnati, where they 
lived until October, i860. Mr. Bown was 
there engaged in merchandising and manu- 
facturing and prospered in his undertakings 
but afterward lost much that he had ac- 
quired through going security for friends. 
In October, i860, he came to Qark county 
and purchased a farm east of Springfield, 
turning his attention to agricultural pur- 
suits. He was the father of ten children, 
nine of whom reached years of maturity. In 
1 86 1, when President Lincoln issued his 
first call for troops to serve for three months, 
the three oldest sons, William H. H., Thom- 
as Walter and Alfred, enlisted in the L'nion 
army. The first named was engaged in 
business in Cincinnati and was connected 
with the militant- company there. He be- 
came a recruiting officer at Cincinnati and 
remained in Ohio for a number of months, 
but later joined the army as a major of the 
Sixty-first Regiment of Ohio Volunteers. 
He was born October 19, 1836, and on the 
23d of April, 1862. he enlisted and was mus- 
tered in by the governor of Ohio. He was 
also mustered in by Captain Dodd at Camp 
Chase and on the 23d of September, follow- 
ing, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant 
colonel. He died September 6, 1864, at 
Chattanooga, Tennessee, of wounds received 
in the battle ( f Peach Tree Creek, July 20, 
1864. His service was with the Amiv of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tlie Potomac until his corps was transferred 
to tlie west. He liad participated in many 
important engagements. The rebel lead 
struck him in the limb, which had to be am- 
putated the second time, and the injury 
proved fatal. Thomas \\'alter, born July 9, 
1838, was living in Springfield when the - 
country called for aid. He went to Cin- 
cinnati and enlisted in Company C, Fifth 
Ohio Infantry, as a private. On the 5th of 
i\Ia}', 1S61, he was promoted to orderly ser- 
geant by Captain Gordon Granger, who af- 
terward became a general, ^^"hen his three 
months' term of service had expired he again 
went to Cincinnati and re-enlisted in Com- 
pany A, Fifty-second Regiment of O'hioi In- 
fantry, for three years. On the i ith of Sep- 
tember, 1 86 1, this regiment was consolidated 
with the Seventy-first Ohio Volunteer In- 
fantry, and he was made captain of Coanpany 
K, but because of disability he was honor- 
ably discharged in 1862. Later he re-en- 
tered the service, becoming major of the 
One Hundred and Forty-sixth Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry, and was honorably discharged 
in September, 1864. He now resides in 
Marion, Kansas. 

Alfred Bown, of this review, offered his 
services to the government at the same time 
his brothers enlisted and became a private 
of Company C, Fifth O'hio Infantry. He 
was made a sergeant and with that rank 
served during his three months' term. He 
re-enlisted as a member of Company K, Sev- 
enty-first Ohio Infantry, and was mustered 
in for three years' service by \\'. H. H. 
Bown. He took part in the battle of Shi- 
loh and in a number of skirmishes and then 
he, too, was discharged because of physical 
disability on the 31st of December, 1862, 
but his patriotic spirit did not allow him to 
remain at hr>me long and after he had some- 



what recuperated his health he again en- 
listed and was enrolled as captain of Com- 
pany I, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Ohio 
\'olunteer Infantry, for one hundred days' 
service. This regiment was sent to West 
Virginia to do garrison duty and remained 
at the fort for about four months from the 
2d of May, 1864. Mr. Bown was a brave 
and loyaK soldier and was always found at' 
his post of duty until incapacitated by ill 
health. 

During his boyhood our subject assisted 
his father in the work of the farm and re- 
ceived a good common school education. 
After the war he was undecided for a time 
as to what pursuit he would follow. It 
had been his intention to prepare for the 
bar, but in the meantime his father had pur- 
chased the farm and he decided to make 
agriculture his life work. On the 22d of 
March, 1865, he married Miss Caroline 
Peirce, of Madison township, a daughter oi 
William D. and Cosmelia (Howell) Peirce, 
Mr. Bown then turned his attention to farm- 
ing upon the land which is yet his place of 
residence. His wife inherited about three 
hundred and thirty-eight acres of land, but 
the improvements upon the farm have all 
been placed here through the energy and 
business ability of Mr. Bown. Three 
children were bom of his marriage : Will- 
iam P., who was born April 17, 1867, 
and is living in Madison township; Alfred, 
born July 12, 1872 ; and Jessie D. The wife 
and mother died !\Iay 19, 1899. 

]\Ir. Bown votes with the Republican 
party. He holds membership in the Presby- 
terian church, in which he is serving as an 
elder, and he belongs to ]\IcMilIan Post, 
G. A. ^. He is quite active and prominent 
in political affairs, and in matters of public 
interest pertaining to the general welfare he 



262 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



is found as one who endorses all measures 
for the public good. He possesses consider- 
able artistic ability and his home is adorned 
with a numlier of fine paintings from his 
brush. 



JOHN DICK. 

John Dick has occupied the position of 
superintendent of the Ferncliff cemetery 
since November, 1863, and has wrought a 
transformation here of which the people of 
the city could hardh- have dreamed at the 
beginning of his work. Beauty, quiet, rest- 
fulness — all are desirable features of this 
city of the dead, and nature has seemed to 
supplement every effort put forth by Mr. 
Dick and his helpers in their .work to trans- 
form this into one of the most lovely spots 
in all this section of the country. 

Mr. Dick was born in Ayrshire, Scot- 
land. January 14, 1834, his parents being 
David and Jessie (Charles) Dick, the lat- 
ter a descendant of the Stewarts. Both were 
educated in the private schools of their na- 
tive country and the former became a land- 
scape gardener. The paternal grandfather, 
John Dick, for whom our subject was named, 
was also a professional landscape gardener. 
David Dick reinoved with his family to 
Kirkcudbright in 1838 and there followed 
his profession until 1867, when he came to 
America, his son having previously crossed 
the Atlantic. He was employed in Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, in the line of his chosen voca- 
tion for a time and then came with his wife 
to Springfield, where he lived retired until 
called to their final rest, the father passing 
away at the age of eighty }-ears and the 
mother at the age of seventy-two. The 
grandparents had died in the country of 



their birth. Unto David Dick and his wife 
were born six children, two of whom died 
in early childhood and are buried in Scot- 
land. The others are: John, of this re- 
view; Agnes, of Springfiedt the widow of 
James Hay, who died in Cincinnati, Ohio; 
David, a landscape artist, who died in Mem- 
phis, Tennessee, and was buried in Ferncliff; 
James, who followed the same pursuit in 
Dayton, Kentucky, and at his death was laid 
to rest-in Ferncliff' beside his father, mother 
and brother. The children -were educated in 
excellent schools of Scotland and had* every 
advantage that would assist them in the 
preparation for the practical and responsible 
duties of life. 

After acquiring a good literary educa- 
tion John Dick studied in the Royal Botanic 
Gardens of Edinburgh, the best in the 
country. During the periods of vacation he 
worked with his father and learned the rudi- 
ments of his profession for which he was 
preparing. After his school days were over 
he served an apprenticeship under the direc- 
tion of his father, and at the age of eighteen 
went to Edinburgh, where for two years 
he was under Curator James McXabb and 
Professor Balfour, who was professor of 
botany in the college. In 1854 he started 
for this country and was first employed in 
the United States on Long Island in laying 
out parks for some Xew York people. He 
remained in that section of the country, how- 
ever, for only a short time, making his way 
westward to Cincinnati, Ohio, and in the fall 
of 1863 he came to Springfield on the rec- 
ommendation of Adolph Strauch, who was 
superintendent of the Spring Grove ceme- 
tery in Cincinnati. Mr. Strauch was one of 
the most experienced and thorough land- 
scape artists in the country. He was of 
German birth and had traveled extensively 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



263 



both in Europe and the United States. His 
death occurred in Spring Grove several 
years ago. From him Mr. Dick received 
some valuable infomiation, which he has 
since utilized in his work. When he located 
in this city our subject and his brother 
David, who was then assistant superinten- 
dent under Mr. Strauch, came to inspect the 
location of Ferncliff, and both agreed that it 
was an ideal spot for the purpose selected. 
In the fall of 1S63 our subject and his wife 
came to this city, which has since been their 
home. He was selected by the trustees of 
the cemetery association to improve the wil- 
derness and convert it into what was then 
beyond the expectations of any one, but the 
labors of Mr. Dick have made it a most 
beautiful spot in the state of Ohio. .The 
fruits of his labors can be seen in the ar- 
rangements of the avenues, drainage and 
work as a designer by visiting the cemetery. 
From time to time he has and is adding new 
improvements. He does his own leveling 
and surveying and knows every foot of 
ground in the cemetery. His experience as 
a landscape artist is such that in filling in 
and cutting out various places he has 
brought the natural and artificial in such 
harmonic contact that the latter is not de- 
tected. In all his work he has retained the 
natural element as much as possible. His 
entire time and energy have been devoted to 
improving and beautifying the cemetery. 
Tlie entrance has been preserved in almost 
its entirety except in the roadway, and the 
plans are now under way for a beautiful 
stone conservatory and chapel on the south 
side with a broad entrance from Plum street. 
The home for the use of the superintendent 
was built on an eminence overlooking the 
valley and was the spot chosen by i\Ir. Dick 
manv vears ago. It is a modern stone 



structure and the style of architecture was 
the first of the kind used in Spring-field. The 
dri\-eway is lined with natural flowers, trees 
and shrubs and as it winds about the large 
overhanging rocks a sight most beautiful is 
presented. Winding up the avenue one 
comes in view of the plats laid out on the 
rising ground. The beautiful little lake at 
the foot is the donation of O. S. Kelly, an 
old settler and highly esteemed gentleman of 
the city, who has donated his time, money 
and influence toward carrying out the plans 
as laid out by Superintendent Dick. To 
Gustavus Foos is also due great praise, for 
he is one who gave his personal attention to 
beautifying the eastern slope. Tlie whole 
has been carefully laid out by Mr. Dick and 
carried to completion under the supervision 
of the board of trustees. There can be no 
better monument to the memory of Mr. Dick 
than this beautiful cemetery, which is the 
outcome of his skill, ability and labor. Visi- 
tors who have taveled all over the old coun- 
try and the United States and having visited 
Ferncliff are unanimous in saying that it is 
the most beautiful spot that they have ever 
seen. 

Mr. Dick was married in 1863 to Cath- 
erine Fitsimmons, of Cincinnati, Ohios and 
unto them were born four children. Charles 
is deceased. James F.. who for several 
years has been assistant superintendent of 
Fernclifif, is a graduate of the public schools 
of this city and was a student at Wittenberg 
College for a time. He has followed in his 
father's footsteps, making four generations 
to be connected with landscape gardening. 
He has assisted his father in carrying out 
his designs, taking great interest in build- 
ing up and beautifying the cemetery. He 
has a host of friends and is a very active 
young man in S(xial circles. He married a 



264 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Miss Mclntire and they have one daughter, 
Catherine. Jessie, the third member of the 
family, is the wife of Stacy Buffenbarger, of 
Springfield, and has four children. Mary is 
deceased. The wife and mother died in 
Springfield in 1879, and in 1881 Mr. Dick 
was again married, his second union being 
with Margaret Simons, who was born in 
Pennsylvania. All the children were edu- 
cated and married in this city. 

Mr. Dick is a supporter of all church and 
charitable work and holds membership with 
the Presbyterian denomination, while his 
wife l>elongs to the Lutheran church. He 
is also connected with Springfield Lodge, L 
O. O. P"., and Mad River Encampment. To 
all enterprises that have tended to advance 
the interests of the people and develop the 
city he has been an advocate and supporter. 
He has made landscape gardening his life 
work and it has been his ambition and desire 
to complete the various improvements and 
plans before he, too, should be laid to rest in 
the place he has prepared. He has refused 
lucrative offers in other lines in order to see 
his cherished plans carried to completion. 
He has met discouragements and difficulties, 
being criticised by many, but he has perse- 
vered in his work and there is to-day ho citi- 
zen of Springfield who is not proud of Fern- 
cliff. A self-made man, he owes his success 
antl advancement entirely to his own efforts. 
He has made the Golden Rule the motto of 
his life and his career is therefore one that 
commands the respect and admiration of all 
with whom he has come in contact. 

J. T. McLAUGHLLX, M. D. 
The state of Ohio, with its pulsing in- 
dustrial activities and rapid development, 
has attracted within its cnnfines n.en of 



narked abilitv and high character in the 
\arious professional lines, and in this way 
progress has been conser\ed and social sta- 
i)ility fostered. He whose name initiates 
this review has gained recognition as one 
of the able and successful physicians of the 
state, and by his labors, his high professional 
attainments and his sterling characteristics 
has justified the respect and confidence in 
which he is held l)y the medical fraternity 
and the local public. 

Dr. AIcLaughlin was lx>rn in Bellefon- 
taine, Logan county, Ohio. March 29, 1844, 
and comes of Scotch lineage. His paternal 
grandfather, William McLaughlin, was lx>rn 
in the land of hills and heather near the city 
of Edinburgh and became the founder of the 
family in America. He was a farmer by 
occupation and died at Old Tcnvn, MaiT- 
land, at the age of eighty years. His son, 
George F. McLaughlin, the Doctor's father, 
was torn in Maryland, became a well edu- 
cated' man and in early life remo\ed to Ohio, 
becoming a teacher in the schools of Belle- 
fontaine. He was mairied near Urbana, in 
Champaign county, to Miss Rosanna F. 
Monroe, who was torn in Virginia. She, 
too, was of Scotch lineage and a daughter of 
James Monroe, a nqjhew of President^ Mon- 
roe of the United States. George F. Mc- 
Laughlin built the first public school house 
in Bellefontaine and conducted a school for 
eight years, in which won"k he was assisted 
by his wife, but his useful career was ter- 
n.inated by the hand of death in 1844, at 
the age of forty- four years. Our subject 
was their only child. After the death of 
her first husband the mother was again mar- 
ried, becoming the wife of Dr. Alexander 
Holmes Baldridge, and they had three chil- 
dren. Dr. Baldridge was one of the faculty 
of the Eclectic Medical College, of Cincin- 




J. T. McLaughlin, m. d. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



267 



nati, Ohio, for sixteen years. Both he and 
his wife, the mother of our sul^ject. died in 
Urbana. Tlieir cJiildren were: Landora 
Anerva, Laura Lueha and James Mmnroe, 
all residents of Springiield. 

Dr. McLaughlin of this re\-iew pursued 
his earljr education in the public schools and 
was graduated in the Urbana Oollegiate Li- 
stitute of the class of 1864. He afterward 
read medicine under the direction of his 
step- father, Dr. A. H. Baldridge. and then 
entered the Eclectic Medical Institute of 
Cincinnati, in which he was graduated with 
the highest honors of his class in the spring 
of 1867. He then returned toi Urbana, 
where he practiced for about a year, after 
which he remo\-ed to Xenia, Greene county, 
remaining in that city until he came to 
Springfield in the spring of 1S74. Here 
he became associated \\ith Dr. L. E. Rus- 
sell and the partnership was maintained un- 
til 1886, since which time out subject has 
been alone. He has built up a large and 
extensive practice in the city and ranks high 
as a physician and surgeon. While connect- 
ed with Dr. Russell he built an office next 
U) the one which he now occupies and since 
the dissolution of the partnership he has 
been located at his present place, enjoying 
a constantly increasing business. 

In Springboro', Warren county, Ohio, 
in 1892, Dr. McLaughlin was united in 
marriage to Aliss Mary Emma ^^'ilson, a 
native of that place and a daughter of 
Aaron and Sarah Jane (Brown) Wilson, 
who were farming people of that count}-. 
The mother was born in 1820 and is now re- 
siding with the Doctor and his wife. In 
the family were five children, but JNIrs. Mc- 
Laughlin is the only sur\-iving member. Sbe 
is a graduate of the Springboro Institute 
and is a ladv O'f culture and refinement, and 



of domestic tastes, presiding graciously over 
her pleasant home. The Doctor exercises 
his rig-ht of franchise in support of the men 
and measures oi the Prohibitionist partv. 
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity 
and is a prominent member of the Ohio 
State Eclectic Medical Association, oi which 
he served as secretary for fifteen years, at- 
tending all of its conventions. For a num- 
ber of years he was jail physician, and at 
tlie same time he had charge of a large pri- 
\-ate practice, his patronage indicating the 
confidence and trust reposed in him Ijy the 
public. 



OLIVER H. MILLER. 

01i\er H. Miller is engaged in the prac- 
tice of law in Springfield. He was born in 
Clark county, Ohio, October 10, 1862, and 
is a representative of two of the old families 
of this portion of the state. He traces his 
ancestry back to Moses Miller, who was 
born in England on the ist of August, 1759, 
and on leaving his native land emigrated to 
New Jersey, where he was married in 1780. 
He came to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1791, and 
spent his last days in Clark county, where 
he passed away in 1814, having removed 
from Cincinnati to this locality in 1806. He 
took up his abode in Mad River township, 
following farming there. At the usual gov- 
ernment price he purchased nearly one thou- 
sand acres of land, which his descendants 
still have in their possession. He married 
Phrtbe Baker, who was born in New Jersey 
December 31, 1761. She had two brothers, 
Jonathan and Melyn, wdio came to Clark 
county about 1806 and settled on adjdining 
land in Mad River township. 

Moses Miller and his wife became the 



268 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



parents of eight children, of whom ilelyn 
IMiller, the grandfather of our subject, was 
tlie eighth in order of l)irth. He was born 
in Cincinnati in 1801 and died in Clark 
county January 15, 1854. Like the other' 
members di the family he pursued his edu- 
cation in the early schools of this county, 
was reared amid the wild scenes of frontier 
life and followed farming and cabinet mak- 
ing in order to provide for his wife and chil- 
dren. The Millers are not a long-lived race, 
nor ha\e they married early in life and of 
this particular branch of the family there are 
but few descendants. The land originally 
owned by the grandfather has always re- 
mained in the family. Melyn Baker Miller, 
the grandfather, was married to Christena 
Powell, of LIrbana, Ohio, who was born 
April 15, 1803, and died October 16, 1884. 
Their marriage was celebrated March 12, 
1823. Melyn B. ^Miller acquired consider- 
able of the land belonging to the original 
purchase and upon his farm he reared his 
family, numbering ten children, of whom 
but one is now living, Melyn H. Miller, who 
resides upon the old family homestead. He 
was born August 28, 1836. Of this family 
all the children were born and educated in 
Clark county. Seven of the number, five 
sons and two daughters, reached mature 
years. Sylvester had one son who is still 
living- -Edgar .S., a dentist, of Indianapolis, 
— while Abram Powell had three children 
and the others died leaving no descendants. 
Abram Powell Miller, the father of our 
subject, was the ninth child of his parents' 
family and was born in 1839. On the ma- 
ternal side he is a representative of the 
Powell family which originally emigrated 
from Virginia to Kentucky, but on- account 
of a poor land title in the latter state they 
came to Ohio, settling in Urbana. Abram 



Powell Miller became a prosperous farmer 
of Clark county. He inherited some of the 
land of the Closes' Miller purchase, added 
to that and possessed at the time of his 
death a very valuable farm of three hundred 
and twenty-five acres. Abram Powell Mil- 
ler was married October 20, 1861, to Mary 
Cox, a daughter of George W. Cox, a farm- 
er of this count}". Her mother bore the 
maiden name of Lois H. Baker, belonging to 
an early pioneer family that removed from 
New Jersey to Clark county. Three sons 
were born of this marriage : Oliver H. ; 
Albertus Cox, who is married and resides 
upon a farm in Mad River township and has 
two children — Mary J., and Eldon G. ; and 
Lioval O., who is a mechanic, is married 
and resides in Springfield. Abram P. Mil- 
ler, the father of these children, died in the 
year 1897, at the age of fifty-eight years, 
his birth having occurred on the 10th of 
July, 1839. His wife passed away April 20, 
1 88 1, and they were laid to rest in the ceme- 
tery at Enon. Ohio. 

]t will be interesting in this connection 
to know something of the maternal ancestry 
of our subject, who in that line is descended 
from Melyn Baker, who was born I\Iay 18, 
1793, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was a son of 
Melyn Baker, Sr., who was born Jan- 
uary 10, 1760, and became a resident of 
Clark county in 1806. He served his coun- 
try as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, 
belonging to the Xew Jersey Artillery and 
was wounded in the army but never asked 
for a pension. His wife, Pha'be Baker, was 
bom December 31, 1761. His death oc- 
curred January 20. 1826. while she died 
in Clark countv, November 4, 1813. Tlie 
Bakers owned two sections of land in Mad 
River township and the Millers a section 
and a half. Both .families carried on farm- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



269 



ing on an extensive scale. Their land was 
all covered with heavy timber which they 
cleared away and improved the fields, trans- 
forming the tract into richly cultivated land. 
To-day of the eight hundred and sixty acres 
owned by the Millers, only forty acres is 
still covered with the native timber. The 
Millers and Bakers Avere about the fifth and ■ 
.^ixth families to establish homes in j\Iad 
River tow^nship and since that time repre- 
sentatives of both families have carried on 
general farming here. Our subject now has 
in his possession a land patent which was 
signed by Thomas Jefferson, the president 
of the United States, in 1806. Of the tract 
of eight hundred and sixty acres of land 
above mentioned, nearly all is yet in the pos- 
session of the Miller family and the subject 
ijf this re\-iew is the owner of one hundred 
and thirty-five acres of that tract and twen- 
ty-five acres of the Baker tract. 

r^Ielyn Baker, Jr., was united in mar- 
riage to ]\Iary I.ayton, who was born in 
Clark county December 13, 1797. She was 
a very bright and intelligent woman, retain- 
ing her mental faculties up to the time of 
her death, which occurred January 8, 1879. 
Her husband had long since passed away, 
liaving died in Clark county June 4, 1844. 
They were the parents of nine children, of 
whom seven reached years of maturity. 
Oliver H. Miller, of this review, has now in 
preparation a genealogy of the Miller family 
and is well posted upon the family history. 

In the district schools our subject pur- 
sued his early education and later became a 
student in Wittenberg College at Spring- 
field, Ohio, where he completed the work of 
the junior year. In 1886 he began the study 
of law under General J. Warren Keifer, and 
in 1887 he became a student in the Cincin- 
nati Law School, where he was graduatetl 



in May. 1888. Immediately afterward he 
returned to Springfield where he opened an 
otBce and during his fourteen years' con- 
nection with the bar here, he has built up a 
practice which has constantly grown in vol- 
ume and importance. 

On the 15th of February, 1900, Mr. Mil- 
ler was united in marriage to ]\Iiss Adra R. 
Hutchinson, a daughter of John and ]Mar- 
tha (Kelly) Hutchinson. She was born in 
Clark county, Ohio. Her father was a stair- 
builder and cabinet-maker, and died in 1898, 
\\ hen about sixty-nine years of age, his birth 
having occurred in 1829. His widow now 
makes her home with Mrs. ]\Iiller, who was 
an only daughter. 

In his political views ]\Ir. Miller is a Re- 
publican and has been an active worker in 
his party, for he believes firmly in its prin- 
ciples. He served as secretary of the i^e- 
publican central committee from 1892 until 
1897. and was its chairman in 1899. In 
1802 he was elected secretary of the school 
board and has served in that capacity con- 
tinuously since, the cause of education find- 
ing in him a warm and earnest friend. He 
was the first librarian of the Clark County 
Law Library and is a member of the Clark 
County Bar Association. H(e belongs to 
Ingomar Lodge, No. 610, K. of P., in which 
he has served as master of finances since 
1892. Mr. Miller is a worthy representative 
of pioneer families of Clark county. His an- 
cestors began the work of development and 
improvement liere. This task was carried 
on by representatives of later generations 
and at the present time the subject of this 
review is performing his full share in the 
advancement and upbuilding of the county. 
The family name figures prominently upon 
the pages of Clark county's history and 
Oliver H. ]Mil!er is now recognized as an 



270 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



active factur in iirofessinnal circles. ha\ing 
■-'ttained creditable success as a member of 
the bar. 



jAMI'S R. LITTLER. 
In the history of the business enterprises 
of Pitchin James R. Littler deserves men- 
tion as a representative of industrial life of 
the town. He also may well be numbered 
among the veterans of the Civil war to 
whom the country owes a de1)t of gratitude 
for his efforts in preserving the LTnion. He 
is one of Ohio's native sons, his birth hav- 
ing occurred in Clifton, Greene county, Sep- 
tember 9, 1837. His parents, Nathan and 
Belinda (Sellers) Littler, were early set- 
tlers of Ohio. They were born in Virginia 
between \\'inchester and Martinsburg on 
Back creek, along Applepie ridge. Both 
came lo Ohio with their respective parents. 
Nathan Littler, the paternal grandfather of 
our subject, settled in Greene county, near 
Clifton, while the materiTal grandfather, 
Paulser Sellers, took up his abode near Sel- 
ma in Greene county. The young ijeople 
were married in this state. Tlie father was 
a miller by trade, working all over the coun- 
tv. l)ut made his home in Clifton. Live chil- 
dren were born of this union : John, who 
married and left several children, was a sol- 
dier in the Sixtieth Ohio Volunteer In- 
fantry and was captured at Harper's Ferry 
but soon afterward was paroled. He lived 
tt:> the advanced age of si.xt^-two years. 
James R. is the second of the family. Sam- 
uel died in childhood. Sarah J. became the 
wife of Owen Garlough and after his death 
married B. F. Garlough. Henry Clay, who 
was also a soldier, belonging to the Seven- 
teenth I'nitcd States Regulars, now resides 
in Xenia. 



James R. Littler was a youth of tifteen 
years when his father died. He afterward 
made his home with his maternal grand- 
parents until 1855. when he went to Cedar- 
\ille, Ohii>, to serve as an apprentice to a 
Ijlacksmith. He received thirty-seven dol- 
lars for his serices the first year, sixty dol- 
lars for the second year and seventy-five 
dollars for the third year. \\'hen he had 
completed his apprenticeship he worked in 
Cedarville as a joiu'neyn.an and also in New 
Burlington. 

I\lr. Littler was married in the latter 
place .April 17, 1861, to :Miss ;Margaret J. 
Hurle}-, a daughter of Henry and Sarah 
(Moffatt) Hurley. He afterward returned 
to Cedarxille and became a partner of his 
former employer, J. R. Cooper, but soon he 
put aside all business relations and in Au- 
gust, i8()j. enlisted for service in the Union 
army, becoming a member of Company F, 
lH)rty-fourth Ohio \'olunteer Infantry, as 
a private. He was lirst sent to West \'ir- 
ginia and was under fire at Brtwkville, Ken- 
tucky. Later he participated in a numl>er 
of hard fought battles and in many skir- 
nn'shes and in February, 1864, he veteran- 
ied, becoming a member of the Eighth Ohio 
Cavalry, the first veteran cavalry regiment 
of Ohio. He saw much hard fighting and 
was found in the thickest of the engage- 
ment. They participated in the battle of 
L}nchburg. The regiment was then di- 
vided and Mr. Littler was with that portion 
that oi)erated in the Shenandnah X'alley un- 
der General Sheridan. With his command 
he was captured at Beverly, West \'irginia. 
being held a prisoner from the nth of Janu- 
ary until the latter part of February in 
Liliby. Then with others he was exchanged. 
Throughout his entire army life he was 
always found -at his post of duty, whether 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



it took liim to the lonel}- picket line or led 
him into the midst cif the field (if carnage. 

After his return home Mr. Littler es- 
tablished a l)lacksmith shup at Gurneyville, 
Clinton count}-, Ohio, where he remained 
for about seventeen months and then took 
up his abode in Sharon, where he remained 
for eleven }'ears. On the expiration of that 
period he came to Pitchin in 1877 and has 
since conducted a blacksmith shop at this 
place, having a good patronage. 

L'nto Air. and ]\Irs. Littler ha\-e been 
born twelve children. Those living are: 
Clayton B., Frank R., Joella, Jennie M., 
\\'iliam, Clyde, Goldie, Loreii and Glenn. 
Their third child, Sarah, died at the age of 
twenty-six years, and James H. and Mary 
E. died in childhood. In i860 Mr. Littler 
cast his first presidential vote, supporting 
Lincoln in that }'ear and again in 1864. He 
voted while in the saddle, the rebel balls try- 
ing all around him. He is a member of 
Xenia Lodge, F. & A. M. ; Mitchell Post, 
G. A. R., of Springfield; and also became a 
member of the subordinate lodge and en- 
campment of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows. He has attended fourteen national 
re-unions of the Grand Army of the Repub- 
lic and has been active in political work, 
serving many times as a delegate to conven- 
tions of his party. 



^^TLLIAM H. OWEX. 

The glory of our republic is in the per- 
petuation of individuality and in the accord- 
ing of the utmost scope for individual ac- 
complishment. Of America is the self-made 
man a product, and the record of his ac- 
complishments is the record which the true 
and loyal American holds in deepest regard 



and highest honor. In tracing tlie career of 
the subject of this review we are enabled to 
gain a recognition of this sort of a record. 
There is particular interest attaching to the 
points which mark his progress in life as 
he has steadily advanced, through capabil- 
ity, determination and perseverance, to a 
prominent position in the industrial world, 
being now extensively and successfully en- 
gaged in the manufacture of milling ma- 
chines and machine tools in Springfield, 
Ohio. 

^\'illiam H. Owen was born in Glenham, 
Dutchess county, X'ew York, October 26, 
1850, his parents being Morgan and Har- 
riett (Rodgers) Oavch. The family is of 
Welsh lineage on the paternal side and in 
the maternal line comes of English extrac- 
tion. David Owen, the grandfather of our. 
subject, was a soldier of the war of 1812. 
The parents were both born and reared in 
Dutchess county, Xew York, where they 
spent their entire lives. The father was a 
contractor for heavy work and also- carried 
on agricultural pursuits. His birth occurred 
in Matteawan, X'ew York, in 18 16, and in 
March, 1896, he was called to his final rest, 
having attained the ripe old age of eighty 
years. He had but limited school privileges, 
but he made the most of his opportunities 
and his life work and accomplishments were 
most creditable. His political support was 
given the Democracy in the early years of 
his manhood, but he afterward became iden- 
tified with the Republican party and held 
some local oftices. Reading, experience and 
observation made him a well informed man 
and he exercised not a little influence in Ijusi- 
ness and political life. Both he and his wife 
were active and consistent members of the 
Methodist Episcopal church and their fidel- 
ity to Christian teachings made them people 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of the highest respectability, honored wher- 
ever they were known. ^Mrs. Owen, who 
was born in 1817, died in April, 1901, hav- 
ing spent her entire life in Dutchess coiuity. 
This worthy couple were the parents of ten 
children, of whom four are yet living. 
James, the eldest, became a member of the_ 
Uninn army at the first call of President Lin- ' 
coin for troops, served in the navy for a 
time. later enlisted in the United States cav- 
alrv service and* afterward Ijecame a member 
of the heavy artillery. He served for five 
years or until the close of the war and he 
now resides in Salem, Illinois, where he fol- 
lows farming. Sarah J. is the wife of C. B. 
Cunley, of Poughkeepsie, New York. Will- 
iam H. is the next of the family. Amelia, 
the yiAingest living child, is the wife of 
George Cooper, of Amsterdam, Xew York. 
Four children passed away in early youth, 
and Emily, who became the wife of John 
Gracey, died at the age of forty-six years, 
while Annie died at the age of nineteen. 

\\'illiam H. Owen pursued a common 
school education and also s^ni one year as 
a student in a select school in Glenham. The 
days of his boyhood and youth were passed 
in his parents' home, and, entering upon his 
business career he secured a clerkship in a 
general store in Glenham. where he remained 
for eighteen months. Desiring to learn a 
trade he then entered upon an apprentice-, 
ship as a machinist in the shop of John B. 
Schenk & Sons, of ilatteawan, Xew York. 
At the age of eighteen he began working for 
journeyman's wages and secured employ- 
ment at Fishkill Landing in the engine 
works, where he remained for six months. 
On the expiration of that period be entered 
the Eehring Works at Glenham and subse- 
quently he returned to the shop in which he 
bad learned bis trade. On again leaving his 



old employer be secured a situation in the 
West Point Foimdn.-, but his ability and 
fidelity were such- that after a few months 
the firm of J. B. Schenk & Sons again sought 
his services, offering him the position of 
foreman in the planing department. There 
he remained for a year. Subsequently he 
became connected with the Kipp Steam En- 
gine Company, at Sing Sing, New York, 
building engines by contract and employing 
eight men. He continued this work for 
three years and then built a contract ma- 
chine in the Sing Sing prison for the finn 
of Xuttman. Tucker & Havemeyer. This 
was a special machine for the manufacture 
of asphaltum paving brick and it required 
four months to complete it. On the expira- 
tion of that period Mr. Owen returned to 
the Kipj) Steam Engine Company as fore- 
man and later be became tool-maker for 
W. X. Whiteley, at Yonkers. Xew York. 

When six months bad there passed Will- 
iam H. Owen, leaving the EnT])ire state, 
came to Springfield, Ohio, to accept the po- 
sition of tool-maker for the firm of \\'hite- 
ley, Fassler & Kelly, in September, 1887. 
Here his services were so satisfactory that 
he was retained in the employ of that com- 
pany for ten years and was advanced from 
the position of journeyman to that of fore- 
man, his wages lieing projxDrtionately in- 
creased. On the expiration of the decade he 
removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and for five 
months was with the firm of Lodge & Davis, 
after which he returned to Springfield and 
organized the Springfield Machine Tool 
Company, in which he was associated with 
P. E. ^lontanus and Frank Kempsmith. 
This newly formed company continued its 
existence for four years and was then in- 
corporated under -the name of the Spring- 
field Machine T(X>1 Company, business being 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



273 



thus carried on for l\vi;> years. On the ex- 
piration of that period "Sir. Owen established 
the Owen Machine Tool Company and, in 
1893 he began business on a small scale, 
gradually increasing his trade as it became 
known that his products were of a superior 
grade and character. He now employs 
thirty-five skilled workmen. The machines 
manufactured are of original designs and 
there is a system of fourteen sizes of plain 
and imiversal milling machines, all O'f which 
are manufactured from designs made by Mr. 
Owen and are constructed under his per- 
sonal supervision, which are to-day found 
in all parts of the civilized world and agen- 
cies have been established in various points 
of this country and abroad. The business 
has been built up entirely through the ex- 
ertions of Mr. Owen, his success resulting 
fromi his capability and the excellencies of 
the machines manufactured. 

In Plattsburg. New York, in 1870, ]\Ir. 
0^ven was united in marriage to ]\Iary Cud- 
worth, who was born in the vicinity of Platts- 
burg in 185 1, a daughter of Joel Cudworth, 
a farmer of that locality. Both he and his 
wife lived to an advanced age and died in 
that county. In their family were two 
daughters, Sarah, wlio is married and lives 
in Plattsburg, and Airs. Owen. Mr. and 
Mrs. Owen have six daughters : Grace, the 
wife of Ernest Bell, of Bloomfield, New Jer- 
sey : Maud: Ada: Josephine; Cora; and 
Willitta. All have received good educa- 
tional advantages in the public schools of 
Springfield and three are graduates of the 
high school, while Grace is a graduate of 
the Nelson Business College. 

Mr. Owen is a Republican in politics but 
has never sought political honors or emolu- 
ments. He has long been a member of the 
ilasonic fraternity, lielonging to Westches- 



ter Lodge, F. & A. M., of Sing Sing, New- 
York. Church and charitable work receixes 
his endorsement and liberal support. He is 
a self-made man, whose advancement in life 
has come to him through earnest purpose and 
unremitting diligence. He purchased the 
land and erected his present home at No. 
509 South Limestone street, supplying it 
with all modern improvements. He largely 
owes his success in life to the fact that he 
has persevered in the pursuit of the business 
in which, as a young tradesman, he em- 
barked, ne\-er turning aside into other chan- 
nels or dissipating his energies over a broad 
field of labor. His success' has been the re- 
sult of honest, persistent effort in the line of 
honorable, manly dealing. His aims have 
always been to attain the best, and he has 
carried forward to successful completion 
whatever he has undertaken. His life has 
marked a steady growth, and now he is in 
possession of a handsome competence, and 
more than all, has that contentment that 
comes from a consciousness of ha\-ing lived 
for a noble purpose. 



L. FLOYD ROUTZAHN. 

L. Floyd Routzahn is filling tlie posi- 
tion of county sheriff of Clark county, and 
on the roster of officials here there is no 
name wdiich is more truly a synonym for 
faithful, fearless and meritorious service 
than that of Air. Routzahn. Fully realizing 
the obligation which rests upon him as an 
ofiicer of the law, he stands as a defender 
of all that is right, the protector of the weak 
and as the opponent of every element of 
lawlessness. 

?\lr. Routzahn is a native of Springfield, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



his birth having here occurred on the i-'th 
of January, 1866, his parents l>eing Lutlier 
M. ?.nd Ehnira ( l-iomtzahn) Routzahn. 
Tlie fatlier was horn in Frederick county, 
Maryland, in 1830, and in the year 1863 
hecame a resident of Springfield, where, 
soon afterward, he secured employment with 
the \\'arder, Bushnell & Glessner Company, 
in whose service he was long retained, leav- 
ing that employ only a short time prior to 
his death, which occurred in this city on 
the 14th of July, 1887. His wife, who was 
horn in Hagerstown. Maryland, in 1824. 
still survives him. 

In the personal history of L. Floyd 
Routzahn we present to our readers the life 
record (if one who is widely and favorably 
known in Springfield and throughout this 
section of the state. When a boy of si.x 
years he entered the public schools, therein 
continuing his studies until he had mas- 
tered the I)ranches of the high school course. 
On putting aside his text b<x>ks he entered 
upon his business career as a dealer in boots 
and shoes, forming a partnership with Mrs. 
Rose Routzahn in 1892. under the firm 
name of Routzahn & Company. They built 
up a good trade and continued in business 
together until 1897, when the partnership 
was dissolved and L. M. Wright became a 
memlier of the firm, the name being changed 
to Routzahn & Wright. Tlieir place of 
business is at Xo. 1 1 South F(Hintain aven- 
ue, and they carry a large and well selected 
stock of goods. The reliable business 
methods of the house, combined with their 
reasonable prices, has led tn the acc|uire- 
nient of a good trade, which has reached 
profitable proportions. 

On the 26th of April. 1888. ^\r. Rout- 
zahn was united in marriage tn Miss Carrie 
Rupert, of Springfield, a daughter of Henry 



and Emily Rupert. Bi)th having spent 
their entire lives here, they are well known 
to a large number of Springfield citizens, 
and the hospitality of many of the test 
homes is extended tr. them. In his political 
views ilr. Routzahn is an earnest Repub- 
lican, taking an active interest in IcKal, 
county and state politics, and doing all in 
his power to promote the growth and insure 
the .success of the party. Upon his ticket 
he was elected in November, 1900, to the 
position of sherifif tif Clark county for a 
term of two years, and entered u])i>n the du- 
ties of his office in the following January. 
In Xovember, 1902, he was re-elected to 
the same office, so that he will retain the 
incuml>ency until January, 1905. Fearless 
and faithful in the discharge of his duties, 
his course has won him high commendation, 
and as an officer he deserves the regard and 
confidence of his fellow men. Mr. Routzahn 
was made a Mason in Anthony Lodge, Xo. 
453, F. & .\. M., and is also a member of 
Springfield Chapter, X'o. 48, R. A. M., and 
Springfield Council, Xo. 17. R. & S. M. He 
is also a member of Red Star Lodge, Xo. 
205, K. P. !\Ir. Routzahn is popular with 
a large circle of acquaintances, for he is of 
genial manner and kindly temperament, and 
the sterling traits of his character have 
gained for him many friends. 



CH.VRLKS R. CRAIX. 

For more than a third of a century 
Charles R. Crain has been numbered among 
the most prominent and progressive citi- 
zens of Springfield. He has earned for him- 
self an enviable reputation as a careful man 
of business, and in his dealings is known for 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



his prompt and hrmora'ble methods, which 
have won liini tlie deserved regard and un- 
bounded confidence of his feUow men. He 
is today the president and treasurer of tlie 
business conducted under the name of P. P. 
Mast & Company, manufacturers of Buck- 
eye agricuhural implements. 

Mr. Grain comes of one of the honored 
pioneer famihes of Clark county. His pa- 
ternal grandfather was John Crain, who 
was descended of sturdy Scotch-Irish stock 
and who, at an early period in the develop- 
n-ent of this portion of Ohio took up his 
abode in Clark county. He married a Miss 
Reeder. whose father, emigrating westw'ard, 
took up his abode in the midst of the green 
wo<3ds on the waters of Mad river. Among 
the childrai boni of this marriage was John 
A. Crain, the father of cair subject, whose 
birth occurred in Clark county in iSii. He 
was reared as a farm boy and followed agri- 
cultural pursuits throughout the greater 
part of his life. He married Anner M. Ba- 
con, also a native oi this county "and a 
daughter oi John Bacon, one of the pioneer 
settlers who cam.e tO' Ohio from Xew Eng- 
land, and took up his abode in Springfield 
when the city was a m.ere hamlet, gi\'ing lit- 
tle indication of future growth and develop- 
n-.ent. As the city began to extend its bor- 
ders, however, John Bacon became an active 
factor in mercantile interests there and later 
became extensively engaged in the 'banking 
business, being for a number of years the 
president of the idd Mad River Xational 
Bank, holding that position at the tim.e of 
his death. His wife bore the maiden name 
of Mary Cavalier, and they reared a family 
of six children, including the mother of our 
subject. 

Charles R. Crain spent his boyhood in 
the citv which is still his home and is in- 



debted to the public school system for his 
preliminary education, which was supple- 
mented by study at the ^^'ittenberg■ College, 
w lie re he ren;ained as a student until his 
eighteenth year. He then became a factor 
in the business life of Spring-field and has 
since been closely and actively associated 
with business affairs. In 1867 he embarked 
in the dry-goods business with Brelsford 
& Dinwiddie, acting in the capacity of clerk 
until 1869, when he resigned his jwsition to 
enter the emplo}' of Thon'.as & Alast, manu- 
facturers of agricultural implements. He 
continued with them until 1871, at which 
time the firm was dissolved and the P. P. 
Mast & Company was incorporated with a 
capital stock of five hundred thousand dol- 
lars, P. P. Mast being elected president and 
treasurer and J. S. Eberhard as secretary. 
I\Ir. Crain remained with the new con:pany 
and at various times was promoted tO' re- 
sponsible positions of greater and greater 
importance until he had a broad and com- 
prehensi\-e knowdedge o-f the business in 
principle and detail and was a m.ember of 
the first board of directors when the com- 
pany was incorporated in 1871, and at the 
present time is tJie only m.ember of the orig- 
inal board still connected with the company. 
In 1 881 he was elected secretary of the 
company, wdiich position he, held until the 
death of Mr. :\Iast, in October, 1898, at 
which tim.e ]\Ir. Crain succeeded him as 
president. He also became one of the large 
stockholders of the compau}-. The corpora- 
tion name has remained jLinchanged. but the 
business has been enlarged and the company 
now employs four hundred men. The 
various buildings are substantial brick struc- 
tures, ef|uipped with highly impro\-ed ma- 
chinery, and the plant, which is located on 
Warder street, covers an area of eight acres. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



The present ofi'icers are: C. R. Grain, pres- 
ident and treasurer ; C. C. Kirkpatrick, vice- 
president ; and J. \\'. Spahr, secretary. Tlie 
Buckeye ag^ricultural implements, consisting 
of grain drills, cultivators and cereal mills, 
are manufactured on an extensive scale. 
The implements manufactured by this firm 
are e.xtensively sold throughout the United 
States and there is also a large foreign 
trade, which covers all of the grain growing 
countries of the world. 

Mr. Grain has not confined his efforts 
to one line, but has extended his operations 
into other fields in the world of activity. 
He is now a director and vice-president of 
the Springfield National Bank. He has also 
made extensive and important investments 
in real estate and is the owner of the old 
homestead in the Mad River valley, south- 
west of Springfield, consisting of three hun- 
dred and forty acres. This he has placed 
under a high state of cultivation and has 
made it beautiful by many improvanents 
which he has placed thereon. He also has 
one of the finest herds of pure bred red 
polled cattle, registered, to be found in 
southem Ohio. On this farm, on the Day- 
ton, Springfield & Urbana interurban road, 
]\rr. Grain and his family make tlicir home, 
and the household is known for its gracious 
and cordial hospitality. 

In 1870 occurred the n^arria§■e of 
Gharles R. Grain and Miss Susan Stoler, 
of Springfield, a daughter of Jacob Stoler, 
and they now have two children, Gharles 
Edward, who is in the employ of P. P. 
Mast & Gompany; and Nellie R., the wife 
of Louis E. Bauer, of this city. Mr. Grain 
is a memter of St. Paul's Methodist Epis- 
copal church, of Springfield, and for some 
years has served as a memlier of its lx)ard of 
trustees. He is a citizen whose public spirit 



and deep interest in the welfare of Spring- 
field have been manifest in suljstantial as- 
sistance to many enterprises and movements 
for the general good. Politically Mr. Grain 
is a Republican. He takes an active inter- 
est in the growth and success of his party. 
Ijut has never desired or sought public office. 
S(x:ially he is connected with the Masonic 
fraternity, his membership being in An- 
thony Ixxlge, Xo. 455, F. & A. M.. Spring- 
field Ghapter, Xo. 48, R. A. :M.. Springfield 
Goimcil. Xo. 17, R. & S. ^I.. and Palestine 
Gommander}-, No. 33, K. T. 

Mr. Grain is one of Spring-field's solid 
n:en who has done a great deal for his natix'e 
citv. He possesses a genial manner, and is 
a fine illustration of a self-made man, his 
career well serving as a lesson to the young. 
He began his career under adverse circum- 
stances, laeing compelled to make his own 
way, and his success in life illustrates most 
forcibly the power of patient and persistent 
effort and self-reliance. He has so conduct- 
ed all affairs, whether of private interests 
or public trusts, as to merit the esteem of 
all classes of citizens, and no word of re- 
proach is ever uttered against bin:. .\s a 
man and citizen he aijoys the prosperity 
which has come to those genial spirits who 
liave a hearty shake of the hand for. all those 
with whom they come in contact from day 
to day, and who seem to throw around them 
in consequence .so much of the sunshine of 
life. 



XIGHOLAS KRIEGBAUM. 

For more than a half century Xicholas 
Kriegbaum has resided in Springfield and 
he has passed the seventieth milestone on 
life's journev. He was born in Germany, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



279 



December 3, 183^. and spent the first eigli- 
teen years of his lite in his native country, 
acquiring his education according to the 
laws of that land and there learning the cab- 
inet-maker's trade. He was a yoimg man 
of eighteen when he determined to try his 
fortune in America, for he had heard favor- 
able reports of the business opportunities 
of this country and hoped to more readily 
advance toward the goal of success than he 
could do if he remained in Germany. Ac- 
cordingly in 185 1 he sailed for America, 
and settled in Springfield, Ohio, where he 
began working at the cabinet-maker's trade, 
following that successfully for ten years. 
During that time he acquired capital' suiifi- 
cient to enable him to engage in the grocery 
business in 1857, and for seven years he 
conducted his enterprise in that line. At 
length, however, he sold out on account of 
ill health. He then went abroad, visiting 
Germany, France and England, spending 
four months in his travels in European 
countries. 

On the expiration of that period he again 
took up his abode in this city, and in 1866 
established a bakery. He was not long in 
gaining a good trade, which constantly grew 
until his business had assmned profitable 
and extensive proportions. He conducted it 
with growing success from year to year until 
1 89 1, when Charles Nicholas KriegbaunT, 
his son, became his successor in the enter- 
prise and our subject retired from active 
business life. For over a third of a century 
he has resided at his present location at the 
corner of Plum and Columbia streets, hav- 
ing first built a small house on the site of his 
present fine brick residence. 

Nicholas Kriegbaum was married to 
Minnie Banner, who was Ijorn in Auglaize 
countv, Ohio, and during her infancy was 



left an orphan. Six children have been 
born unto our subject and his wife. Mary 
Jane, the eldest, is the wife of George 
Tritsch, who was born in Indiana and is 
now engaged in the real estate business in 
Indianapolis. They have reared two chil- 
dren, Arthur and Walter. William George, 
the second of the family, wedded Barbara 
Myers and is now the owner of an orange 
grove at Riverside, California, where they 
are living with their one child, Lawrence. 
Emma Minnie is at home with her parents. 
Charles N. married Alice Brandt, of Day- 
ton, Ohio, by whom he has one child, Clar- 
ence, and is now engaged in the bakery busi- 
ness in Springfield, as his father's successor. 
George P. is associated in luisiness with his 
brother Charles. Edward J. is working as 
a florist in this city. 

For almost a half century Mr. Krieg- 
baum has been a member of the Odd Fel- 
lows society and enjoys the high regard of 
his brethren of that fraternity, while in his 
life he has ever been true to the teachings 
and principles of the order. He is also con- 
nected through membership relations with 
the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men and 
the German Benevolent Society. He is a 
stalwart Democrat in political affiliations 
and has been honored with public otiices, 
having served from 1880 until 1885 as a 
member of the common council, during 
which time he exercised his official preroga- 
tives in support of every measure which he 
believed would prove of benefit to the city. 
He belongs to St. John's Lutheran church, 
of which he was the secretary and treasurer 
for about a quarter of a century. This in- 
dicates how upright has been his life. He is 
a man of strong character, of marked in- 
telligence and is ever found to be fearless in 
defense of his honest convictions, and his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



political service, like his business life, is 
above reproach, while his church connec- 
tions have been manifested in his just and 
honorable treatment of his fellow men. 



JOHN \V. MARTIX. 

John W. IMartin, who is now engaged 
in the business of renovating feathers on the 
Dayton pike, near Pleasant street, Spring- 
field, was born near the Rocky Point school, 
southwest of the city, on a farm now owned 
by the Howell heirs. The date of his birth 
was February 28, 1840, and his parents 
were David and Rachel (Sands) Martin. 
His father was born in Berks county, Penn- 
svlvania, in 1797, and was a son of Richard 
:\Iarlin. who was also a native of the Key- 
stone state and died on what is now the Ben 
Mellinger farm in Clark county, Ohio. He 
was a farmer and cooper. He served in the 
war of 1812, and the father of our subject 
witnessed the burning of the capitol during 
that war, being then in Washington. The 
latter was fourteen years of age at the time. 

In 1828 David Martin came to Clark 
county. Ohio, and located south of Spring- 
field on the present Stratton farm. After a 
short tin-e, however, he removed to the farm 
on which our subject was 1x)rn. there living 
until 1840. when he went to Beatty and con- 
ducted a cooper shop there for a number of 
years. Later he took up his abode at Yel- 
low Springs, where he engaged in the coop- 
erage business in connection with agricul- 
tural pursuits for about seven years. He 
next located at New Carlisle, where he 
farmed for about two years, after which he 
settled two miles south of Troy, carrying on 
agricultural pursuits at that point for seven 



years. His next home was at Gettysburg. 
Darke count \-. Ohio, but two years later he 
removed to the Adolph Smith farm and 
from there to the Miller farm, southwest of 
Enon. His next removal took him to Piqua, 
Ohio, and later he returned to Enon. where 
his death occurred September 21. 1874. His 
wife, who died June 24. 1884. bore the 
maiden name of Rachel Sands and was of 
English descent. There was a fortune left 
in England to the family but it was never 
claimed. Thomas Sands, her father, resided 
in Maryland, and in that state she was born 
in 1804 and there gave her hand in marriage 
to David Martin. 

This worthy couple became the parents 
of eight sons and one daughter, namely: 
Samuel wedded Katherine Deaver. now de- 
ceased, liy whom he had two children, one 
of whom is dead, while the other resides in 
Kansas. Richard married Elizabeth Mar- 
tin, who died in 1898. Thomas wedded 
Caroline Xewhouse and died in October. 
1899, while two of his five children are also 
deceased. Da\id wedded Mary Speelman 
and died January 7. 1899. He had four 
children, two of whom are now deceased. 
Elizabeth, the only daughter, died at the 
age of three years. John \\'. of this review 
is the next younger. Joseph married Sallie 
Gibbs and they had three children, one of 
whom is deceased. William married Fran- 
ces Beadle and of their five children one is 
deceased. James married Minnie Graves 
and they have two children. The four eld- 
est sons of the family were coopers and our 
subject became a farmer, while the younger 
sons were carpenters. 

Under the parental roof John \\'. Mar- 
tin was reared to manhood anil when he 
arived at years of maturity he became a 
soldier, enlisting on the 15th of August. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1 86 1, as a member of Company I, First 
Ohio Cavalry, being mustered in at Piqua. 
He was then sent to Camp Chase, near Co- 
himbus, Ohio, where the regiment remained 
until the ist of November, when it took the 
field in Kentucky. Air. Martin was in the 
sei'vice for four years and fifteen days, and 
he had three lirotliers who were also sol- 
diers. Samuel, the eldest, contracted ill- 
ness at Vicksburg which caused his death 
after his return to his home in Aliami coun- 
ty, Ohio. John W. Alartin participated in 
the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, 
Shiloh, the siege of Atlanta, and the engage- 
ments at Lovejoy Station and Champion 
Hills, after which he returned to Louisville. 
He had previously been in three raids, in- 
cluding the Kilpatrick raid around Atlanta 
and through Tennessee after General 
Wheeler. He was untler fire at Atlanta for 
four days and nights. The third raid was 
that of General Wilson from Mississippi 
through Alabama and back to Georgia. Dur- 
ing this raid he participated in a heavy bat- 
tle at Columbus, Georgia, and was also in 
a hard fight at Selma. Before the Wilson 
raid the regiment had gone back to Louis- 
ville to get arms and horses, having given 
up their own to General Kilpatrick's men. 
jMr. ;\Iartin \\as at Atlanta for two months, 
thence went to South Carolina, where he re- 
mained until the ist of September, 1865, 
when he went l)y vessel from Hilton Head 
to Xew York city and thence returned to 
Columbus, Ohie, where he was mustered out 
in September, 1865. He had enlisted for 
three years and on the expiration of that 
period be rejoined the army as a veteran. 
He was a dashing, gallant soldier and on 
one occasion was one of two volunteers to 
ride into what is supposed to have been an 
ambush to reconnoiter. Fearless and loval 



in defense of dut}- he made for himself a 
most creditable militar}- record. 

In January, 1867, Mr. Martin was mar- 
ried to Miss Susan E. Aldrich, a daughter of 
Aaron and Sarah (Bell) Aldrich, who were 
farming people. The Aldrich family came 
to Ohio from Maine and the father was born 
in Clark county, \A-bile the mother's birth 
occurred in Champaign county, this state. 
Mrs. ]\lartin was born in 1848, and by her 
marriage to our subject became the mother 
of two daughters : Effie, born February 
13, 18(18, is the wife of John Burroughs, of 
Springfield, and they have three children, 
Mabel, George W^esley and James. Cora, 
born August 15, 1870, is the wife of Ed 
Baker, who is li\ ing on the corner of Lud- 
low avenue and Harrison street, Springfield, 
and they liave two children, Irvin and 
\\'ayne. Mrs. Martin died August 27, 1877, 
and on the 28th of October, 1880, Mr. Mar- 
tin was again married, his second union be- 
ing with Miss Mary Manzella Reed, who was 
born at Plattsburg, Ohio, and is a daughter 
of Josiah Wesley and Charlotte (Taylor) 
Reed, from Maryland. She is heir to some 
land in that state but knows little of her 
early ancestry. Hei" father, who was a 
farmer by occupation, entered the L^nion 
service in 1861, and at the end of sixteen 
months was discharged for disability, but 
he finally re-enlisted on the 2d of May, 1864, 
in the One Hundred and Fifty-third Ohio 
Volunteer Infantry. Being taken prisoner,, 
he was first incarcerated at Andersonville 
and later in the military prison at Millen, 
Georgia, where he died July 3, 1864. By 
his second marriage !Mr. Martin has one 
child, Laura May, who was born May 16, 
7883, and is yet living with her parents. 
She was educated in Springfield and is now 
a successful music teacher. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



]\lr. Martin is a member of the Odd 
Fellows society and has held all of the offices 
in Ephraim Lodge, No. 146, with which he 
is identified. After his return from the war 
he was ill for a year and then began busi- 
ness. He is now engaged in feather reno- 
vating and receives a liberal patronage in 
this line. In matters of citizenship he is as 
loyal and faithful to-day as when he wore 
the blue uniform of the nation and fought 
for the defense of the stars and stripes on 
southern battle-fields. 



JOSIAH RAMSEY, D. D. S. 

Through forty-nine years Dr. Josiah 
Ramsey engaged in the practice .of dentistry 
and became an eminent member of the pro- 
fession in this state, his ability classing him 
with the best representatives of the calling 
in Ohio. The qualities of his manhood, too, 
were such as to command for him the high- 
est regard and confidence of his fellow mai, 
and the circle of his friends was constantly 
enlarged as his acquaintance grew. It was, 
therefore, a matter of widespread regret 
when he was called from this life, and his 
memory is yet dear to many who knew him, 
not only in Springfield but throughout the 
state as well. 

Dr. Ramsey was born near Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania, May 12, 1816, and in 1836 
became a resident of Ohio. For one year he 
was a student under the instruction of Mr. 
Mc^^"illiams, a well known educator of that 
day, and then his brother John wished his 
assistance in the fulling and carding mill, 
which was near Dayton, Ohio. There our 
subject remained for six months, after 
which he went to Oldtown, where he was 



employed in a large spinning factory, which 
was operated b}- water power, the machine 
being about twenty-eight feet long. While 
thus engaged he received eighteen and 
twenty dollars per month for his sei'vices. 
From that place he returned to the neigh- 
borhood in which lived his brother John and 
taught school at what was called Cuppy's 
school for three months. He was afterward 
employed as teacher of a school near Fair- 
field, Ohio, for three months and later 
taught the Fulks school, near Xenia, for a 
year and three months. His next school, 
located between Fairfield and Dayton, was 
called the Cost school, "and of this he had 
charge six months, after which he spent a 
half year as teacher in the Fullcuff school 
near Dayton. In the fall of 1843 he went 
to Indiana, thence made his way to the Ohio 
river, down which he proceeded on a raft to 
Natchez, Mississippi, but he found no favor- 
able opening there for a school and he con- 
tinued on horseback up the banks of the Mis- 
sissippi river to Rodney, about thirty miles 
north of Natchez, where after a short time 
he secured a position as teacher, at a salary 
of thirty-five dollars per month, being em- 
ployed there for six months. He later was 
teacher of another school in the same lo- 
cality for a year, after which he returned to 
Springfield in 1847, having been absent for 
four years. During his first two years' resi- 
dence in the south he had suffered much 
from fever. 

About 1847 oi" 1848 t)r- Ramsey went 
to Cincinnati, Ohio, and entered the office 
of Drs. Edward and James Taylor, dentists, 
with whom he studied for a time and then 
pursued a full course in the Ohio Dental 
College, from which he was graduated, en- 
tering upon the active practice of the pro- 
fession in Springfield in August, 1850. By 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



283 



his skill, judgment and ability he soon 
earned for himself well merited eminence in 
professional ranks and a liberal patronage 
was accorded him. He was known as one 
of the best dentists in the state. He prac- 
ticed for forty-nine years, having his office 
in the Fisher block for twenty-six years, 
after which, in 1893, on account of his 
health, he established his office in his home, 
where he remained until his death. 
Throughout the long period of his connec- 
tion with the dental profession he kept 
abreast with the times and with all new in- 
ventions which tended to promote the effi- 
ci«icy and value of dental work. He was a 
close, earnest and discriminating student and 
continually augmented his ability by re- 
search and investigation, so that his skill 
was second to that of no practitioner of den- 
tistry in this part of the state and his ability 
made him the superior of the large majority 
of members of the profession. He was a 
respected and honored member of the State 
Dental Association. 

Dr. Ramsey was united in marriage to 
Mrs. Emma M. Steele, at Pine Grove Fur- 
nace, near Hanging Rock, Ohio, September 
23, 1857, and they had twO' daughters, M. 
Jennie B. and Mary E. C. The latter is the 
wife of James M. Rumsey, of Rawlings, 
Wyoming, and their children were Jean 
Harriet and Elizabeth Margaretta. The 
home relations in the Ramsey household 
were ideal. The Doctor was devoted to his 
wife and children and his greatest pleasure 
was found at his own fireside. He provided 
liberally for his family to the best of his 
ability and he was also' found as a faithful 
and devoted friend. 

Dr. Ramse}^ passed away Septemher 27, 
1899, at the age of eighty-three years, and 
was laid to rest in Fernclifif cemeterv. In 



politics he had been a strong Republican, 
g"iving an earnest support to the principles 
of the party which he believed would pro- 
mote the best interests of the nation. He. 
was a charter member of the Second Pres- 
byterian church of Springfield and a useful 
and valued member, who ga\'e freely of his 
means to the support of the church and earn- 
estly strove to promote its growth and ex- 
tend its influence. "His life was like the 
quiet shining of a star," whose light is un- 
obtrusive but steadfast. He was conscien- 
*tious and upright in all that he did and his 
example is worthy of emulation, while his 
influence and memory are yet a potent ele- 
ment for good in the lives of many who 
knew him and who honored him for his un- 
faltering devotion to principle. 



DAVID L. YARN ELL. 

David L. Yarnell is filling the position 
of sergeant at arms in the house of repre- 
sentatives at Columbus, and his promptness 
and capability, accompanied with a genial 
and courteous manner, have made him a 
popular officer. His home is at Selma and 
he is one of the native sons of Clark county, 
his birth having occurred in Green township 
on the 30th of May, 1842. He is a son of 
Jesse and Rachel (!\Iiller) Yarnell. He 
was reared upon a farm and received a fair 
common schoo'l education. In 1858 he went 
to Richmond, Indiana, where he began learn- 
ing the carpenter's trade, following that pur- 
suit until the country became involved in 
ci\'il war, when business was largely sus- 
pended and he returned to Selma. He 
watched with interest the progress of events 
in the south and when it was evident that it 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was to be no mere lioliday affair. Init would 
be a long, hard struggle, he offered his 
services to the government in October. 1861, 
enlisting in Company D. Forty-fourth Ohio 
\'olunteer Infantry, for three years. When 
two and one-half years had passed he vet- 
eranized and became a member of Company 
D. Eighth Ohio Cavalry, with which he re- 
mained until the cessation of hostilities, pro- 
claiming that the preservation of the Union 
was an assured fact. He was mustered out 
in August. 1865. and returned home with a 
most creditable and honorable military rec- 
ord. He was largely engaged in scouting 
duty and thus took part in very few pitched 
battles, although his services were often of 
a very difficult and arduous nature. He, 
howexer. was in the siege of Knoxville, and 
afterward, when in the cavalry service, he 
took part in Hunter's raid. He was cap- 
tured at Beverley, Virginia, where the Union 
troops were surprised in camp on the nth 
of January. 1864. Mr. Yarnell was sent to 
1-ibby prison and was kept there until Feb- 
ruar)-, 1865, when he was among the first 
to be e.xchanged. 

After the war Mr. Yarnell returned to 
Selma and began working with his Ijrother- 
in-law at blacksmithing, entering into a com- 
pact to work for two years for four hundred 
dollars, ^\■hen that period had elapsed he 
received two dollars per day for his services, 
continuing with his brother-in-law for three 
years. In 1S69 he established a shop of his 
own and prospered in the new undertaking. 
He has carried on his trade continuously 
since in Selma and he still owns the shop, 
although he is now largely giving his atten- 
tion to his official duties. 

On the 25th of March. 1869, David L. 
YaTuell was united in marriage in Madison 
t( \.nship to Miss Mary Wise, a daughter of 



Jesse and Mariel (Honn) Wise. Two chil- 
dren were Ijorn unto them : Emma, the wife 
of Dr. A. E. Cotes; and Herbert, who died 
at the age of five years. Mr. Yarnell is a 
Republican, having given his support to the 
party since he cast his first vote for Lincoln 
in 1864. He has served as a member of 
the township board of education, but has 
not been an active politician. He is now 
serving as second assistant sergeant at arms 
in the house of representatives, filling the 
office in the seventy-fourth and seventy-fifth 
assemblies. He was also postmaster ifor 
the hcnise. In 1866 he was initiated into 
the Masonic fraternity, l>ecoming a maiiber 
of Fielding Lodge, Xo. 192, F. & A. M., of 
South Charleston, in which he has filled the 
position of senior deacon. This, in brief, 
is his life histor}-, and it is the record of 
one who has been thrifty in business and 
loyal in citizenship, proving his patriotism 
in military service as well as in civic office. 



PROFESSOR JOHN S. WEAVER. 

In educational circles the name of Pro- 
fessor John S. Weaver is widely known and 
he has attained distinction among those who 
are devoting their energies to the dissemina- 
tion of knowledge. He is now superintend- 
ent of the schools of Springfield and under 
his guidance rapid and satisfactory advance" 
nient is being made along educational lines. 
A native of Warren county. Ohio, he was 
born near Carlisle Station Septeir.ber 28, 
1846. and comes o* a family of Gennan an- 
cestry. His father. John S. Weaver, was 
born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1802, 
and v.as a Presbyterian minister, who, in 
his bovhood davs, caire to Ohio. He was a 




JOHN S. WEAVER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



2S7 



nieir.'ber of the first class that graduated 
from Miami University at Ouxford. On the 
completion otf his course he entered tlie min- 
istry and devoted the greater part of his Hfe 
tQi proclaiming the Gospel among his fellow 
mai. For twoi years he also served as a 
teacher in the University. In 1865 he came 
to Spring-field and thereafter lived retired 
until called to the home beyond in 1871. 
His wife, who' bore the maiden name of 
Amanda Hurin, was bom in Lebanoai, Ohios 
in 18 10, and pursued a public school educa- 
tion. She survived her husband a number 
of years, passing away in this city in 1885. 
In their family were seven children : Susan, 
whoi died in Springfield ; Catherine, the wife 
of Captain J. H. Robison, and a resident of 
this city; Dr. James M.. o-f Dayton; Mar- 
garet, who is the wife of Andrew Robison, 
and is living in Cincinnati ; Georgiana, the 
wife of R. E. Nay lor, of Osage cotinty, Kan- 
sas; Walter L., who^ was formerly an at- 
torney of Springfield and a member of con- 
gress and is now a judge of the United 
States coiurt, oif Indian Territory, to which 
positii>n he was appointed by President 
Roosevelt in 1902; and John S., whose name 
introduces this review. 

Professor John S. Wea\-er spent his boy- 
hood days under the parental roof, being 
eighteen years of age when his parents came 
to Springfield. Prior to this time he pur- 
sued a. preparatory course in ]\Ionroe, Ohii>, 
after which he became a sophomore in Wit- 
tenberg College in the fall of 1864. He 
was graduated with the class of 1867 and 
at once entered upon the profession which 
he has made his life work. He taught in 
various schools in Clark. Greene and Wayne 
connties, and for one year was a teacher 
in the academy at Canaan, Ohio. In the 
year 1874 be went to Sioux City. Iowa. 

15 



where he remained until 1880 as principal 
of the schools tliere. In the latter year he 
returned to> Springfield and accepted the po'- 
sitioo oif principal of the old northern school 
here, while from 1892 until 1900 he was 
principal of the high school. He was then 
a(l\-anced to the position of superintendent 
of schools and was reappointed in 1902. 
He has entire charge of the educational 
features of the public schools of this city. 
Professor Weaver is a most capable instruc- 
tor, having the ability tO' impart with readi- 
ness and clearness tO' others the knowledge 
of the branches of learning which he has 
niastered. His own zeal and enthusiasm in 
the work inspire both teachers and pupils 
to renewed and better efforts. He is con- 
tinually alert for improved practical niethods 
which will advance the work of the schools 
and raise the standard of education here, and 
under his guidance the public schools of 
Spring-field have made marked and gratify- 
ing- advancement. 

In 1876, in Le Mars, Iowa, was cele- 
brated the marriage oif Proifessor \\'ea\-er 
and Miss May Burlingame, who was born 
and reared in Illinoiis. They now have two 
daughters : Helen, the wife of Van C. \\"\\- 
son. of Springfield, Ohioi; by whom she has 
one child; and Katherine, of this cit\'. The 
parents are members of the Third Presby- 
terian church and Professor Weaver is en- 
titled tO' membership in the Grand Army of 
the Republic, because in 1864 he responded 
to his country's call foir troops, and served 
for four months as a member of Company 
B, One Hundred and B'orty-sixth Regiment 
of Ohio Volunteers, being at the time only 
seventeen years of age. He noAV belongs to 
jMitchell Post. He is a member of Phi 
Kappa Psi, a college fraternity, and also 
holds membership in the National Teach- 



288 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ers" Association and the Count}- Teachers' 
Association. A man of scholar!)- attain- 
ments and broad intellectuality, there is in 
Professor \Vea\er a \\eight of character, a 
native sagacit}-, a far-seeing judgment and 
a fidelit}- of piu-pose tliat command the re- 
spect of all. 



RALPH S. THOMPSON. 

Ralph S. Thompson is the president and 
manager of the New Era Company, gen- 
eral printers, blank book manufacturers and 
book binders, as well as publishers of the 
New Era. In the control of this enterprise, 
which has become an extensive one in 
Springfield, Mr. Thompson displays marked 
executive ability and business force, and has 
gained that success which indicates the char- 
acter of the man — success which comes 
through diligence, unremitting labor and 
capable business management. 

'Sir. Thompson is a native of Illinois, his 
birth having iKCurred in Edwards county, 
on the 19th of December, 1847. His par- 
ents were Samuel and Katherine (Ronalds) 
Thompson. The father was a native of 
England and spent his boyhood days in Lon- 
don, where his birth occurred, and where 
he acquired his education. At length he 
came to the United States, traveled to some 
extent over the country and finally took up 
his alx)de in Edwards county, Illinois, where 
he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and 
there studied medicine, becoming prominent 
in his profession, though continuing to work 
his farm. He died in 1872, having long 
survived his wife, who passed away in 1850. 

Ralph S. Thompson worked in his youth 
on the farm. Owing to some peculiar ideas 
of his father he was not allowed to attend 



school, but got what education he could at 
home, which was added to by a free use of 
his father's extensive library. His favorite 
studies were chemistry and mechanics. He 
had a workshop in his father's barn and a 
chemical laboratory in his father's library 
until the frequent explosions caused the ban- 
ishment of the laboratory to a separate 
building. He entered upon his business 
career in his native county in the year 1865, 
as a druggist and chemist, arrd conducted it 
with considerable success until 1872, when 
he sold out. In the meantime, in 1869, he 
had become a member of a printing company 
of Edwards coimty, owning and editing the 
Albion Pioneer. In 1873 he sold his inter- 
est in the ]iaper and moved to Cincinnati, 
where he engaged in printing and editorial 
work, and through the failure of others lost 
all he had accumulated. In 1876 he ar- 
rived in Springfield, accepting a position as 
manager of the Grange Visitor, which was 
afterwards changed to the Farmers' Ad- 
vance, which he controlled until 1886. At 
this time Mr. Thompson joined others in 
the organization of the New Era Company, 
which was incorporated January 21, 1886, 
with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand 
dollars, and at the first election Mr. Tbomp- 
son was made president and manager, in 
which capacity he has since been retained, 
his associate officers l^eing Rei Rathbun, 
secretary, and S. P. Behrends, treasurer. 
The company does a genei-al job printing 
and book business, and at the same time 
publishes the New Era. Theirs is one of 
the best equipped modern printing offices in 
this portion of the state. The plant is sup- 
plied with the latest improved machinery for 
turning out a higli grade of work, and the 
office has acquired a very favorable reputa- 
tion not onlv for neat, but also for artistic 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



289 



work. From fifty to one hundred men and 
girls are employed in the establishment. 
Recently the printing establishment has been 
removed to the large stone front building 
24 and 26 North Fountain avenue. Mr. 
Thompson is alsO' associated with other busi- 
ness affairs here, being at the head of the 
Springfield Furnace Company, of 28 and 
30 North Fountain avenue, manufacturing 
the Thompson Tubular Hot Air Furnace, of 
which he is the inventor, and also of a burn- 
er for the use of oil as fuel. There is a 
promising future before this furnace, which 
is rapidly finding favor with the public and 
already meeting \\ith a good sale, and the 
oil burner has attracted attention not only 
in this country but in Europe. Mr. 
Thompson is also assistant secretary of the 
Springfield Board of Trade. 

In 1872 was celebrated the marriage of 
Mr. Thompson and Miss Margaret A\'eed, 
• ■-f Albion, Illinois, a daughter of Hampton 
Weed, who was a relative of Wade Hamp- 
ton, the Revolutionary patriot. In politi- 
cal thought and action Mr. Thompson has 
always been independait, adhering to his 
convictions without fear or favor. In busi- 
ness he has achieved success through hon- 
orable effort, untiring industry and capable 
management, and in private life he has 
gained that warm personal regard which 
arises from true ncibility of character, def- 
erence for the opinions of others, kindliness 
and geniality. 



E. J. CARD. 



If every j-oung man thoroughly under- 
stood and believed what wise mai and phil- 
osophers are always pointing ont — that suc- 
cess almost never comes to anvone without 



great and persevering eft'ort — the multitude 
of failures in life would be averted. In 
countless thousands of instances, especially 
in the United States, where men are rated 
at their true personal worth, poor boys have 
risen to places of prominence and influence 
because they were not afraid of work and 
because they were actuated by the com- 
mendable ambition to. do something and be 
something worthy of the respect of all man- 
kind. In reviewing the historjr of E. J. 
Gard, now engaged in the real estate busi- 
ness in Tremont, we note that the salient 
features in his career have been earnest, per- 
sistent labor and honorable dealing. 

He was born in German township, Clark 
county, January 23, 1834, and is a repre- 
sentative of an old family of Virginia. His 
grandfather, Job Gard, came from the Old 
Dominion to Ohio in 1803, and was the first 
settler in Miami county, upon the site of the 
present city of Piqua. He followed wagon- 
making- and repairing and lived to the ad- 
vanced age of about seventy-six years. In 
the meantime he removed to Kentucky, 
where the father of out subject was born, 
but afterward he returned to Ohio and spent 
his last days in Clark county, his remains 
being interred in Rector cemetery. 

Gursham Gard. the' father of our sub- 
ject, was born in Kentucky and at the age 
of nineteen years accompanied his father on 
his return to^ Ohio. In early life he en- 
gaged in the operation of rented land, but 
ultimately he became well-to-do. He de- 
served great credit for what he had accom- 
plished, as all that he had was acquired 
through his own diligence and enterprise. 
He was also widely kno^^vn as a man of 
honor and genuine worth. He wedded 
Mary Peacock, and among their children 
was the subject of this review. 



290 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



¥.. J. Card was reared upon the home 
farm, and at tlie usual age entered the com- 
mon school, where he acquired a good edu- 
cation. On the 17th of March, 1853, in 
the village of Tremont. he was married to 
]Miss Martha Friermood, who was also born 
in German township, her parents being 
Reuben and Sarah (Kiser) Friermood. 
The young couple began their domestic life 
upon a farm and fcr thirty-two years Mr. 
(iard was extensively and successfully en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits. From the 
time of early spring planting until crops 
were .garnered in the late autumn he earnest- 
ly carried on his work, and as the result of 
his unremitting labor he acquired a hand- 
some competence. At length, however, he 
sold his farm and removed to Fletcher, Mi- 
an- i county, where he purchased property and 
made his home for four years. On the ex- 
piration of that period he returned to Clark 
county and, settling in Tremont, has since 
engaged in the real estate business, in which 
he has secured a good clientage. He is 
thoroughly conversant with values in this 
section of the state, and has negotiated many 
in-.portant real estate transfers. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gard were 1>orn 
the following children : Albert, who attended 
school in Lebanon and became a teacher, 
died of consumption at the age of 
twenty-one years. Jennie, who was al.so 
provided with good educational privi- 
leges, l^ecanie an expert lx)okkeeper and was 
employed by the governor of Kansas in gen- 
eral office work and as an accoimtant. She 
married Rufus Buck and died in IVIiami 
county, Ohio, but was laid to rest in the 
cemetery of Tremont. Eliza1>eth is the 
wife of Elbert Skillman and resides in 
Piqua, Miami county. Grant died at the 
age of thirteen years, fronn the result of 



accidaital shooting. Martha died when 
alxiut seven years of age. Lillie May. the 
youngest of the family, died in infancy. 

Mr. Gard was formerly a Rqiublican in 
his political views, and voted for John C. 
Fremont on the organization of the Repub- 
lican party, but of recent years he has been 
a Prohibitionist. He belongs to the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, in which he has 
served as steward and trustee, taking an 
acti\e part in the work of the church and 
giving his co-operation to many measures 
for the general good. He is a fearless 
champion of what he believes to be right, 
and at all times his course has been such as 
to commend him to public contidence and 
esteem. 



JOHX CHARLES XAVE. 

John Charles Xave. who follows farm- 
ing in Green township on the place where he 
was born, October 6. 1870. is a son of John 
Garlough and ^largaret Elizabeth (Gram) 
Xave, whose sketch appears on another page 
of this volume. The home farm became his 
play ground in boyhood and his training 
school for the practical duties of a farmer's 
life. His literary education was acquired in 
the common schools and he remained under 
the parental roof until his marriage, which 
was celebrated on the 7th of April, 1892. 
at the Methodist Episcopal parsonage in 
Springfield, Miss Jennie Matilda Littler, of 
Pitchin, becoming his wife. She is a daugh- 
ter of James R. and Margaret (Hurley) 
Littler, who are also mentioned elsewhere in 
this work. In tlieir family were twelve 
children, of whom Mrs. Xave is the sixth 
in order of birth, while Mr. Xave was the 
youngest in a family of five children. Their 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Imme lias been blessed with six children: 
01i\e Esther, born in Springfield Augnst 
17. 1892; Margaret Elizabeth, born in 
Green township June 17. 1894: Goldie 
Fern, born November 18, 1895: Harold 
Jennings, born February 27, 1897; Paul De 
Motte, born September 12, 1898; and Frank 
Russell, born February 23, 1900. 

For one year after his marriage IMr. 
Nave resided in Springfield, working in the 
Ross shops and also in the Lagonda shops. 
He then came to his present place of resi- 
dence in Green township, and has had 
charge of this farm ever since. He oper- 
ates one hundred and fifty-three acres of 
land, which he has fenced and the fields have 
been placed under a high state of cultiva- 
tion. He also has a dairy of sixteen cows. 
His farm work fully occupies his time, and 
indolence and idleness are utterly foreign 
to his nature. He is independent in poli- 
tics and takes an active part in political 
work. In April, 1900, he was elected to 
the office of road supervisor in district No. 
I, which office he still holds. He became a 
charter member of the Junior Order of the 
United .\merican Mechanics, and during 
the first year served as one of its trustees. 



CHARLES F. ^IcGILVRAY. 

Frijm the farm come many of the 
strijngest and best men found in business 
and professional circles. In the free life 
of the country they seem to imbibe self-re- 
liance, independence and strong purpose, 
and, entering into the competition which 
forms so great a part of business life, they 
so direct their energies as toi win success. 
Such a one is Charles F. McGilvra}-. He 
was born in Peterbnro, New Hampshire, 



January 22, 1849, ^"'^' '* ^ -"-"'' '-'*' Thurston 
IMcGilvray, whose birth occurred in Anv 
hnrst, New Hampshire, as did that of the 
grandfather otf our subject, while the great- 
grandfather was a native of Scotland. He 
became the founder of the family in Amer- 
ica, leaving- the land of hills and heather in 
1792, and taking up his abode in New Eng- 
land. Thurston McGilvray went to Cali- 
fornia in 185 1, attracted by the discovery of 
g-old in that state, and there died when about 
thirty-seven years of age. His wife, who 
bore the maiden name of Mary A. Bullard, 
is still living in Peterboro, at the age of 
eighty-nine years. She came of English 
ancestry noted for longevity. The family 
was first established at Dublin, New Hamp- 
shire, and the maternal grandfather of our 
subject was a soldier in the war of 1812. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. ]\IcGilvray were born 
three children, but our subject is the only 
one living, Albert and Marsena having both 
passed away. After the death of her first 
husband Mrs. McGilvray became the wife 
of David Smiley. Mrs. Addie Greenwood, 
a sister of Thurston McGilvray, is now li\-- 
ing in Everett, Massachuetts. 

Charles F. McGilvray pursued his early 
education in the public schools of Peterboro 
and when ele\-en years of age he began earn- 
ing his own livelihood b}- working on a 
farm. He followed various occupations 
for a few years, and at the age ot eighteen 
he entered a foundry and learned the trade. 
When he had completed his apprenticeship 
he began working as a journeyman at the 
age of twenty-one, and continually ad- 
vanced in his chosen pursuit. He remained 
in the east until 1870. when he came to 
Cleveland, Ohio, which was his place of resi- 
dence for a time. He afterward took up 
his abode in Elmira, New York, where he 



292 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



had charge of the foundry at the Xew York 
State Reformaton,-, continuing in that posi- 
tion for one year. On the expiration of 
tliat ])eriod he returned to Cleveland, where 
he remained about three months, and in 
February. 1884, he came to Springfield and 
here took charge of the shops of the Rob- 
bins & Meyers Company foundry. He has 
remained in that capacity until the present 
time, and under his capable supervision the 
business has rapidly increased and he has 
been advanced to the important position of 
superintendent of the entire plant, having 
three hundred men under his supervision. 
In 1888 the company was incorporated as 
the Rol>bins & ^Nleyer Company, and in 1900 
J. A. Meyers and Mr. IMcGilvray purchased 
the interest^ of Mr. R()bl)ins. and H. E. 
Meyers also became a member of the com- 
panv. Mr. ]^IcGilvray gives his entire time 
and attention to the management of the bus- 
iness. The plant is now used for the manu- 
facture of electric ceiling fans, desk fans, 
dynamos and motors, and a general foundry 
business is carried on. The sales of the 
house are extensive and the annual output 
is constantly increasing, bringing the stock- 
holders an ailarged annual income. 

In 1873 ^^i"- McGilvray returned to Xew 
Hampshire and was there married to Miss 
Addie F. Gray, who was horn in the old 
Granite state and pursued her education in 
the high schools there. Her father, David 
Gray, was a contractor and builder. After 
lii< marriage Mr. McGilvray remained in 
the state oi bis nativity until 1877. when he 
returned to Cleveland, Ohio. One child 
was born of this marriage, but died in 1876 
at tlie age of two years. I\Ir. and Mrs. Mc- 
Gilvray reside at No. 717 East High street, 
where they have a pleasant and hospitable 
home. 



In politics he is a Republican where na- 
tional affairs are concerned, but at local elec- 
tions, where no issue is involved, he votes 
for the men whom he regards as best quali- 
fied for the office, aside from political affili- 
ations. He is a member of Anthony Lodge. 
F. & A. M., and also belongs to the Benevo- 
lent ami Protective Order of Elks, t... 
the Royal ,\rcanum. and to the Mys- 
tic Circle. He devotes his entire time 
to the management of the business, 
Ixit in social life is found as a genial, 
courteous and kindly gentleman. He is a 
man of wide experience and broad-minded 
— a man whose strong individuality is the 
strength of integrity, virtue and deep hu- 
man sympathy. 



JAMES E. ^IcCLURE. 

James E. McClure, a retired farmer 
now engaged in the grocery business in 
Springfield, has spent his entire life in Clark 
county, his birth having occurred in Mad 
River township on the 5th of December. 
1868. He is a son of George and Harriet 
.\. (Dory) McClure. The father was born 
in Mad River township in 1833. and the 
mother in Springfield, in 1839. The pater- 
nal grandfather. Jefferson McClure, was of 
Scotch-Irish parentage, and cajne from 
Maryland to Ohio in his early boyhood 
days, being reared to manhood in Clark 
county. He worked as a farm hand and 
teamster in early life, and during pioneer 
times in this locality he purchased land in 
Mad River township and there carried on 
fanning until his death. He and his wife 
were buried in tlie cemetery at Ebenezer. 
In their family were four children who are 
vet li\ing: William, a resident of Spring- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



293 



field ; George, the father of our subject ; 
Samuel J., a dair\-man residing west of 
Springfield; and Addie, the wife of Cyrus 
Kissell, of Mad River township. These 
children were all educated in the public 
schools of the locality and reared upon the 
home farm. 

'George McClure spent his boyhood days 
in the usual manner of farmer lads of the 
period, and when he attained to man's es- 
tate he continued to follow the occupation 
to which he had been reared, making it his 
life work. At length he retired from acti\-e 
business cares, and is now living retired in 
Springfield, having purchased a home in the 
city. He was a good business man, ener- 
getic and resoJute, and his success is at- 
tributable to his own efforts. In politics 
he is a Democrat, and both he and his wife 
are highly esteemed people of the cnmnnm- 
ity in which they make their home. This 
worthy couple became the parents of tweh'e 
children, all of whom' reached adult age, al- 
though three are now deceased. The oth- 
ers are: D. Dory, who is a gardener of 
Springfield township; Rosa, the wife of 
Samuel Arthur; Charles J., w'\.o is living in 
Pueblo, Colorado; Harriet A.; William; J. 
E., of this review; Seth, also of Pueblo; 
Mary, the wife of Elmer Cale; and Thomas. 
All were educated in the district schools, 
and Harriet was a student in Nelson's Busi- 
ness College. 

James E. ]\IcClure of this review at- 
tended the country schools through the win- 
ter months, and in the periods of vacation 
worked upon the home fann, continuing to 
assist in its cultivation until he had attained 
the age of twenty-two years. During the 
last two years of that time he had charge of 

the farmi Kvork. successfully carrying on 
general farming and stijck-raising. He 



cultivated one hundred and seventy acres of 
land, improving it and bringing it to a high 
state of production. His farming opera- 
tions were contiiuied until December, 1901, 
when he sold his property and came to 
Springfield to make his home. On the 17th 
of January, 1902, he established a grocery 
at his present location, purchasing a new 
and complete line of groceries, provisions, 
and feed. He has since been increasing his 
stock as the trade dananded, and is now 
well fixed to meet the demands of his grow- 
ing trade. He delivers to any part of the 
city, and has gained the confidence, good 
will and therefore the patronage of a large 
number of the residents in his part of the 
town. 

On the 15th of March, 1888, Mr. Mc- 
Clure was united in marriage toi Miss Fan- 
nie Johnson, a daughter of Eli Johnson, who 
was a farmer of Mad River township. Mrs. 
McClure was educated in the common 
schools and by her marriage became the mo- 
ther of one son, Arthur J., who was bom 
December 30, 1892. On the 6th of Janu- 
ary following, Mrs. McClure died. In 1895 
our subject was again married, his seco'ud 
union being with Elizabeth Geron, a daugh- 
ter of Jacob Geron, who was bo'rn in Ger- 
many. The lady was educated in Spring- 
field township and has two daughters' — 
Gertrude, who' was born December 15, 
i8g6; and ^Margaret, born September 3, 
1902. 

In his political views ^Ir. McClure is 
known to be independent, casting his ballot 
for the men and measures that he deems best 
calculated and qualified to promote the gen- 
eral welfare. To church and charitable 
work he gives hearty endorsement. He is 
a member of Lincoln Castle, No. 49, K. T. 
E., and while at Enon served as keeper of 



294 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the excliequer. While tliere is nothing in 
the life history of Mr. McClure to attract 
the reader who delights in a sensational 
chapter, there is nevertheless in his career 
much that is commendable and worthy of 
emulation, for he has always been found in- 
dustrious, honest and straightforward, and 
these qualities should ever be cultivated by 
men who wish to attain success and at the 
same time enjuy the respect of tlieir fellow 
mai. 



TRAXCIS MARION HAGAX. 

Whatever else may be said of the legal 
fraternity, it cannot be denied that mem- 
bers of the bar have been more prominent 
actors in public afifairs than any other class 
of the community. This is l>ut the natural 
result of causes which are manifest and re- 
quires no explaiiQtion. The ability anil 
training which (pialify one to practice law 
also qualify him in many respects for duties 
which lie outside the strict path of his pro- 
fession, and which touch general interests of 
society. Holding marked precedence 
among tlie meml>ers of the bar of Springfield 
stands Mr. Hagan, who has also been hon- 
ored with various official positions of trusi. 
and the confidence thus reiK)sed in him has 
nc\er been lietrayed in even the slightest 
degree. 

Judge Hagan has spent his aitire life in 
Clark county, his birth having occiirred near 
Enon, in Mad River township, on the loth 
of June. iS.(_|. He comes of Scotch-Irish 
lineage. His ])alernal grandfather was a 
native of county Monaghan, Ireland, and in 
the year 1798 he left the Emerald Isle f<ir 
the new world, taking up his aljode in Penn- 
sylvania. Subsequently he continued his 



westward journe_\- until he reached Clark 
county, Ohio, being a resident of this place 
from 181 5 until 1825, when he was called 
to the home beyond. Among his children 
were Hugh Hagan. the father of our subject. 
His birth occurred in Xorthumljerland coun- 
ty, PennsAlvania, June 3, 1803. and he was 
therefore about twel\-e years of age when 
the family cast in their lot with the pioneer 
families of this locality. He was reared 
amid the wild scenes of frontier life and 
through many years witnessed the develoji- 
ment and upbuilding of this section of the 
state, bearing his part in the work of public 
improvement. Having arrived at years of 
maturity, he married Ann Furay, who was 
born in Ross County, Ohio, Octolier 3, 
1 81 6, and was of French and Irish extrac- 
tion and a daughter of Peter Furay. Her 
death occurred September 22, 1892. 

The youth of Judg-e Hagan. like that of 
other b<>\s. was largely given to the work 
of acquiring an education. He attended the 
public and select schools and later becair.e a 
student in Antinch College, at Yellow 
Springs, but ill health prevented his gradua- 
tion. From early life he was imbued with 
a desire to become a meml^er of the legal pro- 
fession, and so directed his reading and ef- 
forts that he might ultimately realize his 
ambition. It was not possible for him at 
once to prepare for the bar, and for a num- 
ber of years he engaged in teaching in com- 
mon and select schools, but he never lost 
sight of what was his real aim. and pur- 
suing his reading as he found oi)portunity, 
he was admitted to the bar in 1873. The 
following year he opened an office and be- 
gan the i)ractice of law in Springfield, where 
he has since remained. His prqjaration of 
cases is most thorough and exhaustive; he 
seems almost intuitively to gras]3 the strong 




F. M. HAGAN. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



297 



points of law and fact, wliile in his 'briefs 
and arg-unients the authorities are cited so 
extensi\'ely and the facts and reasoning 
thereon are presented so cogently and un- 
answerably as to leave noi doubt as to^ the 
correctness of his views or oif his conclus- 
ions. No detail seems to escape him ; e\-ery 
point is given its due proaninence and the 
case is argued with such skill, ability and 
power th.at he rarely fails to gain the ver- 
dict desired. 

Many positions of honor and trust have 
been conferred upon him and the official 
career of Judge Hagan is one worthy oi the 
highest commendation', because it has ever 
been characterized! not only by capable but 
by most earnest devotion tO' duty and by- 
loyalty to the trust rq:)osed in him. In 1879 
he received the endorsement of many of the 
leading members of both the Democratic and 
Republican parties for the office of city so- 
licitor oi Springfield and was triumphantly 
elected. A conten:porary biographer, in 
speaking oi this perio'd ot" his career, has 
said : 

"Mr. Hagan's first term as city solicitor 
was so full of achievement that he was again 
elected in 1883. ^^r. Hagan was pre-eminent 
in his services in this connection. His ef- 
forts for the city's weal in important litiga- 
tion, the successful defense of the municipal 
rights, his thoughtful and broad command 
of the law in relation to cities marked his 
years of public perfonnance with conspicu- 
ous force. It is a significant fact that he 
is yet summoned intoi consultation by the 
city in all important cases, no matter who 
is city solicitor, nor how able. The mature 
and ripened judgment of Mr. Hagan and his 
close familiarity with the city's past ren- 
der him highly essential as an adviser." 

Other offices, both in the direct line of 



his profession and in other departments of 
activity, have claimed the services of Judge 
Hagan. From President Cleveland came 
his first appointment to the position of post- 
master of the city of Springfield, in which 
capacity he served from 1887 until 1890, 
discharging his duties in a manner that pro- 
moted the business affairs of the office and 
won for him the high commendation of tlie 
general public. In 1890 he was the efficient 
president of the board of trade, and his co- 
operation with leading business mai con- 
nected with that organization led to^ sub- 
stantial improivement in Springfield. He 
has ever had firm faith and enthusiasm in 
Springfield and its future and his capacity to 
direct large movements was ably demon- 
started during his incumbency as president. 
From 1885 until 1890 the Judge served as 
a trustee of the Mitchell-Thom.as Hospital, 
of this city, and in the latter year he be- 
came judge of the common pleas court of 
Clark county, Ohio, by the appointment of 
Governor Campbell, thus becoming the suc- 
cessor of the Hon. Charles R. Wliite. Judge 
Hagan was president of the Clark County 
Bar Association in 1892 and 1893. He has 
been one o^f the trustees oi the Associated 
Charities for the last four years. Judge 
Hagan is a member of the Second Presby- 
terian church and is strongly identified with 
the church element. In his politics he is a 
lirm but liberal Democrat, and stands high 
in the councils of his party. 

Judge Hagan was married May 21, 
1 88 1, to Justina Bevitt, of Springfield, Ohio, 
daughter of Dr. Bevitt, of St. Charles, Mis- 
souri. His life partner is a lady of many 
intellectual graces. Three children have 
blessed the union — Francis Marion, Hugh 
and IMargaret. Judge Hagan's domestic 
life is an ideal one. and the quiet, scholarly 



298 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



man, finds pleasure and satisfaction in 
the society of his interesting family. His 
spotless career, his force of character, his 
varied accomplishments as barrister, jurist 
and pleader, his broad personality as an in- 
di\-idual, make him indeed a man among 
men. In his home life harmonious tastes 
produce congeniality, the scholarly attain- 
ments of Judge Hagan l>eing well pointed 
out by the intellectual graces of his wife, 
while the influence of lx)th is ever found on 
the side of right, the true and the beautiful. 
The practice of law has been the real life 
work of Judge Hagan and at the bar and on 
the bench he has won; marked distinction. 
A man of unimpeachable character, of un- 
usual intellectual endowments, with a thor- 
laigh understanding oif the law, patience, 
urbanity and industry. Judge Hagan took 
to the bench the \ery highest c|ualifications 
for this responsible office .of the state gov- 
ernmait. and his record as a judge has been 
in harn-.ony with his record as a man and a 
lawyer, distinguished by unserving integ- 
rity and a masterful grasp of e^•ery problem 
which has presented itself for solution. He 
is a man of cultivated literarj- taste and of 
wide reading. He has prepared a large 
number of papers for the Literary Club, of 
Springfield, all of which were well received. 
He, together with Judge A. N. Summers, 
was the author of the special code for 
Springfield, under which the city has been 
governed since 1891. He is a man of be- 
nevolent purpose and broad humanitarian 
principles, and his chairitable nature is indi- 
cated by his acts of kindness and interest in 
the welfare of those less favored than him- 
self. Faultless in lionor, fearless in conduct, 
stainless in reputation — such has been his 
life record. His scholarly attainments, his 
statesman.ship. his reliable judginent and his 



charming powers of conversation would 
enable him to ably fill and grace any position 
however exalted, and he has been no less 
honored in public than loved in private life. 



WILLIAM HENRY SIDLEY. 

William Henry Sidley is the distin- 
guished representative of the Catholic 
church here, now ser\-ing as pastor of St. 
Raphael's church in Springfield. He was 
born at Thompson, Geauga county, Ohio, 
November 17, 1844, and is a son of Henry 
and Man- (Turner) Sidley. When a young 
man his father, who was a native of Limer- 
ick. Ireland, came from the Emerald Isle 
to the new world, and after his marriage lo- 
cated in Geauga county. The family had 
many representatives in the Catholic min- 
istry, including Rev. Robert Sidley. an uncle 
of our subject, aud two brothers. Rev. John 
and Rev. Alexander .\. Sidley. The latter 
is now pastor of a church in Ravenna, Ohio, 
and the former died in 1893. One sister 
of the family entered the order of L^rsulines 
in Cleveland. The father and mother both 
came of families noted for longevity. The 
former was a farmer, and at an early day 
secured a claim of government land in the 
western reserve of Ohio. He had to clear 
his farm and blaze a trail for miles in order 
to reach his property. In the family were 
twelve children, of whoni W'illiam H. Sid- 
ley was the second in order of birth. There 
are now four living sisters and one is de- 
ceased. Lizzie is an L'rsuline nun at Pitts- 
burg. Pennsyhania. Mrs. P. H. Butler is 
a widow, and with her two children, Alex- 
ander and Marguerite, reside with Father 
Sidlev. Sarah makes her home with her 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



299 



brother, John, in Ra-\-enna, Ohio. Mrs. M. 
B. Moroney is living in Cincinnati, Ohio. 
The mother still survives, and is residing 
upon the old homestead with her son, 
George M. Sidley, at the age of eighty 
years, while another brother, Charles A. 
Sidley, is a resident of Cleveland. 

Rev. William Henry Sidley of this re- 
view was reared on a farm and attended the 
district schools, thus acquiring his prelim- 
inary education, which was supplemented by 
study in the Xotre Dame University, which 
he entered at the age of sixteen years. Two 
years afterward he became a student in the 
Roman Catholic Theological Seminary at 
Cle\-eland, completing his theological studies 
in the Provincial Saninary, in Cincinnati, 
Ohio. He was ordained to the priesthood 
June II, 1870, by Bishop Toeble, of Cov- 
ington, Kentucky. His first pastorate was 
at Sidney, Ohio, and he labored there for 
three years, removing thence to Springfield, 
Ohio, in 1873, to assume charge of St. 
Raphael's parish. He is a man of ripe 
scholarship, pleasing manners and a perse- 
vering and efficient pastor. He has the love 
of his congregation and the esteem of the 
entire community. During his pastorate a 
magnificent stone church has been erected, 
besides a large parochial school and pastoral 
residence. There are six hundred children 
attending the school, and a congregation 
numbering six hundred families is in a pros- 
perous condition. In 1887 Father Sidley 
was made dean of the Springfield confer- 
ence and permanent pastor of St. Raphael's 
church. 

The history of Catholicity in Spring-field 
is almost identical with its history in every 
city in Ohio — a few scattered families, a 
missionary's visit once r;r twice a year and 
gradual and steady increase of population 



until finally from a small nucleus has grown 
a strong, young, thriving parish with a resi- 
dent priest. There was not a Catholic fam- 
ily in Clark county in 1830, but from 1835 
and the following ten years several Catholic 
families located in or near Springfield. The 
first priest who visited this city, as far as 
known, was the Rev. Henry D. Juncker, of 
Dayton, Ohio. This was between 1844 and 
1849. Two others, J. J. O'Mealy and his 
brother, Patrick, are known to have at- 
tended Springfield about that time. From 
1849 St. Raphael's parish may date its his- 
tory as a distinct congregation attended by- 
its own pastor, the Rev. James Kearne\', by 
whom was begum the first parish register in 
August, 1849. The first church was erect- 
ed through the g«-ierosity of M. P. Cassilly 
and completed later by Rev. Kearney. This 
was started in 1848. The old church was 
remodeled in 1865 and 1866, and was dedi- 
cated in 1867 by Bishop Rosecrai-is. Until 
1865 the pastoral residence was in the rear 
of the church, but Father Thisse purchased 
a separate residence, which was sold as a 
part of his estate in 1873. -^^ that time 
Rev. William H. Sidley was appointed pas- 
tor, and arrived in June of that year. The 
present residence was then begun and com- 
pleted on the 1st of June, 1874. In 1884 
a residence was purchased for the sisters at 
a cost of seventy-five hundred dollars and 
a chapel was added to the rear of the church, 
which cost eighteen hundred and fifty dol- 
lars. 

In the spring of 1889 a meeting was held 
in the school hall to prepare plans for the 
erection of a new church to meet the de- 
mands of the increasing congregation. The 
property was purchased at a cost of seven- 
teen thousand dollars, the amount to be met 
in special payments, the last of which was 



300 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



made on the 2nd of February, 1892. Mr. 
Cregar was aigaged as architect and pre- 
pared the plans. Father Sidley visited 
many prominent cities of Ohio and submit- 
ted the designs as seen to-day — a modern 
structure with one tower one hundred and 
eighty-four feet high and another one hun- 
dred and thirty-five feet high. The corner 
stone was laid by the Most Rev. William H. 
Elder. D. D., on the 25th of Septem1)er. 
1892. while on the 17th of July. 1898. the 
church was dedicated. This house of woe- 
ship is one of the objects of public interest 
in Springfield, and non-Catholics, as well as 
members of the denomination, point with 
pride to the high tower, and from its lofty 
height a splendid view can be had of the 
citv. The other tower contains the bell. 
Tlie style of architecture is modified Gothic, 
with a ceiling fifty feet high, three graceful 
arches meeting in a beautiful drop, giving a 
clear space in the auditorium sixty by one 
hundred and seventy-five feet. It is all fin- 
ished in quarter sawed oak. and the material 
used for the outer walls is Berea sandstone. 
The complete cost of the church was more 
than seventy-five thousand dollars. It has 
taken years of hard lal»r to accomplish all 
this. The first Catholic school was held 
in the basement of the church, instruction 
being given by Father Howard. In 1864 
Father Thisse purchased a small frame 
house standing on the site of the present 
school building. In 1876 the old frame 
structure was sold, and the following year 
the present place was ready for occupancy, 
having Ijeen erected at a cost of nineteen 
thousand dollars. The course of instruc- 
tion is the same as that given in the public 
schools, and tlie scholarship is of as high 
a grade as that found in the select institu- 
tions. The ])u])ils who have left this school 



are found in all branches of business, in pro- 
fessional life, in educational work and in 
government positions. The first diiiloma 
was issued in 18S2 to Miss Ella Maher, 
who died soon afterward. This school is 
conducted by the Sisters of Charity, and is 
the delight of Father Sidley. Always zeal- 
ous and self-sacrificing, the Sisters ha\e 
gi\en to the school their most fervent care 
and. cheerful and happy, they have con- 
tributed their happiness to others. 

Father Sidley devotes his entire atten- 
tion to the church work and its various de- 
partments, and to the building and complet- 
ing of the beautiful house of worship, and 
he has had the hearty support of his entire 
congregation, who In Id him in the highest 
esteem and give him their entire confidence. 
Tlie design for the church was laid out by 
him, including the beautiful entrance, which 
is one of the most attractive and modern in 
the west. Father Sidley is a public-spirited 
man, and in all enterprises that have for 
their object the general good and improve- 
ment of the city he is found as a co-operator, 
giving liberally to their support. He takes 
an active interest in public gatherings, and 
his council is widely sought. He has beai 
the organizer and promoter of many worthy 
objects and his gifts of charity are without 
number. He is a thorough American in 
love with the institutions of the country, 
and his work has been carried along on pro- 
gressive American lines. 



GEORGE \\". BERRY. 

Xo one is more deserving of success 
than is the man who begins the battle of life 
cmi)ty handed and b.y honest toil continued 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



301 



through a long period accumulates a com- 
petence. Such has been the life record of 
Mr. Berry, who is now well known as a 
substantial liurticulturist and farmer of 
German township, his home being pleasantly 
situated a quarter of a mile west of Tre- 
mont. 

He was born in Alad River township, 
Cliampaign county, Ohio, April 22, 1857, 
his parents lieing- Achory and Angeline 
( Kite ) Berry. His father was born in 
Champaign county and throughout his en- 
tire life carried on agricultural pursuits. 
He located in Johnson township, of his na- 
tive county, and purchased eighty acres of 
land, on which he carried on general fann- 
ing until about 1874.. He then bought a 
farm at \\'est\-ille and continued his agri- 
cultural pursuits until his life's labors were 
ended in death, in ?^Iarch, 1901, when he 
was sixty-eight years of age. As the years 
passed he had accumulated a comfortable 
competence, and thus left his family in good 
financial circumstances. He was the father 
of five children, of whom the subject of this 
review is the eldest. The others are : 
Monroe E., a farmer residing in Champaign 
county, who is married and has three chil- 
dren : Albert, who is also of Champaign 
county, and Jias two children : Minnie, the 
wife of Charles Straub, of Clark county, by 
whom she has three children ; Nina, who- be- 
came the wife of Frank \\'yant and died in 
German township, leaving one child. The 
father was a Democrat in his political affil- 
iations, and was a member o-f the Myrtle 
Free Baptist church, in which he served as 
deacon for a number of years, filling that 
office up to the time of his death. 

George A\'. Berry of this review was a 
little lad when his parents removed to John- 
son township. Champaign county, where he 



remained until seventeen years of age, when 
the family went to a farm near Westville. 
There he continued until he had attained 
his majority, giving his father the benefit of 
his services until he was twenty-one years 
of age, when he began to work by the month 
as a farm hand. He was thus employed for 
two years, after which he operated land on 
shares. 

On the 2nd of November, 1881, in IMad 
River township, Champaign county, he wed- 
ded Miss Laura B. Ward, a native of that 
township and a daughter of Joseph and 
Sarah J. (Wyant) Ward. Tfiey began 
their domestic life upon a raited farm, and 
after renting for about nine years Mr. Berry 
purchased property. He had come to Clark 
county a year after his marriage, and had 
lived on the Thackery place, thus getting 
his start in life. He found a warm friend 
in Mr. Thackery, who helped him to buy 
the sixty-eight acres of land upon which he 
is now living. Later Mr. Berry has pur- 
chased an additional tract, and now has 
ninety-two acres, which are well improved. 
He has remodeled the honse and has added 
other ecjuipments such as are found upon a 
model farm of the twentieth century. He 
had to incur an indebtedness of over fonr 
thonsand dollars when he purchased the 
property, but Mr. Thackery told him that 
he would stand by him, and as the years 
have advanced the enterprising efforts of 
oiu- subject ha.\-e resulted in clearing away 
all incumbrances from the place. He plant- 
ed fruit trees and also began raising garden 
vegetables, and by the sales of his products 
he was not only enabled to meet his financial 
obligations, but also to add to his farm, and 
in his work attained success. 

The home of Mr. and ]\Irs. Berry has 
l)een blessed with two daughters : Lula, 



302 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



born in German township December 20, 
i88j. is the wife of WilHam Aylshire and 
resides in German township; Ruth, born 
September 26, 1891, is at home. Mr. Ber- 
ry holds membership with the Knights of 
the Maccabees at Tremont, and since his 
first presidential ballot was cast for Han- 
cock he has been an advocate of the Democ- 
racy. Truly he has earned the title of a 
self-made man. He has overcome obstacles 
and difficulties in his path aiid by persistent 
and honest industry he has gained a compet- 
ency and a position where he is highly re- 
spected by his acquaintances. 



DR. .\LBERT E. COTES. 

Dr. Albert E. Cotes, who is success- 
fully practicing medicine and surgery in 
Selma, was born in Bates county, Missouri, 
July 2, 1874, and is a son of Eliphalet and 
Julia (Hallenbeck) Cotes, the former a na- 
tive of Jefiferson county, New York, while 
the mother's birth also occurred in the Em- 
pire state. Upon a farm the father was 
reared, and when about twenty years of age 
made his way westward to Ohio, where he 
was first employed as a clerk in a store. 
He afterward began teaching school, and 
followed that profession for alwut twenty 
years, being well known in educational cir- 
cles. Remo\ing to the west, he there en- 
gaged in teaching and in following farming, 
but after a time he returned to Ohio and foi" 
fourteen years was principal of a ward 
school in Springfield. He is now connected 
with journalistic interests as a member of 
the staff of the Morning Sun, of Spring- 
field. 

The Doctor was oiilv a vear old wlien 



his people returned to the Buckeye state, 
and in the schools of Springfield he obtained 
his early education, while later he entered 
Antioch College at Yellow Springs. After 
three years spent in that institution he be- 
came a student in the State University at 
Columbus and was graduated in the class 
of 1S97 with the degree of Bachelor of Sci- 
ence. He had determined to engage in the 
practice of medicine as a life work, and then 
took up the study of medicine in the Ohio 
Medical University, where he was gradu- 
ated in 1900. For a short time he practiced 
in Springfield, and in December, 1900, he 
came to Selma, where he has already secured 
a good patronage of a lucrative character. 
On the 30th of September, 1901, in this 
town, the Doctor wedded Miss Emma Yar- 
nell, who was born here and is a daughter 
of David and Mary (Wise) Yarnell. She 
is a graduate of the high school of Selma 
of the class of 1893, and is one of the es- 
teemed ladies of the place. Tlie Doctor 
votes with the Republican party, and the 
character of his life is indicated by the fact 
of his membership in the Methodist Episco- 
pal church and in Clark Lodge, No. 166, I. 
O. O. F., at South Charleston. In his pro- 
fession he is advancing, and his laudable 
ambition and earnest purpose gives promise 
of a bright future. He belongs to the Clark 
Countv Medical Societv. 



WILLIAM W. WARNER. 

William \\'. Warner is assistant chief 
of police of Springfield, and in this city has 
made his home since 187S. Capability and 
worthiness led to his selection for his pres- 
ent office, for during the years of previous 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



303 



connection with the police service he had 
ever shown himself to be a stalwart de- 
fender of law and order. He was born in 
North Lewisburg, Champaign cornity, Ohio, 
February 2, 1862. The family is of English 
lineage and was established in America at 
an early day when the William Penn colony 
was planted in Pennsylvania. His forefa- 
thers were members of the Society of 
Quakers or Friends. William ^^^arner, the 
grandfather of tmr subject, remoa-ed to 
Clark county, Ohio, at a very early period 
in the development of this portion of the 
state. H'e had two children ; Levi D. and 
Angeline Garwood, the latter a resident of 
North Lewisburg, Ohio. Tlie former, the 
father of our subject, was born in Selma, 
this county, and became a blacksmith, learn- 
ing the trade in early life. He was always 
an active, industrious man, very temperate 
and exemplary in his habits. In 1878 he 
removed with his family to Springfield, and 
here followed ,his trade for a Jiumber of 
years. He came of a family noted for 
longevity, but an accident terminated his ca- 
reer, he being killed by a train at South 
Charleston. He had served his country in 
the Civil war, was a member of Alitchell 
Post, G. A. R., and also belonged to the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while 
both he and his wife held membership in 
the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. 
Warner bore the maiden name of Lue Hurd, 
and they were married in Union county, 
Ohio. She was born in Clark county. Her 
great-grandfather and great-grandmother 
are buried in Harmony township, where her 
stq>sister, Mrs. Marian Darrow, whose 
maiden name was Brooks, was 1>orn in 181 8, 
while Charles Brooks, a half-brother, is a 
resident of North Lewisburg, Ohio. Mrs. 
^^'amer was one of three children born unto 



her parents, the others being James, of Ken- 
ton, and Thomas, who is living in Kansas. 
The Hurds were farming people, and were 
\-ery early settlers of Union county, Ohio. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. \\'arner were born five 
children, but two of the number died in 
early childhood. The others are: A. 
Woodrow, of this city ; Rilla. at home ; and 
William W., of this review. 

The last named pursued his education in 
the common schools of North Lewisburg 
and spent the days of his boyhood and youth 
under the parental roof. He served his ap- 
prenticeship with his father and for a few- 
years followed the blacksmith's trade, be- 
ing employed as a journe}-man from the 
time he was tw^enty years of age. He al- 
ways sought employment in this city, and 
as he was a good workman he had little 
difiiculty in obtaining situations in the vari- 
ous factories here. By the city council he 
was appointed a member of the police force, 
as guard of the chain gang, in 1885, while 
in 1887 he was promoted to a position on the 
regular force and has gradually worked his 
way upward throiigh all the dififerent offices, 
having served at various times on the dififer- 
ent beats of the cit}-. For five years he has 
been assistant chief of the police force, which 
he believes in keeping up to a higii standard 
of discipline, and all such men stand as an 
able bulwark in times of excitement and 
danger or when the public safety is in any 
way menaced. Mr. Warner is known as a 
worthy representative of the official life of 
Springfield. 

In 1886, in this cit}', was celebrated the 
marriage of our subject and Miss Sadie C. 
Shoemaker, who- was born in Pike township, 
Clark county, Ohio, a daughter of Samuel 
Shoemaker, a farmer of that township. 
Her mother is' now deceased. Mrs. Warner 



304 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



is one of five children, the others being Ida, 
the wife cf \\'aher Calhoun, of Springfield; 
Carrie, the wife of Emory Zerkle, of Law- 
renceville, Ohio, who follows fanning; 
Mary, deceased ; and Elwood, who died in 
1902. I'nto Mr. and Mrs. Warner was 
lx>rn one son, Edward A\'., whose birth oc- 
curred in 1887, and who is now a student 
in the high school. The wife and mother 
died in December, 1887, and Mr. Warner 
then returned home with his son and they 
have since resided with his mother. 

Mr. Warner holds membership in Eph- 
raim Lodge. Xo. 146. I. O. O. F.. and also 
belongs to Mad River Encampment. For 
five years he was a member of the old Sev- 
enth Regiment of the Ohio National Guard, 
and during that time attended six encamp- 
ments. Publc-spirited and progressive, 
he withholds his support from no enterprise 
or measure calculated vto benefit the city. He 
has a wide acquaintance in Springfield, en- 
joys the confidence of a large circle of 
friends and has always proved an efficient 
officer, devoting bis entire time to his duty. 



CH.\RLES BRIGGS. 

Charles Briggs is a well known farmer 
and stock-raiser of Madison township, Clark 
county, and was born on the farm where 
he now lives. He has here four hundred 
acres of valuable land and his realty posses- 
sions altogether aggregate eleven hundred 
acres lying in Clark. Madison and Greene 
counties and ten hundred and fifty acres in 
Jackson county. Ohio. As Mr. Briggs has 
a wide accpiaintance in this portion of the 
state, his friends will receive his life record 
with interest and it is therefore with pleasure 
that w c iiresent his historv to our readers. 



He was bon'n Septeirbcr 2^. 1832, and is 
a son of Samuel and ElizabetJi (Hemple- 
nian) Briggs. The father came to Ohio 
from Virginia when but a lx>y. in company 
with his parents John and Catherine ( Peter- 
son) Briggs. The grandfather at that time 
settled near where the subject of this review 
now li\es and became the owner of a large 
tract of land. He nade his hcvire in the 
county at a time when Indians were en- 
camped near by and when primitive condi- 
tion existed, all Ijeing wild and unimproved 
in this section of the state. He lived to be 
over ninety years of age. Samuel Briggs. 
then a boy, would frecpiaitly play and wres- 
tle with the Indian boys. He was reared 
amid the wild scenes of frontiea- life, sharing 
witli the family in the hardships and trials 
incident to frontier existence, and eventually 
he liegan farming on his own account, car- 
rying on that pursuit throughout his active 
business career. The mother ai our subject 
came to Ohio from Pennsylvania with her 
parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Hempleiran. 
Her mother died when she was quite ymmg 
and the father afterward married Miss 
Fletcher, and George Heir.pleman. now of 
Clark county, is her half-brother. The nnr- 
riage of Mr. and Mrs. Briggs was celebrated 
in Clark County, May 10, 1821. The grand- 
father had given to each of his children a 
farm and Samuel Briggs became the owner 
of the tract upon which our subject now 
lives. His home was a hewed log cabin and 
therein he reared his family. Unto him and 
his wife were born se\-en childrai, six of 
whom reached years of maturity. Lucinda 
became the wife of John Selsor and died 
in Illinois. Mary became the wife of Mar- 
tin Luther Carr and is now a widow living in 
White county, Indiana. She has four chil- 
dren. Matilda is the wife of Clement 




CHARLES BRIGGS. 




MRS. CHARLES BRIGGS. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



309 



Shockley and is residing in Fayette county, 
Ohio'. Amos died in Clark county. Charles 
is the next in the family. Elizabeth married 
Daniel AlcKillip and is living- in Clark 
countv. In his political affiliations the la- 
ther of the subject of this rexdew was a 
Democrat but was never an office seeker. 
In early life he belonged to the Baiptist 
church but later changed his religious views 
and joined the Christian church. His life 
was ever upright and honorable and coan- 
n.ended him to the confidence and good will 
of those with whom he came in contact. He 
passed away September 8, 1850, at the age 
of fifty-three years, his birth having oc- 
curred. January 115. 1797. His wife, who 
was Ixxn October 8, 1803, long sundved 
him. passing away on the 13th of January, 
1889. 

Charles Briggs spent his boyhood days 
on the old home fann and pursued his edu- 
cation in a log schoolho'use, continuing his 
studies until alx>ut sixteen years of age. At 
that tin-.e his father died and the following 
year Charles Briggs began earning his own 
li^■elihood. He inherited about three hun- 
dred and fifteen acres of land from the es- 
tate, but had to meet some indebtedness left 
bv his father. He engaged in raising sheep 
and found that a profitable industry, owing 
tO' his successfully conducted work aud un- 
tiring aiterprise. As his financial resources 
increased he Jcept adding toi his land from 
time tO' time until he is now accounted one 
of the most extensive land owners of this 
portion of the state, having altogether two 
thousand, one hundred and seventy acres 
of land. Much of this is very rich and high- 
ly cultivated and returns to hini a splendid 
income. For the past six years ^Ir. Briggs 
has been interested in coal mining and now 
"wns about one hundred and fiftv acre* of 



coal land in Jackson county, this state. Af- 
ter oi:)ening up the mines, he has leased them, 
and they are now in shape toi pttt out one 
hundred tons per day. They are conven- 
iently located on the Baltimore & Ohio 
Southwestern railroad and give promise of 
being very profitable. 

On the 9th of December, 1867, Mr. 
Briggs was united in marriage to Miss Sa- 
rah Woosley, of Clark comity, where she 
was born and reared, her parents being 
Benjamin and Keturah (Hunt) Woosley. 
Her father was also' born in this county,, 
while her paternal grandfather, James 
Woosley, was a native of Virginia and of 
English ancestry, being a descendant oi 
Lord Woosley. Fot a time he lived in Cir- 
cleville, Ohio, and then located oa: a fann 
near South Charleston. The mother of 
>ilrs. Briggs was born in Xew Jersey and 
when about three or foiu' _\ears of age came 
to Ohio with her parents, Isaiah and Re- 
becca ( Sleeper) Hunt, who lived to an ad- 
vanced age here. Her father died at the 
age of sevent}--two, her mother when sixty- 
three years of age. In their family were six. 
children, of whom Mrs. Briggs is the eldest. 
The others are: Lavina, the wife of Jesse 
Strottp; Isaiah, who died in infancy; Jair.es, 
who died at the age of si.xteen years; Emma, 
the wdfe of Edward H. Florence: and Will- 
iam, whoi is living in Clark county. Four 
children graced the union of our subject aud 
his wife, of whom the eldest died in infancy. 
Francis M. married Florence Hopkins and 
died at the age of thirty years, leaving three 
children — Charles F., Xellie. and Amos P. 
Mary became the wife of E. Barton Shep- 
herd and died in Greene county, Ohio, leav- 
ing one child, Merrill Briggs She])hcrd. 
Laura, the youngest nf the family, dietl in 
infancv. 



3IO 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. Brig-gs is a standi Daiiocrat and 
never fails to cast his ballot for the nien 
and measures of that party, but the honors 
and emolun.ents of office have had no at- 
traction for him. His wife belongs to the 
Methodist Episcopal church and both are 
well known and highly respected people of 
the community. Although Mr. Briggs in- 
herited some land, he did not sit down idl\- 
content with what he possessed, but with 
great energ\- and determination he entered 
upon his business career and has steadily 
advanced to a positio:i of wealth and afflu- 
ence, acquiring lands and property as the 
result of his industry and capable manage- 
ment. His life history shows what can be 
accomplished if one has the will to dare and 
to do, and his example should serve as a 
source of encouragement and inspiration to 
others. 



ALBERIT K. HAHX. 

On the list of officers of Clark county 
appears the name of .Albert K. Hahn, who 
is now serving as county auditor and makes 
his home in Springfield — his native city — 
wliere his birth occurred on Christmas day 
of 1855. His parents were Casper and Caro- 
line ( Kastner) Hahn, lx)th of whom were 
natives of Germany, the father having been 
born in Frankfort-on-the-Main, February 
5, 1826, while the mother's birth ocairred in 
Strasburg on the ist of January, 1827. She 
came to America in her fifth year, but the 
father was twenty-one years of age when 
he crosscfl the Atlantic. For a long period 
he was a resident of Springfield. Ohio, and 
here he died in 1884, his remains being in- 
terred in the beautiful FernclifF cemetery. 
His wife passed away in 1876. and she, too. 



was laid to rest there. Tlie name of Cas- 
per Hahn figured prominently in connection 
with the mercantile interests of the city. At 
one time he conducted a merchant tailoring 
establishment and was aftenxard proprietor 
of a dry-goods store, which did an e.Ktensive 
and profitable business. 

.\jbert K. Hahn, whose name forms the 
cajilion of this review, was educated in the 
public schools of his native city, and after 
thus preparing for college he liecame a stu- 
dent in Wittenberg College, where he re- 
mained a student for five years, pursuing a 
scientific course that has greatly broadened 
his mental ken and well fitted him for busi- 
ness life. He entered upon his business 
career in the capacity of a clerk in the em- 
ploy of T. J. Casper and W. T. Sn.ith. with 
whom he remained for twelve years. A'o 
higher testimonial of the intelligent and 
faithful ser\ice of this gentleman could be 
given than the fact that he was so long re- 
tained in one employ. On the e.vpiration. 
of tliat peried, in 1894, he was appointed 
deputy county auditor under L. F. Young, 
and in Xovemlljer, 1899, he was elected au- 
ditor of Clark county, assuming the duties 
of the office on the 15th of Xovember, 1900, 
for a term of three years. He is methodical 
and systematic in conducting the work of 
the office and faithfully performs every du- 
ty devolving upon him in this position of 
public trust. In March, 1902, he was re- 
nominated, and was again elected to that 
office. He is a director, vice president and 
treasurer of the Fair\ievv Floral Company, 
of which he was one of the incoqxjrators. 
Tliis coinpany has an e.xtensive trade, which 
extends from Maine to California, and from 
the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, 

In September, 1886, occurred the mar- 
riage of Mr. Hahn and Miss Emma Circle, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of Clark county, a daughter of Samuel and 
Hannah (Overholser) Circle. Two children 
grace this union, Esther and Justus A. The 
family attend and support 'St. Paul's Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Hahn 
is a member. 

For many years Mr. Hahn has been an 
active worker in tlie ranks of the Republi- 
can party and for five years was a member 
of the county central committee and of the 
executive committee for ten years. He is 
a member o^f the Commercial Club, which he 
joined on its organization. He is also con- 
nected through membership relations with 
Red Star Lodge, No. 205, K. P.; Clark 
Lodge, No. loi, F. & A. M. ; Springfield 
Chapter, No. 48, R. A. M. ; Spring-field 
Coiuncil, No. 17, R. & S. M.; and Palestine 
Commandery, Noi. 33, K. T., while in the 
Scottish Rite he has attained the thirty- 
second degree, and is therefore a Consistory 
Mason. Mr. Hahn is a representative of 
our best t}-pe of American manhood ; in his 
business he has been diligent, enterprising 
and honorable, and in public afifairs loyal and 
patriotic, so that he has justly attained to 
a position as a director of public thought and 
action in political circles. 



MICHAEL BAUER. 



Michael Bauer, who was formerly en- 
gaged in blacksmithing and now follows 
farming in Harmony township, is one of the 
worthy citizens that Germany has furnished 
to Clark county. A native of Hesse Dam- 
stadt, he was born July 11, 1843. his parents 
being Michael and Barbara (Winkler) 
Bauer. In the town where his Ijirth oc- 
curred he was reared to manlinod and at- 



tended school there until fourteen years of 
age, when he began learning the black- 
smith's trade, serving an apprenticeship of 
two years. Instead of receiving any pe- 
cuniary compensation for his services, Ihe 
had to pay his employer one hundred dollars 
for the privilege of learning the business. 
When his term of apprenticeship was ended 
he received about twelve cents a week for 
his services for a year. He was afterward 
paid one dollar a week, and later commanded 
two dollars a week for his labor. This was 
considered good wages in the fatherland. 
Hearing favorable reports of the business 
opportunities of the new world, Mr. Bauer 
believed that he migjit better his financial 
condition in America, and after attaining his 
majority he crossed the Atlantic. In the 
meantime, however, when he had reached, 
the age of twenty-one years, he was called 
to serve in the army according to the laws 
of his native land, and was on military duty 
for three years. Pie was then granted a 
furlough. At the end of another j-ear the 
war between Prussia and Austria broke out 
and he was again called to service, partici- 
pating in the battle of Aschaffeuburg, in Ba- 
varia, in which his knapsack was pierced 
with bullets, but he was uninjured. He 
was also in the battle at Schaffliauser. 

The year 1868 witnessed the anigration 
of Mr. Bauer to the United States. He 
came in company with his parents, who lo- 
cated in Hancock county, Ohio, where they 
are still living, both having reached an ad- 
vanced age, the father ha\ing been bcrn in 
1819, the mother in 1816. Mr. Bauer of 
this review secured work at West jMiltou 
in Miami county, Ohio, and there remained 
for about two years, after which he went 
to the vicinity of Xenia, where he conducted 
a shop of his own. After his marriage he 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



resided near Cedarville for a few years and 
then went to Clifton and there conducted a 
smitliv. Tiiere he also bouglit twenty acres 
of land, and in connection with work at his 
trade he engaged in the cultivation of his 
fields. Removing to Harmony township, 
he purchased ninety acres of his present 
farm and has erected good buildings upon 
this ])lace. developing an excellent prc<]>erty 
highly improved with modern equipments. 
On the 23d of March, 1871, Mr. Bauer 
was joined in wedlock, in Stormtown. 
Greene county, Ohio, to Miss Lizzie Ger- 
man, who was horn in Springfield township, 
Clark county. July i-|, 1850. Her parents, 
Bals and P>arbani (Hartmann) Gemian, 
were both natives of the fatherland, and the 
former was about twenty-three years of age 
and the latter eighteen years of age when 
they came to .\merica with their res])ective 
parents. They were married in Springfield 
September 15. 1849, and for seme time 
thereafter Mr. German worked at his trade 
of shoemaking in order to provide for his 
family. E\-entually, however, he abandoned 
that inu-?uit and purchased land in Green 
township. Clark county, where he died. Oc- 
tober 8. 1900. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bauer 
have been born three children : Anna, lx>m 
in Greene county. January 17. 1872. is the 
wife of George Conrad, of Great Falls. Mon- 
tana, and they have three children — Daisy, 
Clarence and Frances ; John, born in Greene 
county, July 7. 1874, was married in Great 
Falls. Montana, to Xellie Tyler, and now 
lives in the state of Washington : and Will- 
iam, born in Clifton. Greene county. Xc- 
vember 12. 1879. is also living in Great 
Falls. }ili:ntana. Mr. Bauer votes with the 
Democracy. Both he aufl his wife were 
reared in the faith of the German Lutheran 
church and were confirmed therein at the 



age of fourteen years. All that he has ac- 
quired he owes to his own industry and 
perseverance. He has been a faithful toiler 
in the field of business activity, and his good 
farm is the visible evidence of his cnter])ris- 
ing life. 



WILLIAM WILDMAX. 

More than a century ago George Wash- 
ington said that "agriculture is the most 
useful and honorable occupation of man." 
and the truth of this statement stands today 
as it did then. Among the representatives 
of farming interests in Madison townshij). 
Clark county, is William Wildman, who was 
Ixjrn near Selma, in what is now Cedarville 
township, Greene county. Ohio, his natal 
day being June 19, 1833. Mis parents were 
Edward and Hannah (Thorn) Wildman. 
The father was born in Virginia in 1806 and 
was aljout seven years of ag-e when his 
parents, John and Elizabeth (Bond) Wild- 
man, came from Grayson, Virginia^ to Ohio, 
legating upon the farm which is now the 
hom.e of our sul>ject. Here the grajidfatber 
]Mrchased land, comprising about one hun- 
dred acres, which had been improved to a 
slight extent. Upon' the farm was a small 
l<-g cabin, which is still standing as one oi 
the landmarks of pioneer days. Tlie grand- 
father was a native of Loudoun county. Vir- 
ginia, and after coming to Ohio he spent his 
remaining days upon the old homestead farm 
here, it being his place of residence from 
1814 until 1840. He soon added to his orig- 
inal purchase until he had three hundred 
and eighty acres. He also enlarged and 
in- proved the log house and occupied it as 
long as he lived. 

Edward \\'ildn'.an. the father of our sub- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



313 



ject, was reared to manhood amid the wild 
scenes oif frontier life and was married in 
Greene county in 183 1. There he resided 
until 1843, when he remo'ved toi the farm 
upon which William Wildman now resides, 
purchasing the interest of the other heirs 
in the old hooie property. Here he con- 
tinued toi carry on agricultural pursuits 
throughout his remaining days. Four chil- 
dren were born unto him and his wife, all 
of whom reached maturity, although only 
two are now living, William and Rachel T., 
the wife of Israel H. Hollingsworth. wb.i> 
lives near Richmond, Indiana. John, the 
second .':on. made his home in Greene coun- 
ty, where he died in 1878; and Marion, who 
was the third o.f the family, died in Rich- 
mond. Indiana, in January, 190 1, leaving a 
widr>w and children. 

In his boyhood days William Wildman 
acquired a good common-school education 
and was trained to habits of industry, econo- 
ni}- and honesty upon the home farm, gain- 
ing, too-, that practical experience of farm 
work that enabled him to successfully carr\' 
on agricultural pursuits on his own account 
after he had attained his majority. On the 
19th of October, 1859, he married Miss 
Eliza Harri.son, of Clark county, a daug-h- 
ter of John F. and Elizabeth (Paist) Harri- 
son. }vlr. and Mrs. Wildman began their 
domestic life upon a farm in Madison town- 
sliip, on which they lived for several years. 
When the father died in 1870 he left an 
estate of about one thousand acres, which 
was divided among his heirs. In the home 
farm Air. Wildman has frmr hundred and 
eiglity acres, and his landed possessions also 
comprise a farm of three hundred and twen- 
ty acres in Elk county. Kansas, and also 
three hundred and twent_\' acres in \\'right 
C()lnlt^•, Alissouri. In 1878 Mr. Wildman 



becam.e a partner in a mercantile enterprise 
in. Selma, Ohio, with which he was connected 
until 1898. In 1894 the firm- established the 
Exchange Bank, of which Mr. Wildman was 
president, doing a general banking business 
in Selma until 1898, when he removed to 
Cedarville and opened what is known as the 
Exchange Bank of Cedarville. He serves as 
president of the same, and his son, Walter 
J., as cashier. Tliis bank has elegant quar- 
ters in the township building, although they 
own business property in Cedarville. Mr. 
W'iklman's business interests have been of 
an extensi\'e and important character and he 
deserves to be ranked among the captains of 
industry in this portion of Clark county. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wildman have been 
six children. Bertha is now the widow O'f 
John Fremont Hickman and a resident of 
W'ooster, Wayne county, Obio. She has 
two children, Hilda L. and Roger A. Wal- 
ter J., who married Cora D. Atkins, by whom 
he has two children, Ernest A. and Gladys, 
is now cashier in the Exchange Bank of 
Cedarville. Ahin Edward, who manages 
the home farm, married Anna White, and 
they have five children, Edith E., Edna E., 
William \^"endell .Walter E. and Winnifred. 
Louis H. married Myrtle ]\Iandeville and 
died in Cedarville February 23, 1899, leav- 
ing one son, Louis M. He was the cashier 
of the bank at the time of his death. Ra- 
chel T. is the wife of Robert Elder, of Selma, 
and has two children, Robert Newell and 
Lois. William Ernest died in 1889 at the 
age of twelve years. 

At the tin-.e of the organization of the 
Republican party, when John C. Fremont 
becnme its first presidential candidate, Will- 
iam Wildn-an advocated its iprinciples and 
for many years gave to it his support, but 
in recent vears he has been identified with 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the Prohibition party. He served for several 
years as a meml>er of the board of education. 
He is a birthright member of tlie Green 
Plain Society of Friends and his wife became 
a member before her marriage. They have 
many friends in the community and are wide- 
ly known here. Mr. Wildman has been en- 
ergetic and resolute in Inisiaess affairs and 
owes his success to his ability to recognize 
a business opportunity and improve it. 



JOHX G. S.\DLIER. 

John G. Sadlier, deceased, was born in 
Johnstown, Pennsylvania, June 14. 1856, 
a son of John and Ann (Graham) Sadlier, 
the latfer a native of tlie Keystone state, 
while the former was born in Ireland and 
was a farmer by occupation. The subject 
of this review attended the common schools 
until thirteen years of age, and then began 
learning tlie mnldcr"s trade in the Cambria 
Iron Works, where he was employed for 
eight years, thoroughly mastering every 
branch of the business with which he was 
connected. He then went to Alliance, Ohio, 
entering the service of the Morgan Engin- 
eering Company in the capacity of assist- 
ant foreman, serving three years. At Shar- 
on, Pennsylvania, he was for three years em- 
ployed by D. J. Egan, in his iron and steel 
works, being for one year the foreman of 
the plant. He had been very much inter- 
ested in steel work from his boyhood and he 
made the first steel casting ever manufac- 
ured in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Re- 
mnving to Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Sadlier en- 
tered the works of the \^^^lker Manufac- 
turing Company, now the Westinghouse 
Company, and after a sliort time was made 



assistant foreman of the foundry depart- 
ment, his duties being important and 
onerous. When six years had passed in 
that way he gave up the position and came 
to the Springfield Company, at Springfield, 
Ohio, taking charge of the foundry, which 
was then a very small concern, but under his 
able guidance the business increased until 
an extensive plant was demanded in the con- 
duct of the enterprise, and the works were 
enlarged until they became one of the lead- 
ing industrial concerns of tl>e city. Mr. 
Sadlier was after a short time made vice- 
])resident and manager, and to his practical 
knowledge of the foundry business, his un- 
llagging industry and enter]>rise the splendid 
growth of the Iiusiness was largely attributa- 
l)le. At the time of his death he was plan- 
ning to ])lace upon the market a dust-proof 
ratler for cleaning. The model had beai 
completed, but tlie machine had not l>een 
constructed when his life's labors were end- 
ed in death. He designed the drill made 
by the Fairbanks Machine Tool Company, 
secured the patent upon it and a vast num^ 
ber are now in use. In addition to acting 
as tlie vice president of the Springfield 
Foundry Company, he was the manager of 
the Fairbanks Tool Company and the Indi- 
anapolis Switch & Frog Com]>any. and his 
connection with extensive and important 
mechanical interests made him known in 
trade circles of this kind throughout the 
country. De\ices wliich are his invaitions 
have proved of practical utility in the busi- 
ness world, and his life work was therefore 
of material benefit to his fellow men. 

In 1876 Mr. Sadlier was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Mary Luther, a native of 
Johnstovm, Pennsylvania, and unto them 
were born thirteai children, ten of whom 
are now living: h'hn \\'., Marv G., Dan- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



315 



iel I., Thomas, Frances, Charles, Margaret, 
Rose, Laurence and Ruth. They also adopt- 
ed a son, William;, a nephew oi Mrs. Sad- 
lier. To his family Mr. Sadlier was de- 
noted, putting foi'th every effort in his pow- 
er toi promote the happiness and welfare of 
his wife and children. 

Although Mr. Sadlier started out in the 
business world with little education to aid 
him, he broadened his knowledge by attend- 
ing night school, also by reading, experi- 
ence aind observation, and became a well 
read man. He often wrote articles for pub- 
lication upon subjects relating to foundry 
work. He was an honorary member of the 
Iron Moulders' Union, and in June, 1901, 
he was elected the president of the Ameri- 
can Foundry Association, at Buffalo, and 
was filling that position at the time of his 
death. In politics be was a, Democrat who 
took an acti\'e interest in the growth of the 
party, and when in Allegheny county, Penn- 
sylvania, he delivered many campaign ad- 
dresses in behalf of Hancock and was a del- 
egate to the convention- which nominated 
Patterson. In 1901 he was a, candidate on 
the Democratic ticket for mayor of Spring- 
field. He held membership in St. Joseph's 
church anrl in that faith died, passing away 
January 6, 190J, his remains being interred 
in St. John's cen etery. at Johnstown, Penn- 
sylvania. He was an earnest Christian 
man, and perhaps no better estimate of his 
character can l)e given than the words of his 
pastor, who delivered the funei-al sermon, 
and who said : "Early in life he learned to 
follow the Savior's instruction — 'Seek first 
the Kingdom of God and his justice and all 
things will be added unto you.' He has left 
a legacy more precious than jewels and 
gems — a legacy of faith, hope and charity. 
He has shown that a man could live, mingle 



and labor in the world and practice his faith 
every day." The transcendant goodness and 
purity of his life commanded uniform re- 
spect and the life record of John G. Sadlier 
IS v.orthy to be cherished in the minds and 
hearts uf his man friends as long as n'.em- 
ory endures. 



D. \\'ALTER SPEXCE. M. D. 

Since 1898 Dr. D. Walter Spence has 
engaged in the practice of medicine and 
surgery in Springfield. Professional ad- 
x'aaicement is proiverbially slow, for the physi- 
cian has toi demonstrate his ability and skill, 
and time, which tests the merits of all things, 
then places its approval or disapproval upon 
his work, and theretby public patronage is 
gained or lo«t. Dr. Spence, however, has 
continuall}- advanced in public regard since 
he became a factor in the medical fraternity 
in Springfield. He was born in Moncton, 
New Brunswick, March 22, 1864, and is a 
son of David Spence, whose birth occurred 
in New Brunswick, in March, 1843, '^''"^1 \\\'^a 
in early life was employed as a foundry- 
man. He is now living at Dover, New 
Hampshire, and is the general manager 01 
the Kidder Press Company. His wife, who 
bore the maiden name of Margaret Mac- 
Claren, was born at Charlottetown, on Prince 
Edward's Island, in 1844, and l»th were 
educated in the academic schools of Canada. 
They were married in New Brunswick, and 
afterward the father removed with his fami- 
ly to Nova Scotia, where he engaged in the 
foundry business at Annapolis. There he 
continued until 1878, when he went to Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts, remaining for four years 
in that city, acting as sUperintaident of 
the Sturtevant Blower ^\V)rks. Later he 



3i6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was located at Williamsport, Peiinsyhania, 
as superintendent of the Deniorest sewing 
machine and bicycle facton-, capably filling 
that position until 1894. From there he 
went to Dover, New Hampshire. He is a 
scientific niclter and foundryman, fully ac- 
quainted with great mechanical principles 
and has always led an active, busy and use- 
ful life. In the family were two children, 
the Doctor and Floraice E. The daughter 
died at Valaitia, Columbia county, New 
York, at the age of twenty-one years. 

Dr. Spaice of this review pursued an 
academical education and was fourteen years 
of age when he went to Boston, Massachu- 
setts, with his parents. There he entered 
a drug store in the capacity of clerk and aft- 
er some connection with mercantile life he 
determined to devote his time and energies 
to the important work of alleviating hu- 
man suffering, and accordingly, in 1884, 
he entered the JefTerson Medical College of 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was gradu- 
ated in that institution in the class of 1888, 
with the degree of M. D. He afterward 
took a post-graduate course in the Bellevue 
Hospital Medical College of New York, 
and was graduated in 1889. After his 
graduation the Doctor located in Williams- 
port, Pennsylvania, wliere he continued in 
practice until 1898, when he came to Spring- 
field. He has here made a specialty of sur- 
gery and of the diseases of women, and in 
these lines has jjrog-ressed rapidly, for his 
skill and close attention to his professional 
work have made his lalx)rs of much value 
in the line of his chosen calling. He has 
built up a lucrative practice and is numbered 
among the representative surgeons of the 
citv. lie was vice president of the Spring- 
field .Vcademv oi Medicine before it was 



merged into another organization, and in 
Williamsport he was a member of the Ly- 
coming County Medical Society. He now 
belongs to the Clark County Medical Soci- 
ety, of which he is the treasurer. He is 
one who puts into practice modern methods 
of utility and value, and at the present time 
he is surgeon for the Detroit Southern rail- 
road, is examiner for the Pacific Life In- 
surance Company of California, the Inter- 
state Company of Cincinnati, and the Cen- 
tral Life Insurance Company of Pittsburg, 
in addition to performing the duties devoh- 
ing upon him as a practitioner. 

The Doctor was married in Willianis- 
poit. Pennsylvania, in 1899 to Miss Blanche 
V^. Fegley, who was born in Williamsport, 
Pennsylvania, in 1876. Her father, Alvin 
D. Fegley, was engaged in merchandising. 
She was one of two children, the other 
having died in infancy. The Doctor and 
his wife have one son, Walter Alvin, who 
was Ixim in July, 1901. 

The Doctor belongs to the Independent 
Ordei- of Odd Fellows, of Williamsixirt, 
Pennsylvania. He' is a Republican and is a 
citizen of worth, his efforts in behalf of the 
general good having Ijeen effective and far- 
reaching. His clo.se and earnest study of the 
science of medicine has given him a com- 
prehensive knowledge of the best methods 
of treating disease and Dr. Spence's rqni- 
tation is by no means far behind that of 
many surgeons of twice his years. 



HOX. CH.XRLKS J. BOWLCS. 

One of Springfield"s i)rominent and in- 
fluential citizens is Ibm. Charles J. Bowhis. 
ex-mavor of that citv. who is now cxten- 




C. J. BOWLUS. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



3<9 



sively engaged in 'business as a wholesale 
dealer in fruit and produce and is a general 
commission merchant doing business under 
the name of the Bowlus Fruit Company, at 
No. 23 West High street and No. 20 North 
Market Place. 

It is in the county of his natix'ity that 
Mr. Bowlus has attained distinction, for he 
was born in Clark county upon a farm, De- 
cember 17, 1866, bis parents being George 
C. and Barbara (Crabill) Bowlus. Tbe 
father was born in Maryland in 1841 and 
in his boyhorxl da3-s came to- this county 
\\\t\\ his father, Captain Samuel H. Bo-wlus, 
and settled on the old Urbana pike. The 
g^rand father was a farmer by occupation and 
improved one of the finest farms in Clark 
county. A man of forceful individuality, 
unwavering in support of bis honest convic- 
tions and ever loyal tO' wha't he believed 
to be right, he commanded the respect and 
confidence of all who knew him. When, ac- 
cording to his political convictions, he had 
reason to change his position he became a 
Democrat, having previously been a stal- 
wart Whig. However, with equal fervency 
he became devoted to the principles of the 
Democracy, affiliating with the latter party 
up to the time of his death, which occurred 
November 26, 1896, at Bowlusville, which 
is on the county line. He took a very ac- 
tive part in the Vallandingham can.paign 
and ga\'e a barbecue, which he conducted 
with great success, attracting thousands of 
people. His wife lx>re the maiden nan:e of 
Lucinda Michael. She was a native of 
Maryland, and possessed many excellent 
qualities of heart and mind. She, too, passed 
away at Bowlusville in the year 1896. 

Georg'e C. Bowlus, the father of our 
subject, was reared to manhoorl on the old 



family homestead in this county, and the 
public schools afforded him his educational 
privileges. Throughout the period of his 
youth he also asssisted his father in the worjc 
of the home farm, and after he put aside his 
text books he carried on agricultural pur- 
suits on his own account for a number of 
years. He afterward removed to Spring- 
field, where he has now made his honie for 
some time and at present is serving as su- 
perintendent of the city prison. His wife 
is a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter 
of Joseph Crabill, who was also Ixirn in the 
Keystone state. 

Charles J. Bowlus of this review spent 
his early boyhood days in the usual manner 
of farmer lads of the period, performing 
t'le duties of the school room, enjoying the 
pleasures of the playground and assisting 
in the work of the field and meadoav during 
the periods of \-acation. On leaving the 
farm he took up his abode in 'Springfield 
and has since been identified with its m.er- 
cantile interests. He first secured a clerk- 
ship in a grocery store conducted by C. C. 
Funk, now deceased, with whom he re- 
mained for several years, and afterward be 
engaged in clerlcing for other parties. PI is 
enterprise and industr)- at length brought 
to him sufficient capital to enable him to 
begin biusiness on his own account in 1888, 
and he established a wholesale fruit and pro- 
duce store on High street, there carrying on 
a large and successful trade. In! 1897 he 
entered into- partner.ship with William R. 
Hackett under the name of the Bowlus Fruil: 
Company, doing a general commission busi- 
ness, dealing in wholesale specialties. They 
handle potatoes, cabbages, bananas, ai>ples, 
strawberries and melons and their trade cov- 
ers a radius of one hundred niles. Tbe\- 



320 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORl 



receive their goods in car-load lots from all 
parts of the United States, from Maine to 
California, and from Canada to the Gulf. 

On the 31st of March, 1887, Mr. Bow- 
lus was married to Miss Fanny Lee Duvall. 
of Springfield, a daughter of William H. 
and Sarah (Bingham) Duvall. By this 
union were born three sons: Roger C, 
now a student in Kenyon Militar)' /Vcade- 
my ; William D. ; and Charles J. They also 
lost an infant daughter named Thelma. 

In religious belief both Mr. and Mrs. 
Bowlus are Episcopalians, being members 
of the church of the Heavenly Rest, of 
which he is junior warden, and he is also a 
director of the Young Men's Christian As- 
sociation, taking an active interest in that 
line of work. Fratemally he is connected 
w^ith Red Star Lodge, K. P., and with 
the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. 
He is also a meml>er of the Commercial 
Club and is a director of the Board of Trade 
and of the Episcopal hospital in Cincinnati, 
Ohio. He has interested himself in mat- 
ters pertaining to the history of Clark coun- 
ty and was a manber of the committee on 
city government and its departments at the 
centennial anniversary held in Spring-field 
in 1901. In his political affiliations he has 
always lieen a Den.ocrat and for two years 
foJlowing the election of A])ril, 1899, he 
was mayor of Springfield, his adniinislra- 
lion being commendable liecause it was busi- 
ness-like, practical and progressive, many 
important mo\'ements and measures being 
executed during that time. His life has been 
one of exceptional activity and usefulness 
and has been characterized by the most un- 
swerving integrity and honor. He began 
life as a poor boy and has made a success 
not only as a business man. but also as a 
respected resident of Spring-field. 



JOHN S. CARD, M. D. 

By the death of this honorable and up- 
right citizen Clark county sustained a great 
loss, for he was prominent in his profession- 
al life and in public circles and was widely 
regarded as a most highly respected citi- 
zen. .\s the day with its morning of hope 
and i)ron:ise, its noontide o)f activity, its 
evening of completed and successful effort 
ending with the grateful rest and quiet of 
the night, so was the life of this honored 
mian. Through ma:iy years he devoted his 
efforts and energies to the practice of medi- 
cine, his lalx>rs pro-^ing of great benefit to 
his fellow men. He remained to the end 
of his life a kindly, genial friend, one whom 
it was a pleasure to know and to> meet under 
any circumstances and his influence was ever 
exerted in behalf of the true and the right. 

Dr. Gard was Ix^rn in German township, 
Clark county, October 12, 1829,, and died 
November 19. 1886, his remains being in- 
terred in Rector cemetery. Tlie ancestral 
history of the family can be traced hack to 
Xew Jersey, in which state Job Gard, the 
grandfather of the Doctor was born. He 
became one of the early settlers of Kentucky 
and subsequaitly removed to Ohio, settling 
first at Cincinnati and aftenvard at Dayton, 
whence he removed to ^Nliami county, and 
finally, in 1805, he t(H>k up his ahotlc in 
German township, Clark county, where he 
spent the greater part of his remaining days. 
He was one of the honored .pioneer set- 
tlers here and assisted materially in the 
early development and improvement of this 
section of the state. 

His son. Gershon Gard. the father of 
the Doctor, was about thirteen years of age 
when the family was established in Clark 
coimty. and here he wa.s reared in the pio- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



321 



neer hon:e. All around grew the great for- 
ests, standing in their primeval strength, 
and Indians still roamed through the woods. 
The work of improivement antl upbuilding 
had scarcely beai begun, but the Gards reso*- 
lutely bore their part in- the labor which 
resulted in reclaiming this section of the 
state for the uses oif the white man, Ger- 
shon Gard was reared upon a farm and after 
attaining his majority carried on both agri- 
cutura'I pursuits and milling, bnilding and 
operating several mills on Mad river. He 
alsOi served his couiDtry in the war of 181 2 
and led a very active 'and useful life. He 
^\•as twice married and by the first union had 
thirteen children, wdiile by the secoaid mar- 
riage two children were born. He first wed- 
ded Mary Peacock, who died in 1849. The 
same \'ear he married Maria Smith. His 
death occurred on the ist of Xo\'ember, 
1S65. 

Dr. Gard of this review was trained to 
manual labor in his yo'Uth and until eighteai 
years of age he spent the winter months as 
a student in the district schools. Better edu- 
cational privileges were then afforded him 
and he became a student in the OhiO' Con- 
ference high school of Springfield, where 
he remained for two years.- He was also a 
student for twoi years in the Wesleyan 
University of Delaware, after which he 
entered the R, S. Bacon commercial 
coillege oi Cincinnati. All this mental 
training served Ixit as a foundation upon 
which to .rear the superstructure of 
professional kno'wledge. Detennining to 
devote his life to the practice of medicine 
in order to lessen the sum of human suf- 
fering in the world, he entered the Starling 
Medical College O'f Columbus, from which 
he was graduated in the class Oif 1864. 

Dr. Gard had been previously married 



on the nth of November, 1851, to Miss 
Emma E. Hurd, who was bofn near Bridge- 
port, Connecticut, August 10, 1831, a 
daughter of Edwards and Elizabeth ( De 
Forest) Hurd. Her father was born in 
Connecticut and ^^'as a, son of Fi'ederick and 
Susanna (Edwards) Hurd, his mother's 
maiden nam.e being used as his Christian 
name. Mrs. Gard's mother was also born 
nea,r Bridgeport, Connecticut, in the to'wn 
of Stepney, and her parents were Pliilo and 
Nancy (Beach) De Forest. The De Forests 
were oif French lineage. When Mrs. Gard 
was two months old her parents remoAxd to 
Otsego county, New York, and lived there 
until she was sevai years of age, when they 
went to Chenango county, that state, there 
spending six years. In DeceniDjer, 1S46, 
they came to- Ohio, locating in Cincinnati, 
where her father worked at the carpenter's 
trade and she attended the Methodist Fe- 
male College Institute. She afterward en- 
gaged in teaching school for a year and 
was then married. Her aunt, Miss Mai-y 
De Forest, who after\\'ard became the wife 
of Rev. Dexter Witter, of Burton, Ohio^ 
engaged in teaching school for about twenty 
years. While she was in school Miss Lucy 
Webb, after Mrs. Rutherford B. Ha}-es, was- 
a student there, and she, and Mrs. Gard were 
warm friends. Tlie latter no'w has her pic- 
ture, which was given to- Miss De Forest and 
afterward willed to 'Mrs. Gard. 

When Dr. Gard had completed his medi- 
cal studies he entered the army as assistant 
surgeon and was located at Madison, Indi- 
ana, where he remained until he \vas ap- 
pointed den:onstrator of anatomy in his alma 
mater, the Starling Medical College. He 
filled that position for three years and in 
1867 he purchased the old homestead near 
Treniont,, Ohio. Taking up his abode there 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he devoted his attention to the practice of 
his profession and secured a large and grow- 
ing patronage. He had three fanns, all of 
which he rented. In 1879, wishing to retire 
from professional life, he removed to one of 
his fanns, inpon which his widow is now 
living, and there he spent the last years of 
his life in quiet retirenaent from the more 
arduous duties of the practice of his pro- 
fession. 

Unto the Doctor and Mrs. Gard were 
born five children. Edward De Forest, who 
Avas lx>rn K'ovemher 10, 1852, acquired a 
fair common-.school education, but died at 
the early age of twenty-one years. He was 
a n-(Mlel young man, his life being actuated 
by ndble and honoral>le principles. He died 
December 3, 1873, in full faith of the Chris- 
tian hope and was laid to rest in the Rector 
burxing ground. Horace Arthur, liorn May 
15, 1854, is a resident of Painsylvania. He 
married Elizabeth Fleming, whose home was 
in Leeksville, Virginia, and they have two 
children. He deals in fruit trees, carrying 
on an extensive business. Warren Emerson, 
born October 11, 1857, married Ida Wallace 
and they have two children. Carrie lona and 
Nellie Eulalia, Mary 'Belle, born October 
14, 185Q, became the wife of Fred Cor.vley 
and died in California, leaving twin sons. 
Earl Crard and Glenn Bressee. I^ura Al- 
beita. burn January 10, 1862, was married 
November 17, 1883, to George McMahon. 
and they became the parents of four chil- 
dren, but ihcir first lx>rn (twins) died in 
infancy. The others are Glenn .\rthur and 
Fre<l Carroll. 

Since llie Dwtor's death Mrs. Gard and 
lier son have administered the estate an.d she 
has ne\cr sold or mortgaged any of the 
property, but has 1wen very successful in 
her control of her business interests. She 



is a most estimable lad}' and a devoted 
Christian woman, and her strong character 
and sterling worth, combined with her many 
acts of kindness and charity, have endeared 
her to all with whom she has con-.e in con- 
tact. Perhaps no better estimate of the 
character and life work of Dr. Gard can 
be given than in quoting from the "In Mem- 
oriimi" which was written after his death: 
"John S. Gard, M. D., was bom October 
12, 1829; died Novenvter 19, 1886. aged 
fift3-seven }ears. one month and seven da}S. 
lia\ ing been born and reared within a shorv 
distance of this place and with the exception 
of three years resided in this community all 
his life. His face was a familiar one to 
old and young and his sterling qualities as 
a true Christian and his integrity of prin- 
ciple is a fact that none can question. He 
was raised in the lap of jMethodism by his 
now sainted mother. He was soundly con- 
verted in the winter of 1870 or 1871, under 
the ministration of Rev. John Black and 
joined this church, where he has been an 
acceptable member since. He sincerely loved 
the church of his choice, was always de- 
sirous to see its prosperity, ready and will- 
ing to give of his means to the supix>rt of 
the gospel and the advancemait of the cause 
of Christianity. With a free and willing 
heart he clieerfully gave to aid in the con- 
struction and completion of this beautiful 
structure, this temple of Gcxl. For a quar- 
ter of a century Dr. Gard successfully prac- 
ticed medicine here and brought comfort to 
man)- a household, as many can testify to 
his power to restore the sick, but as \ears 
and infinrity can'e upon him he retired and 
engaged in less arduous avocations. His 
last illness of five months' duration, was 
borne with the most i>erfect Christian forti- 
tude and resignation, althiiugh iiis sufferings 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



at times were almost more tlian hiimanit}- 
could bear, _\et he counted all the trials as 
nothing compared with the bliss he would en- 
joy when the toils and cares and sufferings 
O'f this short life were ended, knowing tliey 
would work out for him a far more ex- 
ceeding and eternal w eight of glory. Many 
times when talking with his family of the 
joys of Heaven and the bliss that awaited 
the faithful he became enraptured and shout- 
ed aloud praises to God. and his so'ul would 
be so 0'\'erwheIn'.ed with the magnitude of 
God's great love and mercy that he longed 
to depart to mingle his praises with that 
blessed throng who. had washed their robes 
and m.ade them white in the blood of the 
Lamb. He was confined to his bed but three 
weeks and such was the nature of the disease 
that he was unable to partake of any nour- 
ishment or even a glass of water, until with- 
in fifteen hours O'f his departure, Ixit like a 
patient lamb he quietly bore all these priva- 
tions without a murmur or complaint, hav- 
ing constant communion with liis blessed 
blaster, ever rejoicing in the wondrous lo\e 
of God that was giving him such con-.plete 
N-ictorjr over his last foe. A devoted, loving 
husband, kind, affectionate father, and true 
friend has been called to his reward. A sor- 
rowing wife and fo'ur children survive him 
and a host of lo\-ing friends tu muurn their 
loss, but there will be a happy reunion in 
the sweet bye and bye, beyond tlie swelling 
tide of Jordan where all tears shall be 
wiped away. Xo- more separations shall 
be known or farewells spoken, there to bask 
in the sunshine of God's love." 



ALVARO S. KROTZ. 
.\l\-arc:) S. Krotz. whose inventive genius 
and mechanical skill has gained for him 
prominence in the business world, is an elec- 



trical and niechanical engineer of marked 
ability and since 1890 he has resided in 
Springfield. He was born in Defiance coun- 
ty, Ohio', Novenjber 3, 1864. His father, 
Charles W. Krotz, was born in Germany 
and when a bo}- devoted all his time to farm 
work. He becan'.e a resident of Ohioi dur- 
ing his boyhood days, and from that time 
forward until his 'retirement from active 
life his energies were given to the work of 
field and meadow. His birth occurred in 
1 82 1, and he is' still living, a hale and hearty 
man. He is numbered among the honored 
pipneers of Defiance county who aided in 
clearing the land and preparing it lor the 
purposes of civilization. He hunteil all 
over that district when wild game was to be 
had in abundance. His first home was a 
log cabin, which he built upon his land, and 
later he erected a colonial mansion., for as 
the years passed he prospered in his under- 
takings. He has accumulated considerable 
land and today has a large farm, well 
stocked. In early m.anhood he wedded Eliza- 
beth Brubaker, who was born in 1828 and 
died in 187 1. She was a native of Penn- 
sylvania and their miarriage was celebrated 
in this state. Air. Krotz has been twice mar- 
ried and has had fifteen children, all of 
whom reached years of maturity, while 
twelve are yet li\-ing. His smis were: Fill- 
more; Charles W. ; Daniel F. ; Alvaro S. ; 
Linford E., w1k> is an att' raey ; \\'alter. who 
was born of the second marriage; and three 
sons who are deceased. The six daughters 
were Sarah, Lovina, Elizabeth. Clara, Alary 
and Josephine. The last twoi were alsoi chil- 
dren of the second marriage, the second wife 
of Air. Krotz having borne the maiden nan:e 
of Caroline Corwin. The sons are all en- 
terprising business men and three of the 
daughters have married farmers. The fa- 
ther ed.ucated his children in the liest schools 



324 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of the county, thus preparing them to meet 
llie (hities and responsiliihties of Hfe. Tliey 
were reared upon the home farm until they 
reached the age of se\"enteen years, when he 
gave to each the sum of two hundred dollars 
in cash and told them they could then choose 
the mode of life which the}' preferred. 
The sons all went to the city of Defiance and 
became identified with business circles there. 
In politics the father has ever been a Dano- 
crat, but has never aspired to political offices. 
He is a liberal m.inded man. who believes in 
supporting all measures for the general good 
and has been a. liberal contributor to church 
work and charitable institutions. A promi- 
nent man of the community, he enjoys in 
the highest degree the respect and good will 
of those with whom he has beeii associated 
' and he well deserves mention among the 
honored pioneer settlers whose efforts have 
been of avail in improving the conditions of 
Defiance county from early days. 

Mr. Krotz, whose name introduces this 
record, spent his early childhood upon the 
old home farm and when seventeen years 
of age was given his portion and told to 
choose a business which' he desired to follow. 
For a year longer, however, he remained 
upon the home fann in his father's anploy 
and then, believing that he would be better 
fitted for the business world by further edu- 
cational training, he entered the Valparaiso 
Normal School of Valparaiso, Indiana, 
where he pursued special studies, spending 
two years in the college. On the expiration 
of that period he entered tlie employ of the 
Defiance Electric Light Company as an op- 
erative. When but fourteen years of age 
he built a small engine and put it on wheels. 
It was similar to the automobiles in 
use at the present time. He early 
gave evidence of mechanical ability and 
inventive genius, and, following o\it the 



natural trend of his life, he has won 
success and gained distinction. He remained 
with the electric light company for fi\e 
years and in the meantime it was reorganized 
vmder the name of the Power, Light & 
Railway Compam-. Ilie marked ability of 
Mr. Krotz gained him advancement until 
he was promoted to the very resiXMisible po- 
sition of general superintendent, and in that 
position he installed the electric railway sys- 
tem of Defiance, Ohio. He remained as 
superintendent for two years and in 1890 
he ranoved to this cit\-, for the company in 
which he worked had "purchased the railroad 
system of Springfield. On ranoving here 
here he served as engineer and super- 
intendent of construction, and he de- 
sigiied and installed the street car sys- 
tem which is now in use and which has 
been such an important factor in facilitating 
the business of the city by affording quick 
and sure transportation, thus shortening the 
tiiue needed to bring the business men into 
the tomn-.ercial sections of the place. Mr. 
Krotz continued in the employ of the com- 
pany until 1895. after which lie devoted his 
time and attention almost exclusively for 
two years to developing experiments of his 
own and in perfecting various inventions on 
which he had previously begun work. In 
1897 he entered into business relations with 
the Kelly Rubljer Tire Company, having 
charge of the mechanical work in their fac- 
tory-. In 1900 he was elected sui^erintendent 
of the Grant Axle & \\'heel Company, with 
which he remained until the fire. He was 
one of the stockholders and directors of this 
company. He still holds his position with 
the Kelly Ruibber Tire Company and has 
made two trips to Europe in l>ehalf of that 
con-.pany, but in the meantim.e the company 
has changed its name to the Consolidated 
Riibl>er Tire Company. He has traveled 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



325 



all over America in its interests, also^ in Ger- 
many, France and England. From 1895 
to the present time he has labored on his own 
inventions and has developed many of value, 
which he has disposed of to good purpose 
to companies desiring to^ place his in\-entions 
upon the market. 

Under the firm name of the Krotz ISfanu- 
facturirig Company, Mr. Krotz is now en- 
gaged in the manufacture oi automobiles 
and quite a number of electric automobiles 
have been built under his direction. In 
these he has carried out experiments which 
have pro'ven of value in this new method of 
transportation and has various patents on 
appliances for automobiles. The company 
is meeting with success and has orders in 
advance oi the finished vehicles. They are 
now building special machinery for European 
parties. Mr. Krotz's knowledge of the great 
mechanical principles, his skill of a superior 
order and his work have called tO' him the 
attention of the business world and gained 
him distinction by reason of the advanced 
steps he has taken in the line of mechanical 
and electrical constiiiction. He is one of 
the organizers and constructors of the 
Springfield Railway Company, installed the 
sixth electric railroad systeni in the state, 
and has do|ne iconsiderabile desigining for 
outside railway companies. He is a con- 
tributor to' varions technical journals 
througho.ut the country and his opinions 
are considered authority on various subjects 
connected with mechanical and electrical 
work. !With a nature that could not con- 
tent itself with mediocrity, with a mind 
keenly analytical and of an investigating 
turn, with pure mechanical skill and handi- 
craft, he has gained distinction along lines 
of usefulness to the world. 

In Defiance, Ohio, in 1889 Mr. Krotz 



was united in marriage to Miss Grace P. 
Shirley, who was. 'boirn in Indiana, but was 
educated! in Defiance. Unto- our subject and 
his wife have been born four children, nan.e- 
ly : Faye E, ; Emma L. : Al\-a S. ; and Ro\', 
all of whom are students of the pulilic schools 
of Springfield. 

Upon coming to Springfield Mr. Krotz 
purchased property and located in his pres- 
ent home at Noi. 272 Clifton avenue. He 
and his wife are menil>ers of the Baptist 
church and he is an officer in the Sunday- 
school. He devotes consideraible time to 
missionary Sunday-school work, is super- 
intendent of the same and his efforts in 
behalf of Christianity have been effective 
and far-reaching. He belongs to Commer- 
cial Camp M. W, A., also to the Tribe of 
Ben Hur. In politics he is a Republican, 
but has never sought or desired office. He is 
a member of the Young Men's Christian 
Association, takes a deep interest in the 
work, serving on several committees. J^Ir. 
Krotz is a man of broad capabilities, as his 
varied and extensive business interests indi- 
cate. He is at all times approachable and 
patiently listens to whate\'er a caller may 
have to say, always courteous and at all 
times a gentleman in the titiest and best 
sense of the term. He cares not for no- 
toriety, nor is there about him the least shad- 
ow of mock modesty. He is a gentleman 
of fine address and thorough culture, occu- 
pying a first place in society as well as in 
the business circles of Springfield. 



CHARLES HERMAN BIGLER. 

Prominent among the business men of 
Springfield whose enterprise and labors re- 
sult in promoting the commercial prosperity 



326 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of the city and at the same time enhance 
individual prosperity is numliered Charles 
H. Bigler, who is the president of the 
Springfield Hardware Company. He was 
born in the city of Cincinnati April 23, 1868, 
his parents being Dr. George W. and Laura 
F. (Collins) Bigler. His father was a na- 
tive of Pennsylvania and was there reared 
to manhood. He studied medicine in that 
state, was graduated and soon afterward re- 
moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where for a 
number of years he conducted a successful 
practice, being recognized as a distinguished 
physician of that place. There he died in 
the year 1870. His wife, who was a native 
of Cincinnati, still survives and is now a 
resident of Springfield. 

In the public schools nf his native city 
Charles H. Bigler acquired his preliminary 
education, which was supplemented by study 
in Antioch College, remaining there as a 
student for se\eral years On putting aside 
his text books in 1887 he went abroad and 
there added to bis knowledge through travel 
and investigation. Many points of historic 
and modern interest were visited by hini in 
Switzerland, Belgium, Gemiany and Eng- 
land, after which he returned to his native 
land. 

In the year 1893 he became identified 
with the electrical world of business of Chi- 
cago, where he was connected with the Co- 
lumbian Exposition. After the close of the 
fair he removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, 
and there he entered the employ of the 
Kingen Company, pork packers, with whom 
he remained for six months. He then re- 
moved to Zanesville, Ohio, where for a short 
time he occupied the position of clerk in the 
St. Charles Hotel, and on the expiration of 
that period he came to Springfield, in 1896, 
and ]iurchased an interest in the Sprin.gfield 



Hardware Company. He became assistant 
and soon afterward became the partner of 
H. C. W'isner, who was then at the head of 
the enterprise. Not long after this the busi- 
ness was incorporated and Mr. Bigler was 
chosen the president and Mr. Wisner secre- 
tary and treasurer. Tlieir house is centrally 
located, being at No. 36-38 East Main street. 
The store building is fifty by one hundred 
and ten feet and the first floor and basement 
are occupied by their large stock of hard- 
ware. They carry a general line of both 
shelf gootls and heavy hardware and a con- 
stantly increasing trade is indicative of their 
reliable Inisiness methods, their enterprise 
and the high reputation for business integ- 
rit_\- sustained by the house. In connection 
with their retail trade in Springfield they sell 
t(j a considerable extent in smaller places. 
In the year 1896 Mr. Bigler was happily 
married to Miss Stella Pursell of Spring- 
field, a daughter of L. H. Pursell, formerly 
of Pennsylvania. Mr. Bigler is a member 
of Clark Lodge, F. & A. M. As a citizen he 
is progressive, wide-awake, withholding his 
co-operation from no enterprise for the gen- 
eral good. In poHtics he has always sup- 
ported the men and measures of the Repub- 
lican party. He ranks high in commercial 
circles in S])ringfield and deserves the credit 
which is accorded to those who owe their 
business prosperity and prominence to their 
own enterprise and diligence. 



WILLIAM II. HUGHES. 

\\'illiam H. Hughes is the efficient su- 
l)erinten.dent of Clark County Infirmary, his 
incumbency in the position covering ten 
years, during which time his lalx>rs have 
resulted to the benefit of the institution by 




W. H HUGHES. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



329 



tlie adoption of movements which have ad- 
vanced sanitary crmditions and thereby pro- 
moted the lielpfuhiess of tlie place. He has 
likewise gradually improved the appearance 
of the infinnary by keeping everything in 
first class condition and improving the 
gToimds in a way toi add to- their attractive- 
ness. 

;Mr. Hughes is a native of Wilmington, 
Clinton county, O'hio. born August 31, i8-j !, 
and is of English descent. The family was 
founded in this slate at a very early day. 
Jesse Hughes, the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was one of the early settlers of Clin- 
ton county and a distinguished jurist of 
Ohio in pioneer times. He served for twen- 
ty-eight years as judge oi the common pleas 
court and left the impress of his individuality 
upon the judicial histoTy of this common- 
wealth. He was a man of broad learning in 
his pi'O'fessioo and his decisions were strict- 
ly fair and impartial, his rulings being sel- 
dom reversed. He had come from Virginia 
to Ohio and w-as a well educated man. In- 
dians were numerous in this state at the 
tin:e he took up his abode here, and the work 
of impro'vement and development largely lay 
in the future. An acti\'e and prominent 
member of the Baptist church, he did much 
to promote the cause of religion here. His 
son, Jesse Hughes, Jr., succeeded his fa- 
ther upon the bench of common pleas. Judge 
Hughes lived to the ad\-anced age of eighty- 
eight years and the county profited by his 
labors, by his mentality and 'by his efforts 
in advancing the general good. From the 
establishment of the family in Ohio- repre- 
sentatives of the name have been leaders in 
pulolic affairs. They have become well-tot- 
do citizens, actively associated with the busi- 
ness interests as owners of a packing house, 
woolen mills, and as merchants. 



Charles D. Hughes, the youngest son of 
Judge Jesse Hughes, was a farmer and mer- 
chant, who was born in Clinton county and 
made that locality his home throughout his 
entire life. During the greater part of his 
m.anhood he carried on general mercantile 
pursuits, meeting with good success in his 
undertakings. He was an excellent ac- 
coun.tant and penman, and in his store was 
found to' be an obliging salesman, putting" 
fin'lh every effort tO' please his customers. 
Tlie cause of temperance and religion found 
in him a w^ann friend and he w'as an earnest 
Christian gentleman, doing everything in 
his power to uplift his fellow men and add 
to their usefulness in the world. As an ac- 
tive member of the Christian church, he 
ser\-ed for niany years as O'ue of its officers 
and contributed liberally of his means to its 
support. In politics he was a Republican, 
but he never held or desired office. He niar- 
ried Mahala Jones, who was born in Hills- 
boro, Highland county, Ohio, and was of 
Welsh and German ancestry. Her father 
was a colonel in the war oif 1812 and was 
also a distinguished citizen in civil life. He 
served as a state senator from Highland 
county, was treasurer of his count}- and 
was very prominent and influential in poli- 
tical circles. The father of our subject died 
in Clinton county at the age of seventy-one 
years, and his wife passed away near W'il- 
min.gton at the age of fifty-one years. Tliey 
were the parents of eleven children, of w hom 
seven are living, as follows: John J., 
O'f Kansas City, Missouri, wdio is engaged in 
contracting and building; Charles, a retired 
lumber merchant of Wilmington, Ohio : En:- 
mia, the widow of Colonel Elias W'right, of 
Buffalo, Xew York; W'illiam H., of this re- 
view ; Belle, the wife of Albert Stowell. the 
custodian of the Garfield Memorial, of 



330 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Cleveland, Ohio; and David, who is en- 
gaged in tlie insurance business in Alle- 
gheny City ; also Jasper S.. who is a Chris- 
tian preacher and lecturer of note, living in 
Chicago. Charles was a soldier of the Civil 
war, serving for about six months as leader 
of the band in the Fifty-ninth Ohio Infantry. 
The second child of the family died in in- 
fancy and the others who have passed away 
are Mrs. Elizabeth Neville, who resided at 
Great Falls, Moaitana ; and Jennie, who died 
at the home of her brother in Dayton, Ohio. 
The memliers of the family were all born 
and reared in Clinton county, and the chil- 
<lren received good public school advan- 
tages. 

William H. Hughes, whose name intro- 
duces this record, was a student in the com- 
xxon schools of Clinton county until seven- 
teen years of age and ren:ained at home with 
his father until 1863, when he enlisted in 
the Seventh Ohio Cavalry', as a bod}-guard 
and escort to President Lincoln, remaining 
in that service until the close of the war. 
He was on detached duty as usher in the 
AMiite House fcfc- President Johnson for 
several months and was a non-commissioned 
officer. The company to which he belonged 
was made up by Governor Tod. of Ohio, and 
the majority of its members were all very 
large men. ^Ir. Hughes has many times as- 
sisted Presidertt Lincoln in mounting his 
horse when the chief executive wished to 
ride, as he always rode with him as an es- 
cort. At the time of the muster out of 
the vaiious companies he returned to the 
Seventh Cavalry and was discharged in 
September, 1865. 

Mr. Hughes at once returneil to Clinton 
county, Ohio, and began carpentering in 
connection with his brother Charles, who 
was a contractor and lumi',er merchant. He 



learned his trade and followed it as a jour- 
neyman for a number of }ears. He was 
married in 1867 and then went with his W'ife 
to \\"eit Kansas City, Wyandotte county, 
Kansas, where he secured employment in 
the car shops of the Union Pacific Railroad 
at carpenter and repair work. In 1S69, 
however, he returned to Yellow Springs, 
Ohio, and followed his chosen pursuit there, 
working on the Xeff House and Antioch 
College. When two and one-half years had 
passed in that way he removed to Dayton 
and in the spring of 1873 '^^ can:'e to Spring- 
field, where he was employed as a joiu"ney- 
man, and also spait a few years in the 
\\'hiteley and Mast shops. In the spring of 
1880 he was ai^pointed to the position of 
patrolman on the police force of the city and 
after four years spent in that capacity he 
was elected as city marshal for a temi of 
two years, when on the expiration of this 
pericxl, in 1886, the oi'lke was alx>lished by 
law. Air. Hughes theui returned to the police 
force, acting as patroliran for a year, after 
which he secured a situation as watchman 
with the P. P. Mast Company, being thus 
en-]3loyed until January, 1892, when he was 
appointed superintendent of the county in- 
firmary, having since had charge of the in- 
stitution. There have been a good n.any 
changes made during the last decade, a new 
laundry having been added, with mo<leni 
iiiaoliinery. Tiiere are si.xty-nine acres of 
land in connection with the home and twelve 
employes in addition to Air. and Mrs. 
Hughes and upon the farm the work has 
been 'kept up to a high standard and Mr. 
Hughes superintended many changes in the 
interior as well as on the exterior of the 
farm and buildings. He has seciired bet- 
ter sanitary conditions and has added many 
motlern efpiipments. There are now one 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



hundred and twenty-six inmates ol the in- 
firmary and at times the number has reached 
as higli as one hundred and seventy-three. 
He gives his personal attention to all the de- 
tails oi the institution, to the purchase of 
supplies and to the general supervision of 
the inmates and has received higth com- 
mendation 'by reason of his efficient service. 
In 1867 was celebrated the marriage of 
]\Ir. Hughes and Miss Cornelia King', of 
Yellow Springs, a daughter of William 
King, a nursennian. He was very promi- 
nently identified with Antioch College, act- 
ed as one of its first trustees, and came 
from New York to Obio to look after the 
erection o>f the college buildings. His sons 
and daughters were all educated in that in- 
stitution. Sarah passed away in April, 1902 ; 
Moses King is now in the dq^artment of 
seeds at Washington, D. C, and form'erly 
was a newspaper man. Celia resides at Yel- 
low Springs, Obio. Mrs. Huglies is the 
next of the family. Nathaniel was a sol- 
dier of the Civil war and died in a hospital, 
and Moses was also a soldier. Mrs. Hughes 
\vas a student in Antioch College under 
President Horace Mann, a noted educator, 
and is a lady of culture and refinement. By 
lier marriage she has become the mother of 
three children: Lavinia Belle, the wife of 
Irving Lawrence,, oi Lagonda, by whom she 
lias three children, HaToild, Edwin and 
Helen ; William K., born in 1876, is the 
steward and baker in the infirmary ; Albert 
X. lis a 'bookkeeper and stenog-rapher in 
the state hospital at Toledo. The children 
attended the public schools and both sons 
liave been students in a business college. 

■ As the years bave passed Mr. Hughes 
has made investments in real estate and has 
erected four houses. He still retains th.e 
ownership of his home place, which is now 



kno'vu as the Golf Club Hoiuse. He is con- 
nected with Mitchell Post, G. A. R.; 
Ephraim Lodge, I. O. O. F., and since 1880 
lias been a member of the Encampment. 
Since 1885 he has also been a member of 
Red Star Lodge, K. P., and he belongs to 
the Commercial Club. His wife is a mem- 
her of the Giristian church, and he contri- 
butes generously to its support. In his 
1 olitica! views he is a Republican and served 
at one time as sanitary marshal of Spring- 
field. His course in office has ever been com- 
mendable, being characterized by unfalter- 
ing performance of duty, and his loyal citi- 
zenship stands as an unquestioned fact in 
his career. 



WILLIAM F. PAYNE. 

There is no man in Qark county who 
more deserves the confidence, respect and 
good will of his fellow men and citizens o' 
his community than does William F. Payne, 
of Springfield. His efforts toward advanc- 
ing the material interests o fthe city are so 
widely recognized that tliey can be consid- 
ered as being no secondary part of his ca- 
reer of signal usefulness. His public spirit, 
progressiveness and liberality have been of 
substantial aid to Springfield and at the pres- 
ent tin:e he is serving as president of the 
board of education, the schools findinig in 
him a warm friend who believes in introduc- 
ing all advanced methods that Avill prepare 
the young for the practical duties of business 
life. 

Mr. Payne was born in Harmony town- 
ship, Clark connty, April 19, 1864, and is 
a son of Asa Payne, who was a farmer, 
'born in Marietta, Obio, in 1835. William 
Payne, the paternal grandfather of our sub- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ject, was one of tlie early settlers of Marietta, 
living in a block house when such buildings 
were necessary as a protection from Indian 
attacks. His early life had been passed in 
Connecticut, and lie came of an old Ne\v 
England family. He served his country in 
the Re\olutionary war prior to coming to 
Ohio. As a pioneer he took up his abode 
in Marietta and afterward removed to a 
place in that vicinity known as Duck Creek. 
Like other early settlers, he secured land 
from the go\ernn-.ent and engaged in farm- 
ing. During the "fiifties he came to Clark 
county and located in Harmony township, 
where he continued to engage in agricultural 
pursuits through.out his active business life. 
In his family were twelve children, eleven 
of whom reached years of maturity, and nine 
of the number are still living. 

Asa Pavne, the father of our subject, was 
reared upon the old family homestead and 
after arriving at years of maturity wedded 
Catherine Farrynian, who died in Clark 
countv in 187J. They had three children: 
Wliliam P.. (if this review; Samuel, of Ca- 
tawba, Clark county ; and Arthur, of Marion, 
Ohio.' Shortly after the death of his wife 
^Ir. Pavne removed to Marion, Ohio, where 
he followed farming. He was again mar- 
ried and by the second union had three chil- 
dren, who are yet living, being residents of 
Brighton, Ohio. Asa Payne is now in the 
employ of the United States government as 
a mail carrier. He has always been a Re- 
publican, but has never taken an active part 
in political work. He belongs to the Chris- 
tian church and his life has ever been in con- 
sistent harmony with its principles. He 
comes of a family noted for longevity. One 
of his aunts. r^Irs. Hannali Messenger, died 
in ^Marion. Ohio, at the age of ninety-sevai 



years, while his father died at the age of 
seventy-six years. 

William F. Payne, whose name forms the 
caption of this review, was educated in the 
common schools of Marion, Ohio. At the 
early age of eleven years he started out 
in life to earn his own living, and though 
difficulties and obstacles have barred his 
path to success, he has worked on with 
continued perse\erance and has e\-entually 
gained a position of affluence. He first was 
anployed at farm labor, working by the 
month as a farm hand until nineteai }ears 
of age. In 1883 he came to Springfield and 
entered the employ of an uncle, working at 
the painter's trade for four years. For some 
years he also engaged in teaming, and grad- 
ually his work developed into heavy con- 
tracting. He began business on his own 
account on a small scale, but kept increas- 
ing his facilities and is now one of the 
heaviest contractors of the city. He makes 
a s^iecialty of excavations and street paving, 
laying out of new additions, aud has laid out 
the Brains, Frey's, Clark's and Rogers' ad- 
ditions. He uses all modem machinery, is 
well equipped- for handling heavy contracts 
and his patronage has l>een such as to bring 
to him a \er\- comfortable competence. He 
has enjoyed a good business since he started 
out on his own account in i^Cfi. He now 
employs from fifty to one hundred and twen- 
ty-five men and a large numl>er of teams in 
the prosecution of his work. He pa\-ed 
Union street in Springfield, and does all of 
the work of the Big Four Railroad Company 
here. Although he began with no cai^ital, 
he has gradually worked his way upward 
and has gained an enviable position as a con- 
tractor of Gark county. Perhaps one of 
the secrets of his success is his abilitv to 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



333 



control iT.en, as well as his fidelity to the 
terms of a contract. 

Mr. Payne was married in Springfield in 
1885 to Hattie B. Rhoderick, a daughter of 
Henry B. Rhoderick, who was a cabinet- 
maker and carpenter by trade. She was edu- 
cated! in the p'U'blic schools o^f this city. Tliey 
now have two children, Alabel and H. Rho- 
derick, the former a student of the high 
school. 

Mr. Payne and his wife are n:einbers of 
the Third Presbyterian church, oif which he 
is sen-ing as trustee, and is also secretary of 
the Sunday-school. He exercises his right 
of franchise in support of the men and meas- 
ures oif the Democracy. He was appointed 
a member of the board of education in 1898, 
has been twice elected to that office, and in 
190J was chosen president of the board, in 
which capacity he is serA'ing in a manner that 
lias awakened comn:endation from Spring- 
field's best citizens. He belongs to Red Star 
Lodge, K. p., and the Commercial Camp of 
the Modern Woodmen of America. He pur- 
chased the interest O'f the heirs in the old 
Rhoderick home and there erected his pres- 
ent residence. He is also- building a niod- 
ern and attracti\-e residence on Xorth Lime- 
stone street. Mr. Payne deserves great cred- 
it foT what he has accomplished. From^ early 
boyhood he never knew a mother's care or 
really had a home of his own until he was 
n:arried. During his long and successful 
industrial career, characterized by enterprise, 
he has ever maintained an enviable reputa- 
tion for the h'ghest honor and principle 
and noi unworth}" deed or woird has e\-er 
linked itself with his name. He has been 
particularly pron-pt in keeping his business 
engagements and expects the sair.e considej-- 
ation from others, ilanj' of his associates 
testifv in strong terms tO' his kindness of 



heart, finding in him not only a safe adxiser. 
bfut alsoi one whose counsel \\as not that 
of words alone. He has been the architect 
of his own fortunes and has liuilded wisely 
and well. 



ROBERT J. BECK. 

Roibert J. Beck was born in the shire of 
Wigton, Scotland, October 9, 1832, and is 
a son of James and Elizabeth Beck, \\\\o in 
the year 1835 left the land oi hills and 
heather toi become residents of the new 
w-orld. Taking passage on a westward bound 
sailing vessel, such as was used in ocean 
travel at that time, they eventual!)- reached 
the harbor of New York, and prriceeded 
thence to Buffalo^ New York, by way of 
the Erie canal, and from there to Silver 
Creek, Chautauqua county, New York, 
where the parents spent their remaining dzxs. 
In their family were nine children, of whom 
se\'ai were (born in Scotland and two' in the 
United States. These were Mrs. Jane Dver. 
a resident of Red Wing, Minnesota : Hugh, 
deceased; Mrs. Margaret Gardner, of Alliert 
Lea, Minnesota ; James, who \\as a sailor on 
Lake Erie and in a storm near BuiYalo, Ncav 
York, in 1844, the crew lost control of their 
vessel and were blown in the Niagara xiwer 
aiid o\&r the falls, not a person being sa\-ed ; 
Mrs. Elizabeth Morrison, deceased; Robert 
J. ; John, who passed away ; Mrs. Lydia 
Wilder, who resides, on the old family home- 
stead at Sih-er Creek, Chautauqua county, 
New York; and Isabella, the wife o'f J. ]. 
MicCrum, the mayor of Titus\-i!le. Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Robert J. Beck attaided school at Siher 
Creek, New York, but his educational privi- 
leges were quite limited and in the school of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



experience he has largely broadaied his 
kiimvledge. At the age of foiirteai he was 
bound out to learn die trade of carriage 
trimming and ser\-ed a six years' apprentice- 
ship. He afterward worked as a journey- 
man for two years at Cleveland, Ohio, and 
one \ear at Fort Wayne, Indiana, after which 
he located at Ravenna, Ohio, where he was 
employ^ed as a foreir.an for four years. In 
1859 he came to Springfield and entered the 
employ of E. & J. Driscoll as foreman, fill- 
ing that responsible position. in a most satis- 
factory manner for eleven years, while for 
fourteen years he was the foreman in the 
shoi^s of David West. He has also worked 
for a number o\ other finns in this city and 
is still fo'llowing his trade. His thorough 
understanding of the business, his reliability 
and his enterprise has made him a valued fac- 
tor in the trade circles of this city. 

Mr. Beck was married in 1857 to Miss 
Elizabeth Allison, a native of Pennsylvania, 
and the\' now have two children : Cora B.. 
who has been employed in the office of 
.the Farm and Fireside for the past fourteen 
years; and Agnes May, the wife of C. C. 
Hayner, of Troy, Ohio. 

Mr. Beck has Ijeen honored with a num- 
ber of ix)sitions of public trust and responsi- 
bility. He was one of the trustees of the 
Clark County Children's Home for fo^ir- 
teen years ; was a n.eir.ber of the school board 
for four years, and has been infirmaiy direc- 
tor for six years and was recently nominated 
for another term of three years. He was 
also an active member of the Rover fire de- 
partment, an indqiendent company, and long 
served as its treasurer. In politics he has 
always supported the n:en and measures of 
the Republican party and for many years 
was a member of the Republican central com- 
mittee. He and his familv are valued mem- 



l>ers of the First Presbyterian church of 
this city. Mr. Beck purchased a home at 
Xo. 228 South Center street, which he has 
remodeled into a fine properly, and it has 
teen his place of residence for the past thir- 
ty-six years. His success in life is not the 
result of any outside aid or influence, but 
has arisen from his earnest effort, unfalter- 
ing diligence and devotion to his business 
career. He merits tlie good will of his fel- 
low men, and throughout the forty-three 
years of his residence in Springfield he has 
niade n.anv friends here. 



S.VMUEL REEDER BATTIX. 

Among the prominent farmers and stock 
raisers of this section of the country is Sani- 
uel Reeder Battin, who since 1874, has been 
a resident of Clark county and has borne an 
important part in the de\elopment and pro- 
gress of agricultural interests here. He traces 
his ancestry back to an early epoch in the 
history of this county, being descendeil 
from Quaker forefathers. The traditions of 
the fan.ily state that the Battins were orig- 
inally of Welsh extraction, and that the name 
was originally spelled Batten. The founder 
of the family in America crossed the Atlan- 
tic s<X)n after the landing of William Pain. 
Our subject's great-grandparents, Richard 
and Elizal>eth (James) Battin, settletl in the 
upper part of Philadelphia county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and there followed agricultural pur- 
suits, in peace with mankind, living in faith- 
ful accord with their religious views, as 
they were men-.bers of the Society of Friends. 

Tlieir son, John Battin, was the grand- 
father of our subject. He was born near 
Wiln ington, Delaware, <n the 13th nf 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



June, 1767, aiul in early life learned 
the cooper's trade. On reaching manhood's 
estate he ranox'ed to Westmoreland coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, and throughout life fol- 
loiwed his trade in connection with farming, 
linding- coopering quite profitable at that 
time. From the Keystone state he removed 
to: Stark county, Ohio, and later toi Colum- 
biana! coimty,' being- one oif its early set- 
tlers. Tliere he died in 1847. He married 
Ann Raley" and to them were born ten chil- 
dren. At the time of their death the com- 
bined ages O'f these children were seven hun- 
dred and se\-enty-seven years, making an a\-- 
erage oi seventy-seven years. The\' were 
thus noted for their longevity and well fitted 
to become the progenitors of such sturd}- 
n:en and women as were required to take 
the work of the progress of this great coun- 
try. And it is due to such a type of civiliza- 
tion that America stands today as she does — - 
foremost among the nations of the world. 
It was the possession oif such strong traits 
of character, courage tO' overcome and endiU'L' 
the hardships and trials of frontier life while 
this country was yet in its undeveloped state, 
that has: led to the establishment of the grand 
industrial institutions of which the United 
States may well be proud. The brave spirits 
who braved the dangers of the ocean vo}"- 
age, which was then not the easy and com- 
fortable one oif to-day, broiught this countr_\- 
the 'best elemaits of manhood and woman- 
hood and well n:ay we be grateful to- them 
for the privileges and opportunities of this 
land oif the free which we to-day enjoy as 
the result of their toil. 

David Battin, the father of our suljject. 
was Ixjrn in Westmoreland count}', Penns^l- 
vania, June 8, 1803, and as a child accom- 
panied his parents on their rennival to Ohio. 
On reaching' vears of matnritx' he bought a 



tract of heavily timbered land in the midst 
of the forest, which he cleared and trans- 
fornied into a good farm. As his two sons 
grew older thej' added to the farm, more 
than doubling the original number of acres. 
Throughout his active business life the fa- 
ther follo'wed farming and stock-raising, and 
became quite a prominent breeder of fine 
sheep. In early manhood he married Sara 
Ann Reeder, a da,ughter oi Samuel and 
Ann (Malone) Reeder, who were among the 
pioneers of this state, haA'ing come here in 
1806 from near Westtown Boarding Schooil, 
Chester county, Piennsylvania. Tliev' were 
also members of the Society oif Friends. 
David Battin died in Columbiana county, 
O'hio'. September 6, 1877, at the age of sev- 
enty-four years, and his wife, who^ sun-ived 
him about six years, was eighty at the time 
of her death. 

Samuel R. Battin oi this review was born 
in Columbiana county, March 3, 1829, and 
was there reared upon a farm, where in 
the summer seasons he became accustomed to 
the work of the field and meadow, while 
through the winter he acquired a good prac- 
tical education in the common schoiols. When 
twenty years oi age he 'began working on 
a farm at ten dollars per month, 'but later 
turned his attention to the sawmill business, 
purchasing a half interest in a mill, for which 
he paid what he could and gave a note 
for the balance to his uncle, who had faith 
in his hoaiesty. Subsequentl}' he was ai- 
gaged in farming in Columljiiana county 
until 1874. when he took up his abode in 
Clark county, purchasing one hundred acres 
of land, to which he has since added, so that 
he now has one hundred and eighty-three 
acres. He has made most of the improive- 
n:ents upon the place, which is a rich and 
araljle tract under a high, state of cultivation. 



336 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



A part of his fami is devoted to pasturage, 
for he is engaged in stock-raising, having 
for many years paid especial atte:ition to the 
raising and breeding of fine wool sheep. He 
has also beai interested in shorthorn cattle, 
and is quite widely known as a progressi\e 
agriculturist and breeder of fine stock. 

Mr. Battin was one of the charter mem- 
bers of the Clark County Farmers' Mutual 
Protection & Aid Association, of which he 
was adjuster for many years, and now holds 
the offite of president. Tliis company does 
an extensi\e business in insuring farm prop- 
erty in Clark and adjoining coimties, and 
now carries nearly one and a half million dol- 
lars of risks, its membership being over 
eight hundred. 

In 1853 Mr. Battin was united in mar- 
riage to ]^liss Lydda Ann Winder, also a 
native of Columbiana county, and a daugh- 
ter of Joseph and Efphama (Yates) \\'inder, 
of Carroll county, Ohio. By this marriage 
were bom four children: Efphama Ann 
married John Cole, of Fairfield county, and 
died, leaving one child. Harry Battin Cole. 
Dr. David Wilmot Battin, a residait of 
Clarksville, Iowa, maiTied Jura Cubbison 
and they have one child, Edna Cubbison Bat- 
tin. Charles Sumner Battin, a florist and 
pluml>er of South Charleston, Ohio, wedded 
Mary Ann Mather and they have two chil- 
dren, Leonard Winslow and Jessie. Aman- 
da died at the age of three years. The wife 
and n-.other died December 24, 1864, and 
Mr. Battin was again married, June 7, 1S66, 
his second union Ijeing with Miss Emily 
Tomlinson, of Jefferson comity, Ohio, a 
daughter of Samuel S. and Rachel (Street) 
Tomlinson. Four children blessed this mar- 
riage: Orlando T., who assists his fatlier 
in farn.ing and stock-raising, married Esther 
jMatthews and they have one daughter, Edith 



W. Kerse\' Raley is now engaged in the 
building of electric railways. Martha Alma 
is at home. Mary Alice is the wife of Wal- 
ter Sanders Boone, whose home is near 
Richniond, Indiana. 

Both yiv. and Mrs. Battin remain stead- 
fast n.embers of the Society of Flriends. 
On coming to this county he was in debt 
four thousand dollars, but by perseverance 
and industry has steadily advanced to a high 
degree (^f prosperilx', and is recognized by 
those who know him as a man of integrity 
and honesty, these qualities alone being 
worth a fortune to an}- man. In early life 
Mr. Battin was a Free-soiler, but in 1856 
he cast his presidential vote for John C. 
Fremont and has since been a stanch sup- 
porter of the Republican party, although 
he has never been an office seeker. He has 
sen-ed on the board of education and the 
cause of education has ever foinid in him a 
warm friaid. He is one of the highly re- 
spected citizens of Dark county and well 
does he deserve mention in this volume. He 
has been quite an extensive traveler, having 
visited many places of national and historic 
interest in this country, including the home- 
stead:; i-f lii-; earlv ancestors. 



THE GARLOUGH FAMILY. 

Among the old and prom.inent families 
of Clark county, Ohio, none stand iiigher 
in public esteem than the Garlough family, 
who have been actively identified with the 
growth and de^■elol)ment of this section of 
the state for almost a caitury. Its mem- 
bers ha\-e been noted for patriotism and 
lo\-aJty to country and have participated 
in the wars in which the L'nited States has 




J. p. GARLOUGH. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



339 



been engaged. Jolin H. Garltxigh, the pro- 
genitor of the family in America, aided tlie 
colonies in their struggle for independence 
as a sicklier of the Revolutionary war, and 
soii.e of his sons took part in the war of 
18 IJ. He was a native of Germany and 
for some years made his home near liagers- 
towii, in Frederick coimty, Maryland, but 
his last days were passed in Clark cotuity, 
(ihio. He was about eighty years of age 
when he came with liis family to this state, 
and was the first man Imried in the Garlotigh 
cenieten-. He was a shoemaker by trade, 
bi.t had retired from that occupation before 
coming west. 

John Garlough, son of Jcibn H., was 
[■ractically the founder of the family in this 
state, whither he removed from his old home 
near Hagerslown, Maryland, in 1807. After 
spending one winter on Beaver creek, near 
Oldujwn, Greene county, he came to Clark 
county in Fdiriiary. 1808, and kxated on 
a farm in Green township, which is still in 
possession of the family. Here lie pur- 
chased one and a quarter sections of land, 
which was inherited by his children, and 
upon that tract he made his home through- 
out the remainder of his life. His remains 
vere also interred in the Garlough burying 
ground. By occupation he was a fanner. 
His wife, who 'lx>re the maiden nam.e of 
Margaret A. Eichelbarger, died in Clark 
co'jnty and was buried in the Garlough 
cemetery. 

John Garlough, Jr., was lx)m near Ha- 
gerstown. Maryland, and was nineteen years 
of age when he took up his residence in 
Clark county. He engaged in business, l)otii 
as ? farmer and millwright, and built mills 
all along iMad river, including Schmidt's, 
Snyder's and many others, some of which 
are still standing. He was the owner of 



one hundred and forty-four acres of land, 
r lie hundred acres nf which he liad inherited 
frnni his father In politics he was first a 
Whig and later a Republican, and for sev- 
eral years he filled the office of justice of 
the peace, also serving as township trustee 
and assessor. He narried Miss Ann Pat- 
ton, and to them were born two children: 
Jane D.. the elder, married Sylvanus Tutlle, 
and they m.'ide their 'liome in Harmony 
township, Clark county, where three of their 
children are still living, while another lives 
in Kansas. 

John Patton Garlraigh. son of John, Jr., 
was born on ihe farm in Green township, 
where he now resides, March i, 1825, his 
birth occurring in a part of his present resi- 
dence. In the conmion schools of the 
neighborhmxl he acf[uired a fair education, 
and on the old homestead grew to n:an- 
h(Mjd. After his marriage he operated rent- 
ed land until the death of his father, in 1858. 
when he and his sister inherited the farm, 
and he purchased her share in the property, 
being now the owner of the entire tract of 
one hundred and forty-four acres. The 
front part of his house was erected by his 
father, and he built the remainder. On the 
4th of December, 1845, '^^ '^^'i* united iv. 
marriage to iMiss Tabitha Jane Tuttle, and 
to them were born seven children, five of 
whom are still living : George'Edward, now 
deceased, married Annie E, ]\IcCaurtney, 
and they had four children. Tlieir home 
was in the village of Pitchin, this county. 
Jam.es Har\ey, formerly a wagon maker, but 
now a 1x)okkeq)er in a bank in Jeflfersonville. 
Fayette county, Ohio, married Emma Boyer 
and has four children. Oliver, whose home 
is near Clifton, Greene county, wedded 
iNfary B, Corry and has four children. He 
IS a farmer and carpenter b\- cKcupation. 



340 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Anna tlied unmarried. John H. was mar- 
ried at Sandwich. IHinois, August .18, 1892, 
to ]\iiss Anna ^I. Torrence, who was born 
in Xenia, Greene county, Ohio, and was left 
an orphan when quite young. Slie received 
a good higli-school education and for two 
}ears taught in the schools of Enon, Clark 
county, and nine years in Qifton. By her 
marri;ige she became the mother of three 
children: Jcihn Patton, born May 3, 1894; 
William Torrence, December 6, 1897; ^"•^^ 
Willis Findle\', iSeptemljer 4, 1901. All 
weie born in the house where their grand- 
father still lives, as was also their father. 
Enm:a Jane, daughter of John P. Garlough, 
is the wife of George W. Rife, of Greene 
county, and has three children. Rhoda 
May is the wife of James R. Corry, of 
(jreene county, and also has three children. 
The n.other of these children died in 1862 
ar.d was buried in the Garlough cemetery. 
Frir his second wife Mr. Garlough married 
Miss Ann Elder, who died Aug^lst 5, 1891. 
He took an active part in the Harrison cam- 
paign of 1840. but was not old enough to 
\ote until 1848. when he supported Zachary 
fay lor for the presidency. He supported 
Jolin C. Fremont in 1856 and has since 
bee;: a stalwart Republican. Prominent in 
public afifairs, he ser\-ed as township trustee 
lor fifteen years and as school director many" 
years. For alx)ut thirty years he also filled 
the office of justice of the peace m a most 
commendable and satisfactory manner, 
tliough in the meantim.e he was out of office 
a little over one term. He < nlv had two 
cases appealed to higher courts, and in thc^e 
his decisions were not reversed. He mar- 
ried a number of couples and in one instance 
the wife afterward came Ixick and wanted 
him to untie the matrimonial knot. Relig- 
ion '-Iv be i< a irenilier of the Prcsbvterian 



church at Clifton, and is a man highly re- 
sjiected and esteemed by all who know him. 

Jacob Garlough, another son of John, 
tiie founder of the fam.ily in Qark count}, 
was I'orn near Hagerstown, Maryland, Oc- 
tober 28, 1796, and in 1808 came with the 
fauiily to this county. Amid pioneer scenes 
iie grew to manhood, early becoming fa- 
miliar with the arduoLis task of clearing 
and ii; proving a new farm. Throughout 
lite he followed agricultural pursuits and to 
the property he inhei"ited from his father he 
added se\eral hundred acres, becoming a 
large land owner and quite well-to-do. On 
the igth of January, 1826. he was united in 
marriage with Miss Xancy L. Luse, who 
i>.:;.'- born in Xew Jerse}', February 5, 1803, 
and was quite young when brought by her 
parents to this county, her father being Jus- 
tus Luse. ]j\ his ballot Jacob Garlough sup- 
]ii.rtcd the men and measures of the Repub- 
lican party, but he never cared for the hon- 
ors and emoluments of public office. He 
died when alx)ut eighty-three years of age 
and his wife dq>arted this life seven years 
previous. Thus passed away one of Clark 
county's honored pioneer couples. They 
were the parents of seven sons. 

\\'illiam H. Garlough, the eldest of these, 
was born in Clark county October 16, 1826, 
and died on the 13th of Septeml>er, 1898. 
He was married in Springfield, March 2, 
1848, to j\Iiss Phebe Dalrymple, who was 
bom near South Charleston, Ohio, August 
29, 1823. and still survives her hu.siband. 
They began their domestic life upon the 
farm where she yet makes her home. Mr. 
Garlough having inherited a jiart of the 
place and purchased the remainilcr. It com- 
prised one hundred and eighty-three acres. 
He supijorted the Republican party and was 
n ineiiibcr of rlie agricultural board of Clark 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



couiirv, Ijul was opposed to secret societies. 
An earnest and consistent Christian, he was 
a faithful member of the Presbyteriaai 
church, and being a good singer, he was a 
member ot its choir for many years. He 
alsoi taugiit vocal music toi some jextent, 
and was successful in that as well as in his 
farming operations. In his family were si.x 
childrai, namely : Nancy L. is now the wife 
(jf Asahel Johnsou, a resident of Virginia, 
and they have six children : Mary E. died at 
the age of sixteen montlis ; Laura Jane is the 
wife of William Paden, of Greene county, 
Ohio, and they have one child : Edwin Aus- 
:iri, a resident of Colorado, married Ellen 
Alehan and has three children; Isalina D. 
is the \\idoi\v of Sterling Sprague, and with 
her one child resides in New York state; 
Alinnie E. is the wife of Frank A. W'hitaker, 
mentioned below. 

Frank A. \\'hitaker, a well known farm- 
er and dairvman of Green township, Clark 
county, was born on -the 6th of May, 185 1, 
in I\lagofhn county, Kentucky, and is a son 
of Thonias P. and Evaline (Marshall) 
Wdiitaker. His paternal great-grandfather 
was a native of England and a pioneer O'f 
Virginiai, where his death occurred. The 
family records unfortunately have been lost, 
but could the family history be traced they 
would show that Frank A. W-hitaker is one 
of the heirs tO' millions in tlie Whitaker es- 
tate in England. His grandfather, Fran- 
cis A. \Miitaker, was born near Abingdon, 
Virginia, and from that state removed to 
Kentucky, where his last days were spent. 
Ihfiirias P. Whitaker, the father of Frank 
A., died at Kingfisher, Oklahoma, in 1893, 
and his wife died at Arapahoe, Oklahoma, in 
1899. When fourteen years of age Frank 
A. ^\ hitaker remm-ed with his parents to 
Douglas C(,'unt\-. Kansas, and twi> vears 



later went to Barber comity, that state. 
While residing there he began herding cat- 
tle, ^\•hich occupatioai he followed for fifteen 
years, traveling all over the west. In 1874 
he joined the Kansas state militia and en- 
gaged in Indian warfare, taking part in sev- 
eral battles, including twoi engageir.ents at 
Salt Fork river and near Medicine Lodge. 
Later he became interested in shipping 
horses to- the east. On the ist of August, 
18S2. he married Miss Minnie E. Garlo'Ugh, 
who was born on the farm in Green town- 
ship, Clark county, Ohio^, where they now re- 
side. They have three children : Claude 
C, who was born in Sun City, Kansas, 
April 24, 1884; Goldie ^Nla)-, born in the 
same place August 14, 1885 ; and Gladys 
Fern, born there August 25, 1890. 

John L. Garlougth, the secoaid son of 
Jacob, wedded Mairy Tuttle. Thomas F., 
the third son, was twice married, his first 
wife being Lottie Hawkins, and the second 
Margaret Ann Nave. During the Civil war 
he enlisted in Company F, Forty-fourth 
Ohio Infantry, was made lieutenant and aft- 
erward promoted tO' captain of his company. 
Jan.es T., the next of the family, is mai- 
tioned Wow. Edward R. married Eliza A. 
Williams and lives in Hillsdale, Michigan. 
He has nine children. Benjamin F. mar- 
ried Mrs. Sarah J. Garlough, nee Littler, 
and has six children. He was also one of 
the boys in blue during the war of the Re- 
bellion, enlisting September 2, 1861, in Com- 
pany F, Forty-fourth Ohio X^olunteer lu'- 
fantry, and in the spring of 1864 re-enlisted, 
this time becoming a member of Company 
F, Eighth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. 

James Todd Garlough, the fifth son of 
Jacob, was born on the old homestead in 
Green township, June 3, 1834, and remained 
under the parental roof until he attained his 



342 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



majority, receiving a fair comir.on-school 
education and becoming familiar with all the 
duties which fall to the lot of the agricultur- 
ist. He was assisted h\ his father in pur- 
chasing the farm which he now occupies, 
and today has a well improved and valuable 
tract of one hundred and forty-se\'ai and 
one-half acres. He was n^arried March 6, 
1856, to Miss Sarah Jane Hause, a native 
of West Virginia and a daughter of Will- 
iam and Sarah f Murphy) Hause, who 
brought their family to Ohio when Mrs. 
Garlough was three years old and settled 
in Green tcnvnship, Clafk county, but later 
remo\-ed to Madison township, where she 
w'as reared and educated. To James T. 
Garlough and wife have been torn ten chil- 
dren, namely : Florence, who died at the 
age of six years; Clara, wife of Charles F. 
Stewart, of Greeii township; Mary H., who 
died at the age of twenty-three years ; Alva, 
who married Emma iCralbill and lives in 
Springfield township; Sheridan G.. men- 
tioned 'below; Alice, who married Charles 
Otstot and died, leaving four children; Jesse 
Elmer, mentioned below; Forest W., at 
home; Marguerite, who died at the age of 
eleven n:onths ; and Robert C, who was 
born in 1876 in Green township, and is 
still at home. In his political affiliatioiis 
James T. Garlough is a pronounced Repub- 
lican, having sup])orted that party since 
casting his first presidential vote for John 
C. Freiront in 1856. During the Civil war 
he became a member of what was known 
as the Squirrel Hunters and assisted in the 
protection of Cincinnati. As one of the 
prominent and influential men of his com- 
munity he has been called upon to serve as 
trustee of his township for several years, 
and is still filling that office in a most ac- 
ceptable manner. He has also served as 



township treasurer six years and always 
faithfully discharges any duty evolving upon 
him, whether public or private. He was 
a meml:)er o>f the county agricultural Ixxird 
for nine years, when he resigned. 

Sheridan G. Garlough, the fifth child of 
James T., is now a traveling salesman for 
the ]VIast Manufacturing Coir.pany, and 
nmkes his home with his father. He was 
l>orn October 13, 1864, and was married 
Septem!l>er 4, 1889, to Miss Stella Hanes, by 
whom he has two children living — Ruth E., 
lx)rn September 7, 1891 ; and Harry Hanes, 
Ixjrn March 30, 1893. Blanche, the first 
lx)rn, died at the age of two months and two 
da\s. 

Jesse Elmer Garlough, the seventh child 
of James T., was born in this county, a 
little south of the village of Pitchin, Feb- 
ruary- 25, 1869, and grew to manhood on 
the home farm. At the age of twenty-one 
he began life for himself by working as a 
farm hand by the month, and was thus em- 
ployed for five years, during which time he 
iTLanaged to save sufficient to start in life 
for himself. On the 20th of February. 1895. 
he married Miss Cora May Hess, a daugh- 
ter of Thomas M. and Calista ( Stratton 1 
Hess, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this 
volume. He continued to live on his fa- 
ther's place until the spring of 1901, when 
he removed to his present farm of seventy- 
five acres in Green township, which he had 
purchased the previous fall. He has made 
many improvenients upon the place, includ- 
ing the erection of a pleasant residence in 
1 90 1. Like the other members of the fami- 
ly, he .supports the Republican party ami its 
principles, casting his first presidential bal- 
lot for Benjamin Harrison in 1892. He takes 
an active interest in educational affairs and 
has efficientlv served as a member of the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



school board. Both he and his wife are 
members of the ^ilethodist Protestant 
chivrch, in which lie has served as steward 
and superintendent of the Sunday-sdiool, 
and the)' are held in high regard by all 
who know them. Their children are Nellie 
l\Iarie, boirn January 13. 1896; Robert Hess, 
born January 26, 1898; and Fern C, 'born 
June 28, 1902. 

William Forest Garlough, the eighth 
child O'f James T., was born July 2'/, 1871, 
and was married November 15, 1894, to 
Miss Maude May Jones, who was born in 
]Madison township, this county, a daughter 
of Willard and Eliza (Oates) Jones. Her 
father was also a native of Clark county, and 
is now deceased, but her mother, who was 
born here December 25, 1855, is still living. 
Her maternal grandfather, Richard Oates, 
was a native of England and came to Ameri- 
ca when about eighteen years of age. Will- 
iant F. Garlough and wife have twO' chil- 
dren : Russell Pearl, born in Green town- 
ship July 8, 1895; and Mary E., born Jtme 
14, 1897. The father of these children is 
a charter member of the Junior Order of 
United American ]ilechanics. O'f Pitchin, 
Ohio, and, like the other members of the 
Garlough family, commands the respect and 
confidence of all who know him. 



GEORGE C. LYNCH. 

George C. Lynch, the suliject of this re- 
\\t\y. is a self-made man, who, without any 
extra ordinai-y -family or pecuniary advan- 
tages at the commencement oif life, has bat- 
tled earnestly and energetically and-bv in- 
domitable courage and integrity has achieved 
b( )th character and position. By sheer force 



of will and untiring effort he has worked 
his way upward and is numbered among the 
leading business men O'f Spring-field. 

Mr. Lynch was born in Virginia and 
comes of an old and well established family 
oif that state. He pursued his education in 
the primary schools there, but was ear'ly 
thro'wn upon his own resources, beginoing 
to make his own way in the world at the age 
of twelve years, at which time he entered 
a general store. Subsequently he was em- 
ployed in a wholesale groceiy house in Wes- 
ton, Virginia, and in 1890 entered the em- 
ploy of the Herb' Medicinie Company as a 
bookkeeper, and in 1892, when the business 
was removed toi Springfield, he also came 
to this city in the same capacity. In 1898 
he \\-as promoted to the office of general man- 
ager of the Herb Medicine Company, of this 
city. This business was established in 1888 
by Jolin Morrow, who conducted the enter- 
prise for several years and then sold out to 
the present company, retiring in June, 1898. 
The capital stock of this company is large- 
ly O'wned by parties residing in Virginia, 
^^'h0l have been connected with the business 
from the beginning. In fact, the business 
had its origini in the Old Dominiion and 
thence was removed tO' Spring-field. JNIli-. 
Lynch being connected therewith froan the 
first. Under his control tlie cr»ncern has 
been put upon a substantial footing and is 
one which adds to the material prosperity of 
SpringfieW as well as to- the individual suc- 
cess of the stockholders. The company now 
employs a large force of operatives' in the 
factory and the plant is well equipped with 
the latest improived machinery. One among 
the leading proprietary medicines manufac- 
tured by the company is that called Light- 
ning Hot Drops. These and (fther medicines 
are sold throughout the United States and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the patronage of the house is continually in- 
creasing because of the excellence of its 
product. 

In June, 1892, Mr. Lynch was united 
in marriage to Miss Cecilia Kitson, of West 
Virginia, a daughter of \\'illi'vm J. and Sa- 
raJi Kitson. Mr. and Mrs. Lynch now have 
three cliildren — Ruth and Rhea, both in 
school, and George C, at home. Our subject 
is well known in Masonic circles, belonging 
to Clark Lodge, No. loi, F. & A. M., also 
to Springfield Chapter, No. 48, R. A. M., 
and Palestine Commander}-, No. 33, K. T. 
Among the leading representative business 
men of Springfield Mr. Lynch is justly num- 
bered, where in an unostentatious ^\ay he 
is fulfilling his duties of citizenship as well 
as promoting the industi-)- which adds to the 
development and financial prosperity of the 
communitv. 



MICHAEL WILSON. 

;\Ir. A\'ilson's residence in Springfield cov- 
ers almost a third of a century, for he lo- 
cated here in 1870. He was bora on a 
farm near Brighton, Ohio, March 11, 1837, 
and is a son of Washington Wilson, who 
at an early day came to Ohio from Ken- 
tucky- with his parents, the family settling 
in this state when the country was infested 
with Indians. The land was purchased from 
the govemment and fann work was con- 
tinued for many years. The father of our 
subject died in Springfield when he had at- 
tained to an advanced age, and the older 
generation has all passed away, ^^'ashiug- 
ton Wilson was probably of Scotch-Irish an- 
cestry and his wife of German origin. He 
was a well educated man for those days, w as 
aai ai)t pupil and readily retained what he 



read or heard. In early life he learned the 
blacksmith's trade and to some extent fol- 
lowed that pursuit, Ixit afterward devoted 
his attention to farming and stock-raising. 
He was a large stock dealer, prospered in 
his undertakings, and though he had but lit- 
tle capital with which to start in life, by 
his good management and enterprise he pros- 
pered and thus accumulated over two thou- 
sand acres of land. He also invested in 
property in Springfield, and thus his realty 
holdings were the visible evidence of his life 
of industry and earnest toil. His honesty, 
too, was proverbial, for he was just in all 
his dealings with his fellow m.en. On leav- 
ing the farm he took up his abode in Spring- 
field, where he lived for about thirty years, 
passing away at the age of scA-enty-five. 
He was president of the Harmony town- 
ship board of education and was interested 
in all that pertained to educational, moral,, 
as well as material advancement, of his com- 
niunity. Many of the landmarks of Har- 
mony township stand today connected with 
his name and work, including the Wilson 
school, chapel and cemeter>\ He was a 
member of the Christian church of Platts- 
burg and aided largely in the m.oral advance- 
mait and de\'elopment of the communit}-. 
He prospered, too, in his undertakings, adtl- 
ing from time to time to his land and exten- 
sively engaging in stock dealing. He woukl 
purchase stock in adjoining counties and 
feed and fattai for the market. He was one 
of the largest stock handlers in Gark county 
ami this branch of his business added n:ater- 
ially to his income. 

Washington Wilson was united in mar- 
riage to Mar}- A. Foreman, who was born 
and married in Clark county. Her fadiei-, 
William Foreman, was for many years en- 
gaged in conducting a tannery. Mrs,. Wil- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



son died at the age of sixty-five years. By 
her niarriag-e she became the mother of ten 
cliildren, one of whom died in infancy, w'hile 
the others reached years of maturity. Mary 
became the wife of Dr. Strain of London, 
but is noAV deceased. Hattie married Fred 
Gillette, and died at the home of her sister, 
JMrs. Kay. Those stiU hving are: Michaeh 
wlio is the eldest of the family; WilUam J., 
a banker, stockman and manufacturer, and 
a leading resident of Gibson City, lUinois : 
Geoirge \\., \\\\o was a soldier in the Civil 
war and is an attorney at law, practicing 
in London, while at the same time he repre- 
sents his district in congress ; Harrison, who 
was also a veteran of the Union anny and 
is a retired fanner, now living in London, 
Ohioi; John, who likewise aided in the pres- 
er\'ation of the Union, is now living in Gib- 
soai City, Illinois; Addison, w^ho is engaged 
in the real-estate business in Springfield : 
Nancy, who is the widow of John Goodfel- 
low, once county treasurer, and makes her 
home at the old family property at the cor- 
ner oif Factory and Washington streets.; and 
Flora, the wife of Dr. Clarence Kay, of this 
city. The members of this family were all 
reared upon the old fanni in Harmony town- 
ship, and attended the township schoiols. 
Creorge afterward pursued a college course 
in Antioch Co'llege, and Mrs. Kay was a 
student in a private seminary. 

Michael Wilson, whose name introduces 
this record, was educated in the schools of 
his home district and rn his youth assisted 
in f«rmi work. He dro\-e oxen to the plow 
and aided in breaking the land and cultivat- 
ing the fields. When he had attained his 
majority his father gave him a tract of 
land upon which he followed farming on his 
own accoimt and began building up a stock 
business. He continued fann work until he 



came to Springfield, in 1870, this removal 
being occasioned by his ill health. After 
coming to the city Mr. Wilson turned his 
attention to the grocery business under the 
firm name of Wilson & Son Company, at 
High and Market streets. After the death 
of the senior member, our subject remoi\-ed 
to East High street and purchased an in- 
terest in the store of Mr. Goudy. This part- 
nership was maintained for a few years, 
when Mr. \\'ilson became sole proprietor 
of the store and conducted a general gro- 
cery business. In his mercantile efforts he 
prospered as the years passed by, and, hav- 
ing acquired a handsome competence, he 
sold out his store in 1885 and retired to pri- 
vate life, putting aside the more arduous 
business cares. He still owns one hundred 
and fifty acres of land which was a part of 
the O'ld Wilson farm. He has also' pur- 
chased a small farm near Plattsburg, and has 
n'lade investments in real estate in the city, 
so that his property interests noiw return 
him a good income. 

In the year 1850 Mr. Wilson was united 
in marriage to Miss Margaret Ann Prugh. 
She was born in Madison county and died 
in Springfield about 1883. There were three 
children born of the marriage: Luella, who 
died at the age O'f twenty years; Carrie B., 
who passed away when about the same age ; 
and Georg"e iC, who resides upon a farm 
near Plattsburg. Mr. Wilson was again mar- 
ried in 1886, his second union being with 
Mrs. Lovina Marsh, the widow of John 
Marsh. Tliey no-w reside at Xo. 200 West 
High street, where they ha\-e a \-ery pleasant 
home, which was purchased by ]\Ir. \\"ilson 
about 1895. 

Mr. Wilson has served as trustee of the 
Childrens' Home, and for one term he was 
also a member of the school board of Spring- 



346 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



field. He has always been a warm friend 
of the cause of education and has \xen ac- 
ti\e in promoting good schools here. In 
early life his political support was given 
to the Whig party and upon its dissolution, 
he joined the ranks of the Republican party, 
which he has since continued to endorse. 
He is a men.lier uf the Plum street Episcopal 
church and his inrluence and efforts have 
ever been given upon the side of advance- 
ment and cf the right. His success in life 
is attributable entirely to his own efforts 
and his labors have been rewarded with the 
success which comes from earnest purpose, 
unfaltering industry and capable manage- 
n:cnt. Pie is one of the honored and es- 
teemed citizens of Springfield and Clark 
county, where his entire life has l>een passed, 
his fidelity to the principles of honorable 
manhocKl having gained him the good will 
and esteem of all with whom he has been 
associated. 



THRAORTES E. BANXROFT. 

This gentleman has passed the eightieth 
milestone on life's journey. His entire life 
has beeii passed in SpringfieUl and he is 
justly numbered among the honored pio- 
neers and leading rq^resentatives who have 
ijeen prominently identified with her busi- 
ness interests in connection with manufac- 
turing affairs. His is an honorable record 
of a conscientious man. who by his upright 
life has won the confidence of all with whom 
he has come in contact. He has rounded the 
psalmist's span of three-score years and ten, 
and although the snows of several winters 
have whitened his hair, he has the vigor of 
a nuich younger man and in spirit and in- 
terests seems yet in his prin:e. Old 



age is not necessarily a synonym of weak- 
ness or inactivity. It need not suggest as 
a matter of course want of occupation or 
helplessness. There is an old age that is 
a benediction to all that comes in contact 
with it, that gives out of its rich stores of 
learning and experience and grows stronger 
intellectually and spiritually as the years 
pass. Such is the life of Mr. Bancroft, an 
encouragen.ent to his associates and an ex- 
ample well worthy of emulation by the 
yooing. 

Phraortes E. Bancroft was born in 
Springfield on the aSth of January, 1S22, 
and is of English lineage. Three brodiers 
of the name originally came from England 
to America in the year 1632, and founded 
the various branches of the family now re- 
siding in the United States. John Bancroft, 
the paternal grandfather of our subject, 
was a native of Massachusetts, born in 
Reading, antl at the time of the Revcilu- 
tionary war he ji lined the Coli>nial arn:y 
and served for seven complete years, 
holding the rank ai first lieutenant. He 
was married Septemljer 17. 1777, to Ann 
Waters, and remoxing to the west spent his 
last days in Springfield, Ohio, where he 
died in 1834. His wife survived him until 
1842 and departed this life in her eighty- 
ninth year. He could trace the ancestral 
line back through Moses, Thomas, Thomas, 
Thomas and Thomas Bancroft. 

Louis Bancroft, the father of Phraortes 
E. Bancroft, was born near beautiful Lake 
Champlain, in the state of Vermont, in 
1796, and during his early manhood was 
connected with educational work, teaching 
school during the winter months, while in 
the summer seasons he worked U'ix>n the 
farm. He came to Springfield in 1812, aft- 
er having taught for a year in Chautauqua. 




(^ ^ r3-an.-^^<^p~ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



349 



Xew "^^'ork. He took a Ijoat to Upper San- 
dusky and proceeded thence on horseback to 
Spring-field, camping two nights on the way. 
He largely followed trails to this locality 
and he found here a hamlet containing a 
population of two or three hundred. He 
soon enlisted for ser\ice in the war of 1812, 
but was rejected on account of his health, 
urning- his aittentio-n to general merchan- 
dising, he conducted a coimtry store, follow- 
ing that business for many years witli suc- 
cess. He also filled the position of deputy 
sheriff and later was appointed government 
inspector, there being- man}- distilleries in 
this vicinity. He afterward engaged in the 
wholesale grocery and liquor business and 
was an extensive dealer and trader in real 
estate, his name appearing on many ab- 
stracts of die city. Thus his business inter- 
ests were of a varied and important charac- 
ter and he was recognized as one of the 
leading residents of Springfield. He wed- 
ded Mary Christie, who was born October 
1 1. 1792, and was reared upon a farm. Her 
lather, Robert Christie, was one of the pio^ 
neers of Clark county, having come to the 
Buckeye state from Massachusetts at an 
early day. He was a contractor and build- 
er and many o>f the leading business houses, 
homes and churches of the early day stood 
as monuments to^ his skill and enterprise. 
Xot only did he attain success in business 
affairs, but he was also witlely and favora- 
bly kno'wn for his many sterling traits of 
character. Mr. and Airs. Louis Bancroft 
resided together as man and wife for sixty- 
five years, and then he laid her remains in 
Ferncliff cemetery, within a few- rods of 
the home where they were married, the old 
farm being now used fnr cemetery pur- 
])oses. She passed away at the age of eighty- 
four years, and [Mr. Bancroft died in Spring- 



field at the ad\anced age of ninety-two years. 
Their children were: Leonidas; Phraortes 
E. ; LaFayette, who resides in Springfield ; 
Oscar, who is living in California; Amanda 
M., the w-ife of Benjamin Churchill, both 
deceased; and FJavilla G., the wife of 
W'illiami Kleiman, of Cincinnati, Ohio. 

The subject of this review pursued his 
ed-acation in the private schools and in a 
little schoolhouse which stood on Market 
street. It is still one of the landmarks of 
the city and today may be seen on Fountain 
a\-enue. Later Mr. Bancroft attended the 
Springfield academy, which was then under 
the control of Milo G. ^Villian.s, a noted 
educator O'f his da}-. On putting aside his 
te.xt books Mr. Bancroft assisted his father 
in the store, and so continued until his 
eighteenth year, when he was apprenticed to 
learn the hatter's trade under the direction 
of the firm of Coates & Lathrop. When he 
liad completed his apprenticeship he was a 
journeyman for a time and in March, 1851, 
began business on his own accotnit at No. 
4 East Main street, as a hatter and furrier. 
He made all the hats which he handled by 
the hand process and began business on a 
small scale. His store was located in a 
frame structure, which he rented for a num- 
ber of years, after Avhich he bought the site 
upon \\hich his present fine business block 
now stands. In 1882 he erected here a 
splendid four-story brick structure in con- 
nection with the Lagonda; National Bank 
building, which was erected at the same time, 
the two' constituting a very fine business 
block. Mr. Bancroft succeeded in building- 
up a very extensive business and for many 
}-ears was considered not only the leading- 
hatter of Spring-field, but also did an exten- 
sive trade in the line of fine furs, occupying 
the four floors of his building- with goods 



350 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of this character. Recently he has turned 
over the business to his son, who is now con- 
ducting tiie enterprise along the same lines 
by which it was established by the father. 
For many years i\Ir. Bancroft has been a 
director of the Lagonda National Bank, 
with which he thus became connected in 
the early period of its existence. Today in 
point of service he is senior member of the 
board of directors. In 1851 he aided in 
laying the corner stone of the Union Hall 
building and has been one of the directors 
of the company since that time, acting as 
manager. 

In 1845 ^J^i"- Bancroft was united in mar- 
riage to Aliss Catherine Aloody, of Spring- 
field, who died in 1854, leaving no children. 
On the 1 2th of July. 1859. occurred the 
marriage of 'Sir. Bancroft and Miss Louisa 
]\I. Mayhugh, of Warren county, Ohio. She 
was born in Butler county, this state. April 
27, 1834, her parents being ^\'illiam and 
Mary (Foot) Mayhugh. Her maternal 
grandfather. Jobn Foot, died in 1883. Unto 
Mr. and Mrs. Bancroft has been 'born but 
one son who survives. Robert C, who is 
his father's successor in business and carries 
a large and varied stock of goods at the old 
location, and who is conceded to be one of 
the ablest business men of Springfield. He 
married Miss Esthei- Simpson, and they 
have two children' — Dorothy Louise and 
Robert Christie. 

Mr. Bancroft gave his jxilitical support 
to the Whig party at an early day. and on 
the organization of the nt\\ Rqjublican par- 
ty he joined its ranks and has since followed 
its banners, voting for each of the presiden- 
tial candidates. He is a prominent Mason 
and in his life exemplifies the noble spirit 
(vf the fraternity. His membership is in 
Clark Lodge, Xo. lOT. F. & .A. M. : Spring- 



field Chapter, R. A. 'SI. ; and Palestine Com- 
mandery, K. T. For fifty-five years he has 
been a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows, has filled nearly aU of the 
offices of the lodge, and has been treasurer 
of the grand encampment. He has also 
been a trustee of Iheir property for many 
years. A genial gentleman, he receives the 
veneration and respect which should ever 
be accorded to one of advanced years, and 
furthermore, he deserves all the esteem 
which is tendered him. Through eight 
decades he ha^ been a witness of Spring- 
fields development and growth and has tak- 
en an active interest in its progress and ad- 
vancement. His mind bears the historic im- 
press of the years and his memory forms a 
connecting link between the primitive past 
and the progressive present. 



ROBERT X. LAXTZ. 

Robert X. Lantz is filling tiie position of 
city clerk of Springfield in a very capable and 
efficiait manner. He is a native of Hagers- 
town, Maryland, torn July 16, 1868. and is 
a son of John Nelson and Mar}- .\. (Huf- 
man) Lantz, both of whom were born and 
reared in ilaryland and there spent their ai- 
tire lives, each passing away in 1876. For 
a num1)er of years the father was engaged 
m the grocery business and subsequently he 
turned his attention to the manufacture of 
Imggies and carriages in Hagerstown, teing 
well known in the industrial circles of that 
city as one whose enterprise and progressive 
spirit contributed not alone to his individual 
prosperity but was also a means of advance- 
ing the general success. 

In the public schools in his native town 



"HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



351 



Robert N. Lantz began his education and 
later continued his studies m a Lutherai' 
school in Loysville, Pamsylvania, going 
thence to Selin's GroA'e Institute, at Selin's 
Grove, Pennsylvania, where he pursued his 
studies for several terms. His literary edu- 
cation being completed, he afterward learned 
the printer's trade in the ofhlce of the Peo- 
ple's Advocate and Press, at Xew Bloom- 
held. Pennsylvania. After he had completed 
his apprenticeship he went to Roanoke, Vir- 
ginia, where he \\'as employed as a salesman 
in a men's furnishing goods store. The year 
1889 witnessed his arrival in Spring- 
held, where he entered the office of the 
paper known as the Farm and Fireside in 
the capacity oi compositor. He was con- 
nected with tliat paper for seven years, 011 
the expiration of which time he accepted the 
position of bookkeeper in the house of Ben- 
jamin Harris & Con.pany. Later he occu- 
pied a similar position with the house of 
Charles J. Bowlus Fruit Company, with 
which he remained until 1900, when he was 
appointed by the city council to the position 
(if city clerk for a term of two years. In 
1902 he was reappointed for anc'ther term 
of two years, so that he is the present incum- 
l)ent. His appointment came to him in di- 
rect recognition of his ability and his fideli- 
ty in m.atters of citizenship. In the dis- 
charge of his duties he is prompt and sys- 
tematic and his control o-f the affairs con- 
nected with this office has made his adminis- 
tration one that has commended him to the 
trust and good will of his fellow townsmen. 
On the 7th of December, 1897, occurred 
the marriage of Mr. Lantz and Miss Mary 
A. ^Miller, of Si>ring-field, Ohio, whose fa- 
ther, John Miller, was one of the old resi- 
dents of the city. Two children have been 
born to this union : Luther AL, born Janu- 



ary I, 1900; and Xelson B., born [March 
18, 1902. 

Of the Masonic fraternity Jvlr. Lantz is 
a woirthy, exempla:ry and popular representa- 
tive. He belongs to Clark Lodge, No. loi, 
F. & A. M., in which he served as master 
for two^ years, and rqjresented his lodge at 
the meetings of the grand lodge at Toledo 
and Springfield. He is also a member of 
Springfield Chapter, No. 48, R. A. M., is 
a past high priest, and represented the chap- 
ter at the meeting oif the grand chapter at 
Toledo. He has alsoi taken the degree of 
Cryptic and Chivalric Masonry, belonging 
to Springfield Council, No. 17, R. & S. M., 
and Palestine Coa-nmandery, No. 2)2>^ ^^- T. 
Thirteen years co\-er the period of Mr. 
Lantz's residence in Springfield, and during 
that tin:e he has continually advanced in pub- 
lic favor and regard. The elements of char- 
acter depicted in the best type of American 
manhood are his. He has energ}-, progressive 
ideas and a loyal spirit, which is manifest 
in his devotion tO' the general good along 
lines pertaining to public progress and im- 
provement. 

* » » 

MADISON OVER. 

Madison Over, one of the leading mem- 
bers of the Democratic party in Springfield 
and Clark county, has filled a number oi 
po'sitions of public honor and trust and al- 
though the county is strongly Republican, 
he has always won the commendation of the 
jniHic by reason of fidelity and promptness 
in the discharge of his duties. He was 
formerly 'probate judge of the county, and 
since his retirement from that office he has 
lived a retired life. He was born in Ger- 
man to'wnship, this county, on the 15th of 
Decen:1;er. 184 1. a son of Elias and Sarah 



352 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



(W'elchans) Over. The father, also a na- 
tive of this state, was a son of Jacob Over, 
a Pennsylvania-German, who served his 
country in the war of 1812 and came home 
with five Inillet holes in his hat, but though 
he escaped uninjured from the war he met 
death shortly after his return, being acci- 
dentally drowned. 

Elias Over was a man of considerable 
mechanical ability and business ingenuity. 
He learned the trade of a tanner and also 
that of a blacksmith and was likewise a suc- 
cessful school teacher at an early day. At 
the time of the grading of the national road 
from Zanes\ille, he was engaged in con- 
struction work. The road was not ir.acadam- 
ized beyong Springfield and he settled here, 
taking up his abode in German township. 
His political support was given the De- 
mocracy and his fellow townsmen, recogniz- 
ing his worth, loyalty and ability, frecjuently 
called him to public office. He served as 
township trustee, assessor and clerk. His 
wife, who was born in this county in 1820, 
was a daughter of George W'elchans, who 
was a Pennsylvania-German and on remo^•- 
ing to Clark county settled in German town- 
ship in 1806; there living until called to his 
final rest. Unto the parents of our subject 
were born sixteen children, nine of whom 
reached mature years : Adaline, the wife of 
George Myers, of Indiana; Madison; 
George, who died in Indiana; Mrs. Lucy 
Helvie, who resides in Thackery, Ohio; 
Cynthia, who married and is now de- 
ceased : Mrs. Rachel Proctor, of Indiana; 
Peter D.. who is living in that state; Jacob, 
a resident of Arkansas; and Mrs. Clara 
Strasburg. a widow of Spring-field, Obio. 
The mother died in 1874, the father in 1875, 
and both were buried at Merom, Indiana. 

In the district schools Madison Over l^e- 



gan his education and at the age of eighteen 
he entered Wittenberg College of this city, 
studying there for a year, after which he be- 
gan teaching at North Hampton. He taught 
altogether for thirteen years and was a cap- 
able educator whose ability to maintain dis- 
cipline was ecjualled by his power of in^part- 
ing to other the knowledge he had acquired. 
While at North Hampton he was electeil 
justice of the peace, serving for eight 
years with promptness and fairness, after 
which he resigned to accept the posi- 
tion of special examiner in the paision 
office with headquarters at Bloom. ington. 
Illinois. He served thus until 1889, when a 
change in the national administration caused 
him to be dropped and he returned to North 
Hampton, where his familv were living. 
In 1890 he was elected assessor of Pike 
township and the same year he removed to 
Springfield. In 1886 he was the nominee for 
sherifif on the Democratic ticket and made a 
very hard fight. Ijeing defeated by only nine 
votes. Tliis was a defeat that amounted al- 
most to a victory as the vote indicated his 
personal popularity and the confidence re- 
posed in him, as at previous elections very 
large majorities had been won by the Re- 
publican candidate. In 1890 he was the 
candidate on the Democratic ticket for pro- 
bate judge of the county and was defeated 
by a small numl>er of votes, but in the sam.e 
year there occurred a vacajicy on the probate 
court bench and Governor Campbell appoint- 
ed him to the office, which he acceptably 
filled. From 1893 until 1895 he served uiwn 
the city board of etjualization and resigned 
to accept the position of assistant postmas- 
ter of Springfield, creditably filling that ptisi- 
tion during the four years of President 
Cleveland's second temi. Since that time he 
has lived a retired life. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In 1865 Mr. Over was joined in wedlock 
tn Miss AIar_\- J. Jenkins. Oif OiaiVipaign 
county, Ohio, and seven children have been 
born unto them, of whom three are now liv- 
ing: Sallie, the wife of J. F. Kneisly.. of 
Springfield, by whom she has two children, 
Blanche and Bessie; Florence L., an elocu- 
tionist now li\-in'g in the Indian Territory ; 
and Edwin J., who resides with his father 
and is now one of the mounted police at 
Sn}(ler s P'ark. He served for three years 
in the Philippines in the Fourth United 
States Cavalry and returned home with the 
rank of coqioral. 

]\Ir. Over is a man of literary tastes, 
has been a broad reader and profound 
thinker and is particularly well informed on 
ancient and modern history, being familiar 
with the world's progress. 



BYROX OLIVER ELIFRITZ. 

\Mien only nine years of age, Byron O. 
Elifritz started oiit upon an independent 
career and since that time has made his own 
way in the world. All that he has ; all that 
he has accomplished ; and all that he has 
achieved are the result of his own enterprise 
and capability. He is now conducting a 
large and practical job printing business and 
is (_:ne of the progTessi\-e citizens of Spring- 
field. 

Mr. Elifritz was borw in Circleville, 
Pickaway county, Ohio, and comes of a fam- 
ily of Gennan ancestiT. The father, George 
Elifritz, was born in Greencastle, Pennsyl- 
vania, and was one of se\-en children. The 
only survivor is Daniel Elifritz, an inmate of 
the Soldiers' Hc;-me at ]\Iarshalltown, Iowa. 
George Elifritcb. rpmo\-ed from his nati\-e 



state to Maryland at an early day. when a 
young man, and was there married. Subse- 
quently he took up his abode in Circleville. 
Oliic, where he remained from 1844 until 
1848, when he came with his familv to 
Sipring^eld. He was a tanner and also a 
butcher by trade and in the latter years of 
his life he worked in the manufacture of 
brick, carrying on an extensive and profita- 
ble business in that way. He manufactured 
the brick used in the construction of Witten- 
berg College, for the seminary on East High 
street and in the old Catholic church. He 
afterward removed to Yellow Springs, 
where he manufactured the brick for Antioch 
College, as well as for many other of the 
old land marks of the place. During the 
summer months he conducted his brickvard 
and in the wmter sessions he followed 
butchering. Fie was a self-m.ade man of 
Hniited educational advantages, but he pos- 
sessed business capability, and strong quali- 
ties of character and steadily he has advanced 
in his business affairs. He died in 1853, at 
the age of thirty-two' years, respected bv all 
who knew him. His wife, who bore the 
maiden name of Elizabeth Boward, was born 
in Maryland and received but limited educa- 
tional privileges. She belonged to^ a farmer's 
family and her services were needed in the 
homie. She was boi-n in 181 1 and died in 
1900. Her mother died at the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-two years. ]\Irs. 
Elifritz was laid to rest in Ferncliff 
canetery, while her husband was interred 
in Greenmount cemetery. Unto them 
were born six children. Of these. Upton, 
the eldest, died in Springfield, in 1899, 
at the age Oif fifty-eight years. He was 
a men Ijer of the Se\"enteenth Ohio Bat- 
ter)- during the Ci\-il war. serving through- 
out the period of hostilities. At his death 



354 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he left a son. William, and three daughters. 
The son now makes his hoire in Toledo, 
Ohio, while the daughters reside in Spring- 
field. Charles H., the second meir.ber of the 
family of George Elifritz. is a farmer now 
living retired, at Vienna Crossroads, in this 
county. He was a member of the Artillery 
service during the Civil war. Byron O. is 
the next younger. Emma is the wife ol 
Robert Smith, of Springfield, and has one 
son and one daughter. Laura is the widow 
of John Miller, of this city, and has a son 
and daughter. Carrie is the wife of Peter 
Critzinger, of this city, who has one daugh- 
ter, the wife nf John Powell. The daughters 
of ]\Ir. Elifritz were educated but the sons 
attended school for only a short time. After 
the death of her first husband Mrs. Elifritz 
was again married, becoming the wife of 
John Webster, and they had twin children, 
one of whom died at the age of thirteen and 
the I ^ther at the age of twenty-one, ami 
Ixnh are interred in Ferncliff cemetery. The 
hon.e of the Elifritz family was on ten acres 
of land on what is now Harrison street in 
Springfield. In religious faith they were 
Lutherans. The father was well known and 
was very successful in his business career for 
many years, hut afterward met with reverses 
which undoubtedly hastened his death. l\\ 
jwlitics he was an ardent Democrat. 

Mr. Elifritz. whose name introduces this 
re\iew, was a lad of only seven years when 
his father died. He spent six months as a 
student in. the first public school of Spring- 
field, near the East High street bridge. In 
the fall of 1855 '""s becan.e connected with 
the printing business, receiving a salary of 
one dollar and twenty-fi\c cents per week, 
but even this was many times nx)t fortlico-.r- 
con iiio-. He worked in the office of tlic 



Evening News, published by Hastings & 
Nichols. The printing of job work was then 
all done by hand presses, which were after- 
ward superseded by the cylinder press. Mr. 
Elifritz fed the first cylinder press that was 
brought into this city. In 1863 he left the 
employ Oif the firm of Hastings & Nichols 
and then went to work for Freye & Fre}-e, 
on the Tri-\\'eekly Republic, continuing with 
that house until 1865. On severing that 
business connection he began the publication 
of the Weekly Transcript, now the Spring- 
field Democrat. This was the second Der.o- 
cratic paper published in the county, and the 
only one that prospered. John McGaffcy 
was his partner in the enterprise, which was 
conducted until 1869 by the first finn, when 
Mr. AIcGaffey- sold his interest to David C. 
Ballentine, who is now in the navy depart- 
ment at Washington, D. C. He reirained 
with the house until 1872 and then sold out 
to Charles E. A\'inters. During the contin- 
uation of this partnership they branched into 
the job work and also established the Moni- 
ing Globe, which is to-day the Press Re- 
I>uiblic. After a time, howc\er. they gave up 
all newspaper work and entered upon litln;- 
graphing, getting out all of the work for 
World's Columbian Exposition, in Chicago, 
with a large amount of other job work. I\Ir. 
Elifritz continued in the business until 1890, 
when he left the company and purchased the 
present business, which was then very small, 
for three thousand dollars. In this under- 
taking he and his brother Upton formed a 
partnership, which continued for a year, 
when Byron purchased his brother's interest 
and has since secured a \ery lucrati\e pat- 
ronage. He now has a large and well 
equippeil jjlant and has added n any ini- 
prcvarents in technical and mechanical 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



355 



wurk. He is thoroughly practical in all 
that he undertakes and has advanced in the 
l)usiness through comprehensive knowledge; 
through fidelity to tiie terms of a contract; 
through the capable execution of all trusts 
gi\-en into his care. Good management has 
always been one of his strong character- 
istics. Although lie was in debt to some 
amount when he embapked in this business, 
the enterprise has proved successful finan- 
cially and he has paid dollar for dollar. He 
enjoys the respect of the best business men 
of the city and their trade is constantly be-, 
sto'wed upon him. Air. Elifritz is a mechani- 
cal genius and can manufacture anything 
necessary toi earn- out his plans and please 
his patrons. He has done considerable 
printing for manufacturing concerns from 
1 85 5 tO' the present time. He left home when 
a Ijoy of only eight years of age and went 
to Illinois, where he remained for a year, 
after which he returned tO' Ohio*. From that 
time forward he has depended entirely upon 
his O'Wn resources for a living and all that 
he has acquired is the merited reward of his 
labo'r. 

In 1867 in Hagerstown, [Maryland, was 
celebrated the marriage of Mr. Elifritz and 
Miss Alice V. Boavard, who was born there 
in 1848' and there pursued her education. 
This union has been blessed with three li\ing 
daughters, while one son, Plarry, died at the 
age of twenty-one years. May L. is the wife 
of Qiarles E. Winckler, who is associated 
with Mr. Elifritz in the office; Ada E. is 
assisting her father in business ; and Pearl 
Dot is at home. The children were all edu- 
cated in the public schools. 

Mr. Elifritz is a member of the Lutheran 
church and his political support is given the 
Democracy. He has never sought or de- 
sired office and has alwaA's declined to serve 



although he has frequently been solicited to 
do so. He has given his entire time and 
attention toi his business and his unremitting 
diligence and honorable efforts have brought 
to him gratifying prosperity. He is a mem- 
ber of Anthony Lodge, F. & A. M., and also 
belongs to F.phraim Lodge, I. O. O. F., and 
is O'ue oi the past grands of the lodge. He is 
also identified with the Order of Rebekah, 
to which his \vife likewise belongs. 'Mr. 
Elifritz was a member o-f Moncrieffe Lodge, 
K. P., and later became a charter member 
of the Red Star Lodge. He is one of the 
old original Company Six, of the Uniformed 
Rank, and left that to become a member 
of the Furt}--fourth Company. He is now 
commissary of the Fourth Ohio Regiment. 
He is likewise identified with Te Ha tribe 
of the ImprO'\-ed Order of Red Men, whicli 
was the first tribe installed in Springfield. 
He 'belonged to the Senior Lodge of Amer- 
ican Mechanics, \yhich was later absorbed 
by the Junior Order of American Mechanics. 
He is likewise a member oi Knights of the 
Ancient Essenic Order, and past senator of 
the same. He is also a n:ember of the Com- 
mercial Club. He belonged to the Silver 
Gray Fire Company and later he became con- 
nected with the old Ro-\-er Compan}', an in- 
dependent fire organization, which was char- 
tered under the state law. He remained with 
that company for fourteen years and through 
a long period was thus connected with the 
imi^ortant work of fighting fires. He has 
been loyal in all matters of citizenship per- 
taining to the general good, and as the years 
ha\-e acjvanced' he has gained a very prom- 
inent position in business circles because he 
has realized that energy and perseverance 
are two^ salient features in his prosperity. 
Amid surroundings and obstacles that would 
ha\-e utte'-lv discouraged manv a man of less 



356 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



resolute spirit, he has worked his way \x\y- 
ward and to-day stands an.id the successful 
rqjresentatives of the printing business in 
Springfield. 



MICHAEL TRIMMER. 

Michael Trimmer, who traveled life's 
journey until after he had passed the ninety- 
third milestone, was a man whose worth 
to the world was widely acknowledged. He 
was so conscientious and faithful in the per- 
formance of duty that he sustained an un- 
assailable reputation in business circles and 
in his private life was equally above re- 
proach. In some of the good buildings of 
the city are yet seen the evidences of his 
handiwork, but he built for himself a monu- 
ment n-.ore lasting than any of brick or stone 
in the regard and friendship oi his fellow 
men, who )^et honor his memory as one who 
was worthy of their highest regard. 

^Ir. Trimn-.er was lx>rn in Adams coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, February 26, 1806, a son 
of ^lathias and Elizabeth (Fisher) Trim- 
mer, who were also natives of the same 
county, and was there reared and married. 
Tile former was of German descent, while 
the mother was of English lineage. Fnur 
of their sons became residents of Springfield, 
but John remained here for only a brief 
period. David and Mathias were associated 
for some time in brick contracting with the 
subject of this review, and David died in 
this city in August. 1849. while Mathias 
passed away in Iowa in the spring of 1873. 
He is buried in Greenmount cemetery, while 
David lies in Femcliff. 

In the county of his nativity Michael 
Trimuner pursued his education and also 
learned tlie stone mason's trade, after which 



he went to Hagerstown, ;Maryland, and 
there secured work in that line. While there 
he formed the acquaintance of Miss Cath- 
erine Barbara Eitel, who was born in that 
city May 11, 1806. a daughter of John Mar- 
tin and Christiana ( Stotler) Eitel. Her father 
was a native of Germany, born near Stutt- 
gart, and when a young man came to .\nieri- 
ca. His wife w as a native of Winchester, Vir- 
ginia, and was an only child. Her father 
died when she was but fifteen months of 
age and her mother passed away in Hagers- 
town, Maryland. Mr. Trimmer sought in 
marriage the hand of iliss Eitel and being 
successful in his wooing they were joined 
in wedlock in 1834. 

The bridal trip of the young couple con- 
sisted of a journey to Springfield. Ohio, 
made by stage, for that was before the ad- 
vent of railroads into this state. Mr. Trim- 
mer here began working at the stone mason's 
trade. He had also learned the trade of 
laying brick and was one of the first brick 
masons. of this city. He came to Ohio a 
young man full of determination, industry 
and perseverance and it was not long before 
he had won a commanding ix>sition in the 
industrial circles of the city. He at once 
began contracting, and a little later was 
joined by his brothers. David and Mathias, 
who entered into partnership with him. Aft- 
er the death of David the surviving brothers 
dissolved partiiership. and our subject was 
afterward a partner of John Kershner, who 
had learned the trade with Mr. Trimmer 
and who joined him under the firm style 
of Trimmer & Kershner, a relation that was 
maintained through consecutive years until 
1873. ilr. Trimmer received and executed 
contracts for the erection of many of the 
most imixirtant buildings of the city in an 
earlv dav. He erected the old Pennsvlvania 




MRS. MICHAEL TRIMMER. 




MICHAEL TRIMMER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



361 



building- in tlie west end; tlie Barnett mills; 
tlie First Presbyterian cburcli, whicb bas 
• since been remodeled; the Secoaid Presby- 
terian church, which remains as he built it, 
sa\-e that the interior has been improA'ed ; 
the first building of the Wittenberg College; 
the P. P. Mast shop; the Miller Hotel, and 
the Commercial block 011 Limestone street. 
He also erected the Buckingham building, 
opposite the Commercial, many smaller busi- 
ness blocks andi a large number of the fine 
homes oif the city. He easily maintained a 
position as one of the leading contractors 
and builders of Springfield during his active 
business life and received a very liberal 
share of the pitblic patronage, which indi- 
cated the excellence O'f his labor and the 
confidence reposed in his business probity 
by the citizens of Springfield. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Trimmer were born 
five children: Anna R. is the wife of Seth 
H. Arbogast, and has one sou, David Sheri- 
dan, who wedded Mary Donohue, and re- 
sides in Springfield. Mary E. is the de- 
ceased wife of Jesse C. Trimmer. John 
IMartin died in 1S52 at the age of ten years 
and was laid to rest in Ferncliff cemetery. 
Sarah Jane died in infancy and was also 
l)uried in Ferncliff. David S. is his father's 
successor in business. Mrs. Trimmer was a 
n- ember O'f the Central Methodist church. 

In his political \'iews Mr. Trimmer was 
originally an old-line \\"hig and afterward 
became a Republican, but while he was un- 
faltering in advocacy of the party principles 
he would never accept office. He owned the 
property which later belonged to Jacob' Seitz 
and built for him the home which now 
stands on the site. A self-made man in the 
trust and best sense of the term, he car- 
ried on his business in such a wa_\- that his 
correct metliods and honorable principles 



as v;ell as his excellent workmanship recom- 
n:erded him to all who needed the services 
of a mason contractor, and thus he gained 
a most liberal patronage and won a satisfac- 
tory financial reward, clt the same time main- 
taining" a high p'lace in public confidence and 
regard. Ambitious andl resolute in early 
manhood, persevering and diligent in the 
prime of life, he reached a \enerable old 
age, \^hich like a da}- with its accomplished 
labors, passed into the grateful rest and 
quiet of the night. His wife was called to 
her final rest June 14, 1893, and on the i6th 
of September, 1899, at the age of ninety- 
three, he passed away as one who 

" Wraps the drapery of his couch about him 
And lies down to pleasant dreams." 

Da\-is S. Trimmer, wlio became his fa- 
ther's successor in business, was born in 
Springfield, January 10, 1845. accjuired his 
education in the schools of the city, and in 
1865 began learning the bricklayer's trade. 
In 1863, howex'er, he ran awav from home 
anfl enlisted in tlie Union army as a member 
of Company C, One Hundred and Twenty- 
ninth Ohio Infantry, being mustered in at 
Cleveland, Ohio'. In March, 1864, he was 
mustered out in the same city. He learned 
his trade under his father and followed it 
until 1886, when he retired from the busi- 
ness. In 1873, upon the retirement of his 
father, he became the partner of ^Ir. Kersh- 
ner under the firm style of Kershner &: 
T'rimmer, which connection was continued 
until 1880. In that year David S. Trim- 
mer went tO' St. Paul, ^Minnesota, where he 
worked at his trade until 1886, wdien he re- 
turned tO' Springfield because his parents 
were reaching advanced years. He has since 
resided in this city, where he is well kncnvn, 
ha\ing spent the greater part of his life here. 



362 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



WILLIAM MOORE. 

William ]^Ioore lias a wide acquaintance 
in Springfield and the circle of his friends 
is almost as large. He was for many years 
connected with the fire department of this 
city and rose to the rank of chief, his labors 
in this connection winiting him the approval 
and the gratitude of the public. The field of 
battles is fraught with no greater danger or 
demands no greater bravery than does the 
life of the fireman. In the position of chief 
.Mr. Moore filled a most responsible posi- 
tion, his office demanding a cool, calm and 
yet ready judgment in the hour of peril, a 
quick comprehension of the situation and a 
ready utilization of the forces and means at 
hand. He discharged the uljligations de- 
voh-ing upon him in such a capable manner 
that he won high commendation and well 
does he deserve mention as one of the rep- 
resentative citizens of Springfield, where he 
is now living in honorable retirement. 

.\ native of this city, he was Ixirn at the 
corner of Plum and West Main .streets. Au- 
gust 30, 1847. His father, \\'illiam Moore, 
Sr., was a native of County Cork, Ireland, 
born in 1808, and was one of a large family 
of children noted for their tall stature and 
longevity, which was a familiar characteris- 
tic. William ^Nloore. Sr.. was educated in 
his native country and with his parents ani- 
grated to America, the family settling in 
Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in 181 6. Sub- 
sequently they came to Clark county, Ohio, 
establishing their home in Springfield, where 
the grandfather of our subject died at an 
advanced age. 

After reaching America. William Moore, 
the father of our subject, completed his 
studies in the schools of Philadelphia, and 
there he learned the tinner's trade, which he 



followed until his death. He started out in 
life a poor man, but by good managemait 
and unfaltering industry he accumulated 
considerable property, and at the time of his 
death was in very good financial circum- 
stances. In addition to his other business 
interests he was a stockholder in the old 
Union hall. He possessed excellent e.Kecu- 
tive ability and when he died he had all his 
affairs in good condition. His business rei)- 
utaton was unassailable because of his hon- 
esty in all trade transactions. He was an 
active, sturdy man, six feet and six inches in 
height and of commanding appearance. His 
pulitical sui)pnrt was given the \\'hig party 
in early life and afterward he became a 
stanch Republican. He served as a member 
and president of the first city council of 
Springfield, served as the second mayor of 
the city, was also the county coroner, was 
justice of the peace and held many other 
offices of public honor and trust. His aid 
and influence were ever given in behalf of 
all nreasures for the general good. He was 
a well-read man. keeping informed on all 
general topics of the day, and his knowledge 
of law was also quite extensive. He always 
worked to obtain better conditions for the 
people and was ever the opponent of oppres- 
sion in any form. Charitable and benevo- 
lent, he gave freely to church work aind to 
diaritable interests. He laelongetl to the 
Methodist Episcopal denomination and was 
a charter member of Clark Lodge, F. & A. 
M., being well ix>sted in Masonry. He also 
was a charter member of Springfield Lodge, 
I. O. O. F. At the time of the Civil war 
he was a stanch advocate of the Union cause 
and the soldiers and their families found in 
him a faithful and helpful friend. He mar- 
ried Charlotte Xagel. who was born in Bos- 
ton, Massachusetts, in i8og, and was reared 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



363 



in Springfield, acquiring her early education 
in the schools of tliis city. Air. Aloore died 
on the 14th of Feliruary, 1889, at the age 
of eighty-one year.s and five months, and his 
wife passed away in 1872. In their family 
were five children, of whom four are yet liv- 
ing, Mrs. Annie Bradbury having died in 
Springfield at the age of fifty-five years. 
Alarion is foreman in the paint shoi>s of the 
O. S. Kelly plant on Plum street in Spring- 
field. Elizabeth is the wife of Barlow Law- 
rence, of this city. Charlotte is the wife of 
Emanuel Reigel, of Seattle, Washington. 
^^'illiam completes the family. All of these 
childrai were reared and educated in Spring- 
field. After the death of their mother the 
lather remo^-ed tn Richmond, Indiana, and 
later to Centerville, Indiana, where his death 
occurred. He was married a second time 
while in Richmond. After his demise his 
remains were brought back to Springfield 
and laid to rest in Gr'eenmount caneter\-. 
Although he was a resident of Indiana for 
twelve years, from 1877, he yet retained 
business interests in this city. 

William Aloore, whose name introduces 
this record, pursued his education in sub- 
scription and public schools, the latter being 
organized during his boyhood days. On the 
26th of July, 1862, he enlisted in Co'mpany 
A, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 
with which he served for three years, taking 
part in the battle of Perryville and the Per- 
ryville campaign, the engagements at Stone 
Ri\er, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Lcrok- 
out Mountain, Missionary Ridge and the 
Atlanta campaign and the march tO' the sea 
under General Sherman. He was also at 
the battle of Bentonville. which was the last 
general engagement of the war. General 
Johnston there surrendering his Confederate 
forces. Later Air. Aloore participated in the 



grand review in Washington. D. C, and 
was mustered out in June, 1865, without 
having ever received an injury or wound, 
although during his entire service he was in 
active duty on southern battlefields. When 
he returned home he foiind that his father 
had manifested his patriotic devotion to the 
Union cause by painting a chimne}' of his 
house with the national colors. 

FoT a time after his return Air. Aloore 
attended school in 1866 and then entered 
upon an apprenticeship in the butchering 
business under William Grant. Afterward 
he began working in the finishing room of 
the furniture factory of Foos & Alilligan, 
acting as foreman in that department for 
several years. In his early manhood he be- 
came a member of the Rover Fire Company, 
an independent organization, and served 
with that company until the first of April, 
1869, when he became a member of the paid 
fire department, \vhich had beai organized. 
He first served as hoseman, but gradually 
he worked his way upward until he became 
chief, acting in that capacity for four years. 
From. 1869 until 1900, with the exception of 
eight years, he was continuously a member 
of the fire department and witnessed its de- 
velopment as the work of improvement was 
carried steadily forward. He was the first 
one to use the city water works in a fire. 
He has seen some very large conflagrations 
in this city and has done his full share in 
fighting fires here. He was injured while 
in the service by a falling horse and at length 
he was retired from the service on a pension. 
He is to-day the oldest surviving member of 
the fire department of Spring-field. 

Air. Aloore was married Decern ber 26, 
1869, to Aliss Anna Belle Tiffany, who was 
born in Xenia in 1849, a daughter of Aaron 
Tift'anv, who was a minister of the Alethod- 



364 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ist Episcopal church. Mrs. Moore is a lady 
of good education and has been an able help- 
mate to her husband. Unto than were born 
five children, but four of tlie number died in 
childhood. La Verna. liorn in 1874, is now 
the wife of Foster Huchings and they are 
now in the theatrical profession, residing at 
Springfield. ]VIrs. Huchings has taken a 
musical course and is a graduate of the high 
school of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Moore 
are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church and he lielongs to Moncrieffe Lodge, 
K. P. He was formerly an active mem- 
ber of Ephraim Lodge, L O. O. F., and was 
a member of Company 6 of the Uniformed 
Rank of the Knights of Pythias when the 
company won the world's prize at Detroit. 
He also served as lieutenant in the first bri- 
gade in the fraternity in Ohio. He is also 
a member of the Firemen's Relief Associa- 
tion, and in 1876 he took a fire engine, the 
Queen of the West, to Findlay, Ohio, to 
the firemen's tonrnament, at which time he 
had to give seven thousand dollars bonds 
for the safe return of the engine. Mr. 
Moore and Richard Powell are now the only 
survivors that attended the tournament. He 
is well known to firemen throughout the 
state and is also recognized as a prominent 
and influential citizen of Springfield, having 
mnnv friends here. 



DAXIEL McKILLIP. 

Daniel McKillip is engaged in the till- 
ing of the soil and in raising stock in Moore- 
field township. He is one of the native 
sons of this locality, his birth having oc- 
curred eight miles south of South Charles- 
ton, in Favette ccuntv. .\ugust 24, 1832. 



His father, Thomas ^IcKillip, was born in 
North Carolina and when only three years 
of age was brought by his father, John Mc- 
Killip, to the Buckeye state. He is de- 
scended from Scotch ancestry, who fled 
fr(jm Scutland to the northern part of Ire- 
land, and frtjm the Emerald Isle the great- 
grandfather of cur subject crossed the At- 
lantic to America. Mr. McKillip's grand- 
father was a jioor man when he came to 
Ohio, but as the years passed he accumulated 
a comfortable competence, becoming the 
owner of a large tract of land in Fayette 
county. There Thomas ]\IcKillip was 
reared tc manhood and he. too, prospered in 
his farm work until he was the owner of 
eight hundred acres of land. He followed 
farming and cattle-raising and had his life 
been spared he would have probably become 
a very wealthy man. but he died when but 
forty-eight years of age. He was the father 
of twelve children, four of whom passed 
away in early youth, while the other eight 
reached years of maturity, our subject being 
the second in order of birth. In his political 
views Tliomas McKillip was an old-line 
Whig, but was never a politician in the sense 
of office seeking. 

The educational privileges afforded Dan- 
iel McKillip were somewhat limited, for he 
was never able to attend school after he was 
thirteen years of age until he had attained 
his majority. He then sjjent seven months 
as a student in Antioch College, his father 
having purchased a scholarship in that insti- 
tution. He was forced to give up school in 
early boyhood in order to go to Illinois and 
tiike care of a herd of cattle which l>elonged 
to his father, the man who had been em- 
jiloyed for this purpose having been taken 
ill. There Mr. McKillip engaged in lierdinp 
cattle fi^r seven vears. during which time 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



365 



he made many trips to and from Ohio. In 
the fall he would make his way to Illinois, 
purchase a herd, feed the cattle during the 
winter and until Jul}", wboi he would start 
east with them, driving them to markets in 
this section of the country. He made eight 
trips to the east, crossing the Allegheny 
mountains. When he had attained his ma- 
jority his father gave him one hundred 
acres of timber land, which he at once began 
to clear and also to drain by ditching, thus 
preparing it for the plow. 

Like most young men starting out in life 
for themselves, he desired a companion for 
the journey and was married in Clark coun- 
ty July 13, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Briggs, 
who was born in ]\Iadison township and is 
a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Hem- 
pieman) Briggs. After his marriage he 
lived upon his fann in Eayette count}- for 
about five years and thai traded that prop- 
erty for a tract of land in Stokes township, 
]\Iadison county, where he made his home 
until the fall of i86j. He then removed to 
his present place, having traded for one hun- 
dred and eighty acres of land here. To this 
tract, however, he has since added until he 
now has in the home place two hundred and 
eighty acres of rich land and likewise owns 
anothei- farin of one hundred and sixty-two 
acres in ]\Ioorefield township. He has been 
ven,- successful and, although he lost two 
thousand dollars by going security for a 
friend, he is accounted one of the prosperous 
agriculturists of his community. 

]\Ir. and Mrs. ^IcKillip now have two 
living children. La.ura, born April 24, 
1857, was married February 3, 1876, to 
\\'illiam H. Winter, and they have five chil- 
dren: Effie. born April i, 1878: George, 
who was Iji^irn. September 5. 1879, and mar- 
ried Zella B\-ers : Lizzie : Crawford ; and 



Daniel. Emma Frances, the second daugh- 
ter of Mr. and ISIrs. AIcKillip, was born 
June 17, 1859, and on the 23d of March, 
1882. lD€came the wife of John S. Swaidner, 
of Spring-field township. They had two 
children: Jessie Belle, born February 5, 
1895; and Charles, who died in infancy. 

\\'hen age gave to him the right of fran- 
chise Mr. McK'illip proudly cast his first 
presidential ballot for John C. Fremont and 
from that time to the present has never 
wavered in his allegiance to the Republican 
party. He has had neither time nor incli- 
nation for office seeking, preferring to give 
his attention to his business affairs, which 
ha\-e been capably controlled so that his 
earnest toil and business sagacity have re- 
sulted in making him one of the prosperous 
agriculturists of his community. 



JOHN W. ATHY. 

John W. Athy is a prosperous farmer 
whose home is located about five miles from 
Springfield on the Dayton pike, and through 
close attention to- business, unremitting' dili- 
gence and the assistance of his estimable wife 
he has accumulated about one hundred acres 
of land, which, because of the excellent im- 
provements that have been placed upon it, 
is now valued at about one hundred and 
fifty dollars per acre. 

^Ir. Athy was born ]\Iarch 17, 1S48, 
within a half mile of the farm on which he 
now resides, and on the paternal side is of 
English descent. His parents were John 
and Frances (Rue) Athy, the former a na- 
tive of Cumberland. ^Maryland, and the lat- 
ter of ^lad River township, Clark county, 
Ohio, her family being pioneers of this coun- 



366 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ty. Throughout Hfe the father of our sub- 
ject followed farming and died in 1870, at 
the age of fifty-eight years, while his wife, 
who long survived him, passed away in 
1891, at the age of eighty-one years. This 
worthy couple were the parents of nine chil- 
dren, eight of whom are still living, namely : 
Jacob R., whose sketch api>ears on another 
page of this volume; Sarah, deceased; 
Jesse C, a resident of Mad River township; 
Wilmina. wife of Martin Leflfel. of Bethel 
township; Maria, wife of Ephraim Creel, of 
Mad River township; Malinda, wife of Da- 
vid Sheets, of the same township; Margaret 
Elizabeth, who married William Burnett 
and now resides in Combs. Arkansas ; John 
W., of this review : and Elisha P. S., a resi- 
dent of Springfield. 

In the usual manner of farmer boys of 
his period John W. Athy spent the days of 
his boyhood and youth, working in the fields 
through the summer months, while in the 
winter season he attended the district schools 
of the neighborhood, thus acquiring a good 
common English education. In 1872 he 
married Miss Nannie G. Wallace, who was 
born in Enon, this county, and is a daugh- 
ter of John and Martha A. (Bush) Wallace. 
Her mother died in 1878, at the age of fifty- 
eight years, and the father subsequently mar- 
ried Elizabeth Staats, with whom he is now 
living near Oslx>m, Greene ciainty, Ohio, at 
the age of eighty-two years. He is a native 
of England and on coming to this country 
first settled in Pennsylvania. \\' hen a young 
man he learned the tailor's trade and later 
engaged in the nursery business, but is now 
living a retired life. For sixteen years he 
served as postmater of Enon, Ohio, and sub- 
sequaitly lived for a time in Missouri. By 
his first marriage he had five children: 
Mary, the deceased wife of Major McBride; 



Martha Ellen, the wife of George Maple, of 
Holt county, Missouri ; T. D., who is a resi- 
dent of Springfield and at one time served 
as postmaster of that city; Xannie G., wife 
of our subject; and Anna ^1., the wife of 
John Jackson, who is living in Forest City, 
Missouri. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Athy have 
been born two children : L. lone, a musi- 
cian, and John Earl, who is engaged in the 
stock business, both at home with their par- 
ents. 

In his political views ]Mr. Athy is a Re- 
publican, and like all true Americans citi- 
zens should do, he keeps well informed on 
the issues and questions of the day. For 
five years he served as clerk of the school 
board. He is actively interested in every- 
thing pertaining to the material, intellectual 
and moral welfare of his community. He is 
a self-made man, whose life has been one of 
industry and earnest toil, and to his own ef- 
forts and the assistance of his wife,'who has 
indeed been a helpmate to him, he owes his 
prosperity and his advancement in the busi- 
ness world. They have a happy home and 
everything about the place is neat and at- 
tractive in appearance. They deserve great 
credit for what they have accomplished and 
are well knoAvn and highly respected citizens 
of their communitv. 



DWIGHT II. OLDS. 

Dwight II. Olds has for more than a 
quarter of a century been a resident of Clark 
county, having located within its borders in 
1875. He has been engaged in the dairy 
business as a member of the firm of Olds & 
McGregor since 1898, and in March. 1902, 
he became sole proprietor of the business, 
which he is now successfullv conducting. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



367 



Mr. Olds is a native of Massachusetts, his 
birth having- occurred in Middlefield, Hamp- 
shire county, on the lOth of April, 1848. 
He comes of Welsh ancestry on the pater- 
nal line and of English descent on the ma- 
ternal line, but for many generations the 
Olds family has been established in Amer- 
ica. Levi Olds, the father of our subject was 
a 'farmer who lived and died in Berkshire 
county, Massachusetts, passing away at 
the age of sixty-two years. His wife, who 
was born in the same locality, bore the 
maiden name of Emily Meacham and died 
upon the old home farm at the age of eighty- 
four years. This worthy couple were the 
parents of fifteen children, eight of whom 
reached years of maturity, while six of the 
number are still living: Levi F., the eld- 
est, who was a member of the Fifty-second 
Massachusetts Lifantry during the Civil 
war and is now living in Springfield ; 
Dwight H., of this review; William C, of 
Bridgeport, Connecticut; Helen S., the 
widow of John Hamilton, a resident of Ran- 
to'ul, Champaign county, Illinois; Mrs. El- 
nra Rammage, of Decatur, Alabama ; and 
Edwin W., of Chicago^. 

In the public schools in his boyhood days 
Dwight H. Olds pursued his education. 
Upon the father's death he was left with the 
care of the family upon his shoulders and 
he assumed the management of the farm, 
carrying on the work there until twenty- 
five years of age. The first five hundred 
dollars which he ever earned he spent in the 
acquiranent of an educatioii, studying be- 
tween the ages of twenty-one and twenty- 
five years. He then embarked with his 
brother Levi in the fancy-goods business in 
Concord, New Hampshire, and after re- 
maining for one year in that city he came to 
Spring-field, where he continued in the same 



line of business in Black's Opera House 
l)uilding. For fourteen years the new en- 
terprise here was attended with success, con- 
tinuously conducted by the brothers, and 
then our subject sold out his interest and 
turned his attention to the insurance busi- 
ness in connection with G. W. Bellow, this 
relation being maintained for six years, on 
the expiration of which period Mr. Olds dis- 
posed of his interests and turned his atten- 
tion to agricultural pursuits. He purchased 
an improved farm in German township and 
there began dairying. He has also been en- 
gaged in the raising of full-blooded regis- 
tered Jersey cattle and now has one hundred 
and fifty head upon his place. He handles 
nothing but blooded stock and he ships to 
all parts of the country. In 1898 he came tO' 
the city and entered the dairying business 
with the firm of McGregor Brothers. This 
relation was maintained until 1902, when 
Mr. Olds purchased his partners" interest. 
He cultivates three hundred and fifty acres 
of land and has a large number of cows for 
dairying purposes upon that tract. i\Ir. Olds 
became sole proprietor of the dairy and 
farm, which adjoins the city of Springfield, 
in 1902, and has since carried on the busi- 
ness with good success. The dairy is 
ecjuipped with all modern appliances, and, as 
he keqDs a high grade of cattle, the milk is of 
excellent Cjuality and receives a ready sale 
upon the market. The other fami is located 
in German township and is improved with 
all modern equipments and accessories for 
the purpose of his business. Mr. Olds is a 
member of the American Jersey Cattle Club 
of New "^^ork and a member of the Ohio 
Jersey Cattle Club, organized to promote the 
interests of the raisers of Jersey stock. 
Throughout his entire life he has been con- 
nected with the stock business and is laro-elv 



368 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



considered an authority in such matters, 
especially regarding Jersey cattle. He ran 
three wagons, delivering one hundred and 
fifty gallons of milk per day for four years 
hut now dis.poses of his product through the 
Pure Milk Company. All is aeriated and 
lx)ttled in the building upon his farm and to 
this business he largely gives his personal 
supervision. 

In 1878 Mr. Olds was united in mar- 
riage in Madison county. Ohio, to Sallie 
Corns, the widow of Otis Smith, of London, 
Ohio. Socially our subject is connected 
with Clark Lodge, F. & A. M.. and in his 
political affiliations is a Republcan, but has 
never been an aspirant for office. He is a 
member of the Fourth Lutheran church and 
at one time was a deacon in the First Lu- 
theran church. He contributes liljerally to 
church and charitable work and to many 
public enterprises for the good of the com- 
munity. In Sunday-school work he is par- 
ticularly active, having devoted his time and 
energies to this branch of Christian activity 
for a quarter of a century. For a number 
of years he filled the ofiice of assistant super- 
intendent of the Sunday-school of the First 
Lutheran church. A man who in all his 
business dealings is honest, upright and con- 
scientious and who in all life's relations fol- 
lows the golden rule, doing unto others as 
he would be df.ne by, he has gained a most 
enviable reputation and has made a success 
of his labors. In manner he is modest and 
unassuming, but his genuine worth makes 
him well liked bv his manv friends. 



\\ILI.IAM E. COPEXHAVER. 
\\'illiam E. Copenha\er occupies the re- 
sponsible position of superintendent of the 
Foos Manufacturing Company, his thorough 



understanding of the great mechanical work 
well qualifying him for this position. He 
came to Springfield in 1S86 and represents 
one of the oldest families of the south. His 
birth occurred in Baltimore, Maryland, on 
the 9th of April, 1865, and he is of German 
lineage, although the family was established 
in the new world at an early period in the 
colonization of this country. The paternal 
great-grandfather of our subject was lx>rn 
in ilaryland, while his father was a native 
of Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather, 
Abraham Copenhaver, was likewise a native 
of that state and served as a soldier in the 
war of 1812. The mem'l:€rs of the family 
have been interred in Greenmount cemetery 
in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Augustus Copenhaver. the father of our 
subject, was born in Maryland in 1817 and 
was married in 1847. Fifty years later he 
and his wife celebrated their golden wedding 
and in iqoi he passed away in Baltimore. 
He was then the oldest living manufacturer 
in the city. He built and operated the first 
paper mill in the state cuf Maryland and was 
always an active factor in the development 
of n-.anufacturing interests there. He was 
also connected with the Second National 
Bank of Baltimore and his time, talents and 
capital were largely gi\en to the improve- 
ment of the city through the establishment 
of manufacturing concerns and in many 
other ways. In politics he was never bitter- 
ly partisan, nor did he at any time seek pub- 
lic office. He made his own way in life and 
his business capability and enterprise have 
l)rought to him creditaWe prosperity. Elis 
lalj<irs, too, were of a character that resulted 
largely in the' prosperity and upkiilding of 
the city, for he was active in bringing int" 
Baltimore various manufacturing plants, 
which contributed to the con.mercial acti\i- 



^HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ty. He was a member of the board of 
trade of Baltimore and also of the board of 
associated charities and he gave freely and 
generously Ixit unostentatiusly, his bene- 
factions many times being known only to* 
himself and the recipient. He was a gentle- 
man of strong, .robust manhood and re- 
mained an active factor in business circles 
until about ten years prior to his death, 
when he retired from active life. He was 
an earnest and helpful member oi the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church and a man of do^ 
n^estic habits. He lived a very useful life, 
gathered around him^ a close circle of friends 
and business associates, who' honored and 
respected him for his genuine worth. His 
wife bore the maiden name of Elizabeth 
Raine and was born in Maryland, of Eng- 
lish parentage, the year of her birth being 
1827. Her parents were natives of Man- 
chester, England. Unto ]\Ir. and Mrs. Co- 
penhaver were born six children: Susan, 
who' became the wife oi John Nicholson, 
and died in Baltimore at the age of forty- 
eight years, leaving one son, Fred; John, a 
farn:er of northern Alaryland, who has a 
family oif three children ; Emma, the wife 
of Tilman Shafer, of Kenned\wille, Mary-* 
land, b}' whom she has two daughters ; Eliza- 
beth, the wife of E. Frank Dodson, an em- 
ploye of the Pennsyhania Railroad Com- 
pany, 'by whom she has two sons and one 
daughter ; Carrie, who is at home with her 
mother; and William E., of this review. 
The children of this family were provided 
with excellent school privileges and Emma 
received the first premium, a gold medal, 
of the Pea'body 'Institute. She jfollowed 
tcacliing for some tin:e, as did Susan, who' is 
now deceased. TSlie mother still resides at 
the old hon-ie place in Baltimore. With 
the exception c^f our subject and one sister. 



the representatives of the family have al- 
ways made Baltimore or the state of Mary- 
land their home. Mrs. Dodson, however, is 
a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

At the usual age William E. Copenhaver 
entered the public schools of Baltimore and 
was graduated in 1882. He afterward pur- 
sued a course in mechanical drawing at the 
Maryland Institute and he began learning 
the machinist's trade with the firm of Poole 
& Hunt, of Baltimore. He then completed 
his course in mechanical training at the 
Maryland Institute, one of the oldest educa- 
tional institutes of the state. While learn- 
ing his trade he lived at home and for four 
years continued in the employ of Poole & 
Hunt. In 1886 he came to Spring-field, 
Ohio, and found employment in the tool 
room of Whiteley. Fassler & Kelly Com- 
pany. He remained with that house until 
they closed their business and then entered 
the experimental department of the P. P. 
]\Iast Compan\-'s foundry, but remained 
there only a short lime, after which he went 
to Qliicagoi and accepted the position of fore- 
man with the Aern-.otor Company, with 
\\-hich he remained for three years. On the 
expiration of that period he returned to 
Springfield and here took charge, in 1893, 
of some of the business interests of the 
Foos Manufacturing Company, as assistant 
superintendent. In 1900 he was promoted 
to the superintendency and noiw has entire 
charge of the manufacturing department. 
He is a practical mechanical engineer and 
has largely assisted in the advancement and 
improvement of the manuifacturing depart- 
ment of the house with which he is still con- 
nected. His business success is the result 
of his own merit and he enjoys in an envia- 
ble desrree the confidence of those whom he 



372 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Air. Cojienhaver was married in Spring- 
field, in 1888, to Miss Maude Smith, who 
was born in 1870, and is a daughter of 
Willard Smith, who is now an employe of 
the Foos Manufacturing Company. She 
is the tliird in a family of three children, the 
others being: Airs. Charles Schindler, and 
Charles W'., of Springfield. Tlie father, 
who has been a resident of this city for many 
years, now makes his home on Alason street. 
Mrs. Copenhaver is a graduate of the high 
school, and is a lady of culture and refine- 
ment, who has nmny friends here. Unto 
our subject and his wife have been born 
three children : Henry Callis, born Janu- 
ary 3, 1890; Elizabeth Steele, March 25, 
J 893; and Maude APiriam, Alay 10, 1900. 

Air. Copenhaver purchased a lot and 
erected his present home at Xo. 607 East 
High street. It is a modern structure, beau- 
tifully furnished, and is noted for its gra- 
cious hospitality. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Fifth Lutheran church in Spring- 
field, and he is now secretary of the church 
board of trustees. Former!}- he was identi- 
fied with the Sunday school as its superin- 
tendent. He has never had any iK>litical 
aspirations, but in April, 1902, was appoint- 
ed a member of the police and fire board to 
fill out an unexpired term, and was then re- 
appointed for the ensuing two years. He 
is now serving with merit and ability, de- 
voting his best thought and energy to the 
affairs brought before him in his official ca- 
pacity and serving on important committees. 
In Baltimore, Alaryland, when twenty-one 
years of age, he was made a Alason, and he 
now belongs to Doric Lodge, Xo. 124, F. 
& .\. AI.. of Baltim.ore; Springfield Chapter, 
Xo. 48, R. A. AL, of which he is past high 
priest; Springfield Council, Xo. 17, R. & 
S. M. : and Palestine Commandery. Xo. 33, 



K. T., in which he is a past eminent com- 
m.ander. He likewise belongs to the board 
of trade, in which he was formerly very ac- 
tive. In business affairs pertaining to the 
welfare of the city he takes a deqj interest, 
supporting the various mo\ements intended 
to promote the commercial and industrial 
prosperity here. He is conservative in his 
dealings and has followed safe ix>licies that 
have won him strong comn:endation and 
confidence. 

A man of domestic tastes, he has gath- 
ered about him a large circle of friends 
during the sixteen years of his residence in 
Springfield. Tliose who are daily associatetl 
with him are numbered among his m.ost stal- 
wart friends, and this fact indicates that his 
life record is an honorable one and that his 
historv will bear the closest investigation. 



jAAiES ^^■. LUDLO^^^ 

James W. Ludlow is a carpet weaver of 
Springfield, living on the Dayton pike and 
Pleasant street. He was lx)rn in this city 
July 19, 1832, and in the paternal line comes 
of Scotch ancestry. His parents were 
Cooper and Elizabeth (Layton) Ludlow. 
The father was born in Kentucky at a place 
called Ludlow and the mother's birth oc- 
curred in Alad River township, this county. 
Air. Ludlow was a butcher and tanner by 
trade and came to Spring-fielil in early pioneer 
days. He owned property on Alain street, 
at the corner of Factory street, and was 
an enterprising and progressive business man 
here in early times. His death occurred in 
January, 1833, and his widow always re- 
mained true to his memory, never marr\-ing 
again. Their children were William. Jason, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



373 



George, Joseph, Catherine, Abraham, Cor- 
neliiis. Alary Jane and James Watts, and tlie 
family is noted for longevity. 

James \N . Ludlow remained at home un- 
til t\vent}'-one years of age, when he beg-an 
to learn the trade of molding iron and brass. 
He thoroughly mastered the business in all 
its details and followed that occupation for 
forty-five years but is now a carpet weaver. 
He now has quite a large trade and his 
excellent workmanship secures him a con- 
tinuous patronage of the people who once 
come to him. In early life he went south to 
Alexico, where he was paid a dollar per 
hour for his services, being employed as a 
bell maker and chime builder. There he 
continued for a year. At different times he 
has worked in Philadelphia, Baltimore and 
in Xew Jerseys and while in the first named 
city he was superintendent of a brass foun- 
dry. He still has a standing offer of a good 
position in a brass foundry of Philadelphia 
but he prefers to make Springfield his home. 

On the 1st of July, 1854, Mr. Ludlow 
married Miss Eliza Metzger, a daughter of 
Gerbert Metzger. She died in 1866, leaving 
one child, Charles Henry, who was born in 
1855, and is living in this city. Li 1871 Mr. 
Ludlow was again joined in wedlock, to 
Alargaret Ann Mead, a daughter of Alfred 
Alead, and they have three children : Ger- 
trude, the wife of William Hulsizer, an en- 
gineer, by whom she has one child, George 
Ludlow ; Thomas Edgar, who is a press- 
feeder and is living at honie; and William 
Oscar, who is also employed in the same 
pursuit. 

When the country was in\-olved in civil 
war James W. Ludlow offered his aid to the 
government in May, 1863, enlisting in Com- 
pany E, One Hundred and Sixtieth Volun- 
teer Infantrv. and was mustered in at Cum^ 



berland Gap, Tennessee, where he partici- 
pated in skirmishes. He was present at the 
siege of Vicksburg and saw the surrender 
of the city, after which with his command 
he proceeded down the river tO' Xew Or- 
leans and then up the Rio Grande, following 
General Kirby Smith. He was in the south- 
west at the time the war ended, and, though 
he had been a faithful follower of the old 
flag, he gladly received the news which said 
that the Union was preserved and that the 
soldiers might return home. He has trav- 
eled quite extensively over this country, 
gaining much knowledge of the land and its 
people. Socially he is identified with the 
Masonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge 
in Lancaster, Ohio. He is also a member of 
the Odd Fellows society. His first presi- 
dential vote was cast for Fillmore, which, he 
says, has been a matter of regret ever since. 
He afterward voted for Abraham Lincoln, 
and from 1861 down to the present he has 
never wavered in his allegiance to the Re- 
publican party. 



FLAVIUS J. BH^D. 



Flavins J. Bird, an extensive farmer and 
stock-raiser, as well as a highly honored and 
respected citizen of Green township, Clark 
county, Ohioi, was born in Springfield town- 
ship, four miles east of Springfield, January' 
19, 1844, and is a son of Herbert and Cather- 
ine (Tuttle) Bird. The father was bom in 
Rockingham county, Virginia, and was a 
)-onng man when he came with his parents 
to Clark county. The maternal grandfather 
of the subject of this review was Caleb Tut- 
tle. Being one of the pioneer settlers of 
Clark county, he was the owner of a large 
tract of land and was an extensive cattle 



374 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



dealer, making a great success of that busi- 
ness and acquiring a great deal of mone>' 
thereby. He was an active and aiergetic 
man and his extensive individual interests 
did not prevent him from taJ-cing a deep inter- 
est in the growth and developmait of his 
cumnnuiity. He therefore l>ecame one of 
Clark county's valued representative citizens, 
contributing an important share in the pros- 
perity of the county and township in which 
he resided. He lived to the advanced age of 
eighty-one or two years and died in Clark 
county, where his loss was regretted by many 
friends. 

Herbert Bird, the father of our subject, 
became the owner of about two hundred 
acres of land, w hich he developed into a rich 
farm. To this home he brought his wife 
and they l)ecame the parents of six children, 
of whom the subject of this revie^v is the 
second in order of birth. Rollin, the eldest, 
is unmarried and resides in Clark county. 
He served for three and one-half years as 
a member of Company 1, Forty-fourth Ohio 
Volunteer Infantry, and later in the Enghth 
Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Flavins J. is the 
next younger. Mary became the wife of 
Thomas Roger, and made her liome in Clin- 
ton. Iowa, where she died, leaving four chil- 
dren. Jennie, also deceased, becaine the 
wife of Lewis Layboiu-n, and lived in Clark 
county, where she died, leaving one child. 
IMary. Luke died in Clark county, leaving 
two children. Martha was the wife of 
George OIney and passed away in Clark 
county at the home of her mother. 

Flavins J. Bird passed the days of his 
childhood in a happy, uneventful way upon 
the home fami, assisting liis father in the 
work of field and meadow during the sum- 
mer months and in the winter he attended the 
ci:)mmon schools of the district, receiving a 



fair education, thus fitting him for life's 
practical duties. At the age of nineteen, he 
could not endure to reir.ain inactive when his 
country needed the services of the brave and 
true in quelling the rebellion of the south. 
He therefore, in 1864, enlisted in Company 
K, of the One Hundred and Fifty-second 
Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private, and 
was in service about four months. The first 
occasion of his being tuider fire was at Brier 
Gap, West Virginia. He was also eiigaged 
in many skinuishes, as in conducting a 
wagon train they were attacked almost e\er\-' 
day by bushwhackers. He assisted in head- 
ing ofif Johnston's and McCauslin's armies, 
who had burned Chambersburg and were on 
their way to take Cumberland. This was 
the most important engagement in which he 
participated. On his return home he en- 
gaged in teaching school for two years. He 
then went to Bates county. Missouri, where 
he purchased a farm of two hundred and 
twenty acres. With characteristic energy he 
began its in.pnnen.ent and cultivation. Af- 
ter he had the farm in excellent condition, 
he returned to Clark cotmty, Obio. 

At this time, on Febrttary g, 1870. an 
important event in the life histoiy of Mr. 
Bird occurred, the occasion Ijeing his mar- 
riage to Miss Margaret Snodgrass, of Day- 
ton, Ohio. She was born in Kosciusko 
county. Indiana, November 26, 1844. and is 
a daughter of William and Sarah ( Edgar ) 
Snodgrass. Her father and mother were 
both natives of Clark county, Ohio, where 
they were reared and married. From there 
they removed to Indiana, where the father 
died two months liefore the birth of Mrs. 
Bird. When she was about seven years oi' 
age her mother returned to Springfield, 
Ohio, where she made her home until she 
received the appointment of matron to the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



375 



Children's Home in Dayton, Ohio. She was 
fining- this position at the time of the mar- 
riage of her (laug'hter with Mr. Bird. 

The latter took his Ijride to his farm in 
]\lisosuri, where the)- made their home for 
four years. Mr. Bird then rented his fann 
and returned to Clark count}-, Ohio>, rent- 
ing land there and remaining in that place 
for ten years, carrying on general farming 
and stock-raising. He then returned to Mis- 
souri, where he rei-nained for five years, when 
he sold his farming interests there and re- 
mjoved with his family to Coloirado, settling 
in Arapahoe count)-, in the eastern part. 
Here he entered land from the government 
and conducted thereon a stock ranch, in 
which business he was successfully and ex- 
tensively engaged for eight years. He still 
owns three quarter sections of land in Colo- 
rado. In 1894 Mr. Bird returned to Ohio-, 
renting for a time and then purchasing the 
farm in Green township, consisting o-f se\'en- 
ty-five and owe-half acres, upon which he 
makes his hcxme at the present time. 

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Bird has 
been graced with four children, namely : 
Harry, who was born in Bates comity, ]\Iis- 
souri. February 8. 187 1, and died in Clark 
county, Ohio, at the age of six years ; Delia 
C. who was born in Clark county. April 2Tf, 
1875. and married George Haines, by whom 
she has one child, Howard, l3orn in Greene 
county. Ohio, their home being in that 
county; William, born in Clark county, 
Ohio. August 20, 1878: and Fred H.. also* 
born in Clark county, July u, 1881. 

Mr. Bird has taken an active part in the 
progress and improvement of his township, 
and every measure intended to^ prove of pub- 
lic benefit is strongly advocated by him. A 
firm l>eliever in the principles of the Republi- 
can party, he cast his first ballot fur General 



U. Si. Grant in 1808 and has since adhered 
to the party, doing all in bis power to pro- 
mote its siiccess, although net an oftice 
seeker in any sense of the word. For one 
year he ser\'ed as justice of the peace and 
had occasion to try many cases, which he 
did with exceeding fairness, showing favor 
to none. He tried one case in which his 
friends thought his life would be the forfeit 
should he render an honest verdict, but so 
far was he from being intimidated that he 
not only rendered a verdict on the side of 
justice and right, but he won many friends 
by so doing. So popular was he and his 
decisions were considered so' just that only 
one case was tried by a jury, over which he 
had supen'ision. His opinions were always 
considered wise and just and no case which 
be tried was ever appealed. Both be and his 
wife have long been earnest Christians and 
acceptable members of the Baptist church, 
he since the age oi seventeen, his wife since 
the age of eighteen. He was superintendent 
Off the Sunday-school both in Missoiu'i and 
Colorado and also of a mission in Clark 
count}', and has always taken a deep inter- 
est and an important part in such work. A 
n-ian of good business judgment, and of high 
personal character upon which there is no 
blemish, always desiring the welfare of his 
community, he is as loyal to-day to his duties 
of citizenship, as when he wore the blue 
upon southern battle-fields and fought for the 
starry banner, emblematic of the land he 
loved so well. 



JOHX LEUTY. 



John Lent}-, deceased, was one of Spring- 
field's best known citizens and for many 
years was engaged in the n:eat business here. 



376 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



His comiv.ercial interests brought him into 
contact with a large mnnber of residents of 
the city and of Clark coimty and by all he 
was held in high esteem on accoiint of his 
genuine worth of character, his relial>ility 
and the enterprise which he manifested in 
working- his way upward from a hunihle 
financial condition to the position of afllu- 
ence which he occupied. 

He was born Xo\ember 9, 1808, in Mnr- 
ton Cum Cirafton. Yorkshire, England. 
There he learned the butcher's trade. Prior 
to his departure for America he was united 
in wedlock at Masham in Yorkshire, .\pril 
14. i8^:;_'. tn Miss Mary Anderson. Tliey 
became the parents nf one son, now deceased. 
After the death ni the wife Mr. Lenty was 
again married ^n the 7th nf January. 1839, 
his second union being widi Miss Sarah 
Grant. 

Soon after his first m.arriage, ho\ve\er. 
Mr. Leuty crossed the "briny deep" to the 
new world, accompanied by his bride. He 
spent one night in Springfield on his way to 
Dayton and in the latter city he worked at his 
trade until March, 1833, when he returne<l 
to this city and entered the employ of Will- 
iam Middlebrook. .Siibsequently he became 
a partner of William Grant, whose sister he 
afterward married. This partnership was 
maintained for a quarter of a century and 
their first place of business was a stall in the 
old n.arket lunise which was located near 
where the Black opera house now stands. 
There they ci>ntinued until the new market 
house was opened at Fountain Square. Later 
Mr. Leuty conducted his ir.arket on West 
JNIain street near Center street and it was 
afterward removed west on the same street 
to a point 1)etween Factory and Mechanic 
streets, where he carried on business until he 
purchase<l property on Sciutb l*"(>untain ave- 



nue, where his sons are still engaged in trade. 
After dissolving his ]>artnership with Mr. 
Grant he conducted the business alone for a 
time and as his boys reached years of ma- 
turity they Avere admitted to an interest in 
the business. ^Mr. Leuty was a self-made 
man in every sense of the word, for he start- 
ed upon his business career empty handed. 
He built up a fine trade which brought him 
prosperity and he also enjoyed the unquali- 
fied confidence of his fellow men because he 
was always square in his dealings. 

Unto John and Sarah (Grant) Leuty 
were born ten childrai, but Henrj' and James 
Lewis are now the onlv survivors. Am.ong 
those who ha\e passed away were George, 
who belonged to the "s(|uirrel hunters," an 
iwganization that was forme<_l at the time 
w hen Morgan niade his raid into Ohio : 
William Houseman ; Sarah Jane, the wife 
of Samuel Kilpatrick; and Albert Livings- 
ton. John, the son by the first marriage, \\ as 
a member of Captain Sparks' company of 
the Forty-fifth Ohio X'olunteer Infantry dur- 
ing the Ci\il war. Mrs. Leuty was born 
in 1823 and sur\ived her husband for five 
years, passing away in 1893 — '^'^ death had 
occurred in 1888 — and she was laid by his 
side in Ferncliff cemetery. 

John Leuty was a member of F.phraim 
Lo<!ge. Xo. 146, I. O. O. F., and he and his 
wife l>elonged to the Alethodisl church of 
this city. He supported the Republican 
]iarty and was a strong temperance man. 
His aid and co-operation were never asked 
in vain in behalf of any movement calculated 
to prove of general benefit. He gave accord- 
ing to his means ami was a citizen of worth 
to the community. .\11 who knew him re- 
spected him for bis upright and honorable 
life and the fannly name has ever been an 
hi 'Uorcd ( me in trade circles. Since the death 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of the father the business has beeiv conducted 
by his sons under the firm name of J. Leuty's 
Sons. The partners are the only twoi sur- 
viving children of the family, Henry and 
James L. The business is now an, extensive 
oaie and their products are shipped to Cin- 
cinnati and other cities by the carload. The 
family name has ever been a syno-nym for 
honorable dealing, for promptness, aiergy 
and dispatch in business affairs and the part- 
ners both enjoy the regard and confidence of. 
their fellow men. 

Henry Leuty, the fourth child in order 
of birth, was born February i, 1845, ^.nd 
acquired his literary education in the city 
schools of Springfield and afterward learned 
the butcher's trade under his father. He 
mjarried Miss Mary iE. Schulte, a native of 
this city and a daughter of Arnold and Mar- 
garet Elizabeth (Hartman) Schulte. Her 
father was born in Holland, while the moth- 
er was a native of Hanover, Germany, and 
they were married "before coming to Amer- 
ica. By trade Mr. Schulte was a shoe- 
maker and after locating in Springfield 
in the early '30s he opened a shop 
which he conducted for many years. As 
he prospered in his undertakings he pur- 
chased property here antl built a fine brick 
home at No. 127 ^Vest North street in which 
Henry Leuty and his wife now reside. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. Schulte were members of St. 
John's Evangelical Lutheran church. In 
1862 he responded to the call for aid tO' pre- 
serve the Union and became a lieutenant of 
the Forty-fourth Ohio Infantr_\-. The regi- 
ment left Springfield for Cincinnati, where 
they embarked. While going aboard the 
vessel, ho^ve\^er, Mr. Schulte fell off the 
gang-plank and was droAvned. About ten 
days later his both- was reco\-ered and was 
laid to. rest in Greeiiniuunt cemeterv, where 



the remains of his wife were also interred at 
her death in 1883. They were the parents of 
twelve children of whom Mrs. Leuty is now 
the only surxiving member. By lier mar- 
riage she has become the mother of fo-ur chil- 
dren: Harry, who was a musical director 
residing in Chicago, Illinois, where he died 
August 5, 1902; Maude E., the wife of W. 
L. McClellan, who is a clerk in the postoffice 
of Springfield and by whom she has two 
sons, John L. and an infant; Mabel and 
John, both deceased. In his political \-iews 
Henry Leuty is a Republican and for three 
years he served as assistant chief of police of 
Springfield. He is a worthy representative 
of an bonoredi pioneer family, true to the 
traditions of his race concerning honesty and 
indefatigable industry. 



PATRICK J. AGNEW. 

Engaged in the pleasing and tlelightful, 
activity of cultivating flowers and plants, 
Patrick J. Agnew is a well known florist of 
Springfield, where he has resided since 1881. 
He was born in County Cavan, Ireland, in 
1858, a son of Thomas Agnew, who is a 
fanner by occupation and is still living in the 
Emerald Isle, at the age of seventy-five 
years. His wife, who bore the maidai name 
of Ann Carroll, is also living there at the 
age of sixty-five years. The}- were the 
parents of six sons and three daughters, all 
of whoan reached the }-ears of maturity, but 
Jamies died in England in 1897. The others 
are: Patrick J.: Thomas, who' is employed 
with the Dayton Gas Company, of Dayton, 
Ohio; Mary, who is living in Australia: Eu- 
g-ene. who' is employed by the Bicx-cle Ciiain 
Company, of Indianapolis, Indiana; John, 



378 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



who is engaged in the liquor business in In- 
dianaix)Iis; Rose, a resident of Springfield : 
Bridget, who makes her home in Indianapo- 
lis; and Michael, who lives upon the home 
fami with his father. In the year 1881 John, 
Thomas and Patrick left home and came di- 
rect to Springfield, Ohio. Up to that time 
all of the children had remained uiion the 
home place. 

Like the other members of the family 
Patrick J. Agnew pursued his education in 
the public schools. From early life he has 
been connected with the cultivation of flow- 
ers and i)lants, having early been employed 
by private parties to take care of their plants 
and gardens. Thus he has worked his way 
upward, gaining a comprehensive knowledge 
of the business which he now follows. In 
1875. in Ireland, he became connected with 
the occupation. In Springfield he found em- 
ployment with McGregor Brothers with 
whom he remained for three years and in 
this way he became educated in tlie work in 
this country. At various times he has been 
employetl in different capacities, thus gain- 
ing a con^prehensiove knowledge of the 
business. Going to London. Ohio, he em- 
liarked in vegetable and truck gardening 
with a iiartner but after one year he returned 
to Springfield and began business on a small 
scale on his own account on Grand avenue. 
He built a house upon his land and as his 
trade increased he gradually added to his 
buildings. In 1893 he purchased four and 
one-half acres of land just outside the city 
limits and erected his present residaice 
there. He has built up a good retail trade 
and carries on a general florist business, al- 
though he makes a specialty of bedding 
plants, having a stand in the Market House, 
where he serves his customers. He is now 
extending his efforts to the wholesale trade, 



raising about fifty thousand rose plants from 
slips annually. He also deals with home 
florists, for he believes in patronizing hoine 
industries. He gives his personal attention 
to the business, acting as salesman, at the 
same time superintending the cultivation of 
his plants. 

In Springfield, in August, 1886. Mr. Ag- 
new was united in marriage to Mary 
O'Xeill. who was born in Columbus. Ohio, 
and they have six children living, while two 
died in infancy. Those who still survive 
are: Mary, Catherine. Agnes, Paul. Walter 
and Vincent. 

In politics ^Ir. Agnew is a Democrat, 
but would ne\'er accept public office. He 
has given his personal attention to the busi- 
ness which he has now established on a pay- 
ing basis. Fraternally he is connected with 
the Knights of Columbus, and is a member 
of St. Raphael's church and gives gener- 
ously to church and charitable work, and he 
co-oi>erates in every movement calculated to 
l)r(:mcte the city's upbuilding and welfare. 



T. M. KXOTK. 



J. M. Knote has served as a mem- 
ber of the city coiuicil of Springfield and is 
well known in business circles here, being 
the oldest clothing merchant in the city. His 
present store is locat.ed at Xo. 1.1 East Main 
street. He was born near Brookville, 
Franklin county, Indiana. August 22. 1846, 
his parents l>eing Samuel and Margaret 
(Swartzbaugh) Knote. The father was a 
miller by trade and aliout the time of the 
discovery of gold in California he went by 
way of the Isthmus of Pananvi to seek his 
fortune in the mines. For a time he pros- 




J. M. KNOTE. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



pered but his liealtli failed and lie returned 
home. He lived for about a year thereafter 
and at his death left a wife and four chil- 
dren, the subject of this review being the 
third in order of birth. The family then came 
to Clark county, where Mrs. Knote con- 
tinued to make her home until April, 1900, 
when she ren»\-ed to Wheeling, West Vir- 
ginia, taking up her residence with her 
daughter. Miss A. C. Knote. There she died 
at the advanced age of ninety-one years. 

As soon as our subject was old enough 
to earn his own living he began working 
out, receiving his board for his services. He 
was thus emplos-ed in his early youth and 
his educational privileges were therefore 
limited prior to the time that he attained 
his fourteenth year. He then came to 
Springfield, April 3, i860, and here worked 
during the summer months, while during the 
winter season he attended school for two or 
three years. At the age oi fifteen he secured 
a position in Ra'bbitts woolen mills and af- 
terward in the Champion shops, remaining 
in the latter service for albout a year. He 
then began clerking in a clothing store, 
when about eighteen years O'f age, and con- 
tinued to serve in that capacity for nine 
years. He was in the employ of a 
Mr. Franklin for eight years and on the 
expiration oif that period accepted a position 
offered him by I. P. Strauss & Brother. 
When a year had passed he decided to enter 
business life for himself. His employer did 
not desire to lose his services, however, and 
offered him a fi au-th interest in the business. 
A few years later he becan:e interested in 
another stock of goods in connection with 
Mr. Kaufman and afterward he purchased 
Mr. Kaufman's part of the business and has 
since been alone. He has built up a good 
trade, liaving now a liberal patronage which 



returns to-him an excellent incom.e. He car- 
ries a large ;ind well selected stock of cloth- 
ing and men's furnishings and is to-day ac- 
counted one of the reliable and trustworthy 
merchants of the city. As his financial re- 
sources have increased he has invested in 
real estate in Springfield and has both made 
and lost money in this way. His biisiness 
career, however, taken altogether has been 
a prosperous one, in which he has attained 
a creditable place on the plane of afliuence. 

On the I2th of June, 1878 in Springfield, 
Mr. Knote married Miss Lillie McBride, a 
daughter of Jacob and Matilda (Arbogast) 
McBride. They have three children : Ro- 
setta, who was graduated from Wittenberg 
College with the class oi 1900; and John 
M. and Theodore ^^'.. who are now students 
in that institution. 

The Democracy recei\-es the political 
support of Mr. Knote where questions of 
state and national importance are involved. 
However, he was twice elected on an inde- 
pendent ticket to the office of city alderman 
and ser\-ed for four years, beginning in 
1876. During that time he was chairman 
of the police committee and was in the coun- 
cil when the water works were instituted. 
He assisted in organizing the first militia 
company of Springfield after the close of 
the Civil war and being called out during 
the great railroad strike in 1877 it received 
special mention for meritorious serA'ice by 
Go\-ernor Young in his m.essage to the legis- 
lature. 

)ilr. Knote belongs to the First Lutheran 
church of Springfield, in which he is serv- 
ing as an officer, and he has membership 
relations with the Masonic fraternity and 
Ephraim Lodge, No. 146, L O. O. F., in 
which he has taken the encampment degree 
and filled all of the chairs of the subordinate 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lodge. He is a ir.entber of the Order of the 
Red Cross, has filled all of the chairs and has 
been a representative to the supreme lodge. 
He likewise belongs to the Indqiendent Or- 
der of Red Cross, in which he has l)een su- 
preme commander and has se\'eral times rep- 
resented the local organization in the grand 
lodge. Such has been the life history of one 
of Springfield's citizens, who manifests a 
con mendable interest in everything per- 
taining to the material, social, intellectual 
and moral welfare of his communitv. 



HEXRY ERTER. 



Henry Erter, who since 1878 has been 
a resident of Springfield and has been en- 
gaged in the livery business liere since 1885, 
was born in ^^loorefield township, Clark 
county, Ohio, August 20, 1845. H'is pa- 
ternal grandfather, John Erter, Sr., came to 
this county in 183 1 and purchased land in 
Aloorefield township. Here he carried on 
agricultural pursuits, but subsequently he 
removed to Logan count}-, Ohio, where both 
he and his wife died. John Erter, the father 
of our subject, was born in 182 1, was reared 
ami educated in tiiis ciamty and died upon 
his fann here in 187^). Me married Nancy 
Grube, who is still living in Champaign 
county, at the age of eighty-five years, mak- 
ing her home with her daughter. She was 
born in Pennsyhania and is of German 
lineage. Her husband was one of four chil- 
dren, of whom one is living, W^illiam, who 
is retired in Logan county, Ohio. Mrs. Er- 
ter has one brother, who resides at St. Paris 
and is named Simon Grube. Unto the par- 
ents of our subject were born seven children, 
of whom four sons and a daughter are yet 
living. One son, John, and a daughter, 



Elizabeth, died in this county after reach- 
ing maturity. Those still living are: 
Amanda, the wife of John H. Aerr, of 
Champaign county, Ohio ; Henry, of this re- 
view ; David, who is traveling inspector of 
road rollers for the O. S. Kelly Company 
and resides in Springfield ; Frank, who is 
living on the home farm; and Charles, a 
farmer of A\'ashington, who has been an ex- 
tensive traveler throughout the west. All 
of the children were educated in the com- 
mon schools of Gark county and weie 
reared to manhood upon the home farm. 

I-Ienry Erter, whose name introduces this 
record, became a student in the district 
schools of Moorefield township, which he at- 
tended through the winter months, while in 
the summer seasons he assisted in the work 
of field and meadow, continuing in the work 
of the home farm until 1871. At that time 
he was married and rented land in Moore- 
field township, where he carried on agricul- 
tural pursuits on his own account until he 
came to Springfield in 1878. He conducted 
a milk dair}- in this city for three years prior 
to the time when he took up his abode here. 
For some time he continued as a general 
stock and dairy farmer and in this business 
met with a fair degree of success. After 
locating in Springfield he turned his atten- 
tion to the business of manufacturing crack- 
ers, and in 1885 he established his livery 
stable, whicli he started with an entirely new 
stock. He began business on \\'est High 
street, where he remained for nearly three 
years, when, in order to meet the growing 
tieniands of his trade, he removed to his 
present location in 1887, and remained there 
until 1893, when he removed tn the opposite 
side of the street on account of the better 
facilities at No. 22 North Limestone. In 
1901. when Captain A. M. Winger erected 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tlie fine modern Ywtry stable at 19 and 21 
Xorth I-iniestone street he returned to that 
location, where he now has one of the most 
complete and best arranged barns in the city. 
Air. Erter keeps good horses and a fine line 
of vehicles, catering to the best trade of 
Springfield, and he has met with most ex- 
cellent success in this line of business. He 
was also one of the organizers of the Ridge- 
ly Paper Trimmer Company and is a director 
and treasurer of the same. 

In i87i'3\Ir. Erter was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Marietta Cartmell, who was 
born in Pleasant township in 1852 and is a 
daughter of N. M. Cartmell, one of the pio- 
neer settlers of this county and a represen- 
tative farmer of Pleasant township. Unto 
I\Ir. and Airs. Erter have been born two 
children: Bertha, born in September, 1877, 
in Aloorefield toAvnship, is now the wife of 
S. A. Dunbar, of Columbus, Ohio. Mari- 
etta, born in 1882, is a graduate of the Wit- 
tenberg College. The parents hold member- 
ship in the Alethodist Episcopal church and 
Air. Erter is a member of Red Star Lodge, 
K. P. He also belongs to Springfield Lodge 
and the Encampment of the Indepaident 
Order of Odd Fellows, to the Commercal 
Club and to the Board of Trade, while his 
political support is given the ReiDublican 
party. He is a self-educated as well as a 
self-made man and a worthy representative 
of an honored pioneer family. His pleas- 
ant residence is at Xo. 401 Xorth Limestone 
street. 



HAAIILTOX \\'ADE. 

Hamilton Wade, a native of Clark coun- 
ty, since arriving at years of maturity has 
been closely associated with the industrial 



and agricultural development of the same. 
He is to-day engaged in farming and stock- 
raising. He was born in Clark county, Jan- 
uary 20, 1828, and is a son of John and 
Mary (Butterfield) Wade, both of whom 
were born near Chester, Virginia, and were 
there reared and married, removing to Clark 
county, Ohio, several years before the birth 
of Hamilton. The father followed farm- 
ing, having one hundred and sixteen acres 
of land in Clark county. He died when our 
subject was but five years of age, and the 
mother passed away when he had reached 
the age of thirteen or fourteen. He was thus 
early left an orphan, with life's intricate 
problems to solve for himself. In the fa- 
ther's family were seven children, but the 
youngest died in infancy ; Mary A. married 
Jackson Allen, and moved to Iowa, living 
near Mount Pleasant, but is now deceased; 
Isaac married and removed to Greene coun- 
ty, Missouri, where he died ; Thomas resides 
near Cedarville, Ohio; John died near La- 
fayette, Indiana ; Joshua died in Indiana ; 
and our subject is the voungest of the fam- 
ily. 

The subject of this review, after his 
mother's death, worked upon a farm, earn- 
ing a livelihood for himself as best he could. 
At first his salary was four dollars per month 
and later eight dollars and thirty-three cents 
per month, which was the highest he received 
during his minority. However, as the }-ears 
passed by he grew familiar with the work 
of field and meadow, and as he had early 
learned habits of industry, economy and 
frugality these stood him in good stead in 
later life and formed a good capital on which 
to build his fortunes. 

In Clark county, March 26, 1848, Mr. 
^^'ade was united in marriage to Miss Anna 
Eliza Wise, of this countv. For the next 



384 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



five >-«ars he rented land, on wliich he raised 
good crops and was able to save quite a little 
mone}'. He had started with the earthly 
possession of two horses, a dear wife and 
his own willing hands. At the expiration of 
five years he bought one hundred and three 
acres of land, on which he resided for about 
a year. He next removed near his present 
location and rented over four hundred and 
forty acres, where he engaged in the rais- 
ing, buying and selling of sheqx In this he 
was very successful. Here he remained for 
two years, when he rented his present place, 
which at the expiration of two years he pur- 
chased. He now owns one hundred and 
fifty-four acres of rich and highly cultivated 
land in Madison township, his present place 
of residence, with his postoffice address at 
South Charleston. 

The marriage of ]\lr. and Mrs. Wade 
was blessed with six children : Jane, who 
is at home; Emma, who died in early wo- 
manhood : Lucy, n^w deceased, who be- 
came the wife of Sterling Sprague, and left 
one child, Charles Sprague, who married 
Katie McOuaidc, and has two children — 
Elden and Frank: Jesse D., who was born 
in Madison township, December 17, 1857; 
Charles, deceased : and Alice, at home. 

Mr. \^'ade may truly be called a self- 
made man and deserves all the praise that 
the term implies. Starting out in life for 
himself when nothing more than a child, 
having had limited educational privileges, 
through experience, reading and observation 
he has improved the natural faculties with 
which nature endowed him, has led an hon- 
orable, upright life and has achieved a very 
creditable degree of success. He has also 
taken an active part in the upbuilding of his 
community. He was bom in the'county at 
an carlv date in its historv and has witnessed 



its advancement to its present proud posi- 
tion as one of the leading counties of this 
great commonwealth. He was reared amid 
the scenes of frontier life and endured many 
of the hardships that fall to the lot of the 
pioneer. Throughout all of his career he has 
embodied the brave and courageous spirit 
of one who, brooking no obstacles, has 
gradually and steadily won his way to suc- 
cess, until he is to-day one of the honored 
and highly respected citizens of his com- 
munity. 

Mr. Wade is a Republican in his political 
views, although not an aspirant for ofiice, 
yet ever taking a deep interest in the growth 
of the party. As an agriculturist and stock- 
raiser of Clark county he stands as a repre- 
sentative citizen, whose sterling traits of 
character have won for him manv friends. 



THOMAS J. THOMAS. 

With a capital of five d'ljlars Thomas 
Johns Thomas arrived in .\irerica. To-day 
he is numbered among the men of Spring- 
field to whom industry and enterjirise have 
brought a comfortable competence. His 
birth occurred in Cornwall. England, Feb- 
ruary 17, 1849. Hi* father, William 
Thomas, who was born there in 18 18. was 
a farmer by occupation and died in his na- 
tive country in 1895. while his wife, who 
bore the maiden name of Catherine Johns, 
passed away at the age of sixty-eight years. 
In their family were two sons. Tliomas 
Johns and William. The latter is now a 
waiter in the hotel in Ilfracombe. England. 

Mr. Thomas, whose name introduces this 
review, attended the public schools until 
thirteen vcars of age, when he apprenticed 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



385 



himself to learn the hlacksmith"s trade and 
.ser\'ed for a term of five years, after which 
he worked for the same firm for two years. 
He was then married in 1868 to- Charlotte 
Rabe}'. who was born in England in 1851, 
and the same year Mr. Thomas sailed for 
Xew York, where for two years he was em- 
ployed. He then went to Lafayette and to 
Jersey City, Xew Jerse}-, where he remained 
for two years, later spending eighteen months 
in New London. Connecticut. He learned 
the trade of a practical horse-shoer, which 
lie followed at the various places mentioned, 
and subsequently removed to Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, where he li\ed for a year. 
\Miile there he was joined by his wife, who 
had been left in England while he was secur- 
ing a home for her in the new world. On 
Christmas Day (,f 1874 they arrived in 
Springfield and took up their permanent 
abode here. 

Mr. Thomas was yet a young man but 
was an expert workman and soon found em- 
ployment, remaining for six months in the 
service of \\'illiam Dickson, but desiring to 
engage in business on his own account he 
then entered into partnership with Messrs. 
Cathcart & Cassiley. They opened a shop 
back of the present office of the P. P. Mast 
Company and there remained for nineteen 
months, ^ir. Thomas being the practical 
workman of the firm. On the expiration of 
that period the partnership was disso-lved 
and ^Ir. Thomas then became a partner of 
John Kearns, on Market Square, this rela- 
tion being maintained from the fall of 1876 
until 1884. Mr. Thomas then sold out his 
interest and started in business for himself 
in the rear of the Square in 1878. He 
erected one of the model shops of the city 
and built up an extensive trade, which grew 
so rapidly that be increased the length of 



his building by an addition of twenty feet. 
He does nothing but practical horse shoeing, 
but his work is of such excellent grade that 
his patronage demands that he employ three 
workmen. He uses nothing but hand-made 
goods and utilizes about six thousand horse- 
shoes in his trade each year, giving especial 
attention to shoeing track horses. He is 
located at No. 22 Fisher street, where he has 
a modern and neat shop, supplied with 
all necessary equipments for carrying on his 
biisiness. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have been 
born eight childrai : Carrie, the wife of 
James Phillips, of Cornwall, England, was 
burn in England, was educated in this coun- 
tr and afterward returned to her native 
land, where she was married ; Hetty is the 
wife of John H. Shortan, of Newport, Ken- 
tucky; William, who engaged in the feed 
business on Clifton street in Springfield, 
married Bertha Ward, by whom he has one 
son, and they reside on Stanton avenue; 
Charles, who learned the horse-shoeing- busi- 
ness with his father and is now following 
that trade in Columbus, married Sarah Li- 
gram, of that city, and they have one son, 
Seth ; Catherine is at home ; Thomas is a 
pattern n^aker; Henry is a piano tuner; and 
Gertrude is yet in school. The parents hold 
membership in the Heavenly Rest Episcopal 
church, of which Mr. Thomas is one of the 
^•estrymen. He belongs to Cl'ark Lodge, F. 
& A. M. : Springfield Chapter. R. A. M. ; 
Springfield Council, R. & S. :\I. : Palestine 
Commandery, K. T. ; and Antioch Temple 
of the Mystic Shrine, of Dayton, having 
joined the Masons in 1879. He is also a 
member of the Bene^•olent & Protective 
Order of Elks. His political support is given 
the Republican party and its principles and 
for three years he represented the old fourth 



386 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ward of the city in the city council. He 
served on the committee on streets and 
highways and chairman of tlie committee on 
the police and fire department. At that time 
the various committees of the council super- 
intended the improvements made in the city 
and he was the prime mover in having 
Sheridan avenue opened up, thus furnish- 
ing an outlet to the manufacturing concerns 
of the east end. The market house was 
also built during his incumbency in the 
council and the first stone pavement w^as 
laid in the city. In all enterprises that have 
been established to promote the welfare of 
Springfield and its people Mr. Thomas has 
Ijeen found as an earnest and active worker. 
He purchased proi>erty at the corner of 
Kelly avenue and Summer street, where he 
built seven houses, his home being at No. 
129 Summer street. He has a natural talent 
for music and since 1889 has beai a mem- 
ber of the choir of the Heavenly Rest church, 
acting as a paid singer for eight years. He 
has taken vocal lessons, possessing a fine 
voice, and is a valued addition to musical 
circles of this citv. 



TURMAN NEFF. 



Turman XciY. who is a retired fanner 
and stock-raiser, but is now engaged ex- 
tensively in the practice of veterinary sur- 
gery and deserves the gratitude of agricul- 
tural classes and hor.semen for his discov- 
ery in relation to the cure of tetanus or 
locked jaw. makes his home in German 
township and is widely and favorably 
known throughout this portion of the state. 
He was born March 4. 1843. near his pres- 
ent farm, his parents lieing .Adam and Mar- 



garet (Turman) Xefif. His father was 
liorn in Shenandoah county, Virginia, De- 
cember 30, 1808, and was a son of Abram 
and Barbara (Weaver) Xeff, who on emi- 
grtting to Ohio located near Tranont, 
where Adam Nefif, Sr., became the owner of 
two farms. He was si.xty-two years of age 
at the time of his death and his wife passed 
away at the age of sixty, their remains be- 
ing interred on what is now the Emerson 
Gard farm. Thev had two sons and five 
daughters, and after the death of the par- 
ents the sons purchased the interests of tlie 
daughters in the two farms previously, 
owned by the grandfather. 

Adam Xefif, the father of Dr. Xeff, was 
about thirty years of age when his parents 
came to Ohio. He became the possessor of 
one of the farms which had been the proper- 
ty of his father and through many years car- 
ried on agricultural pursuits. He was mar- 
ried in March, 1841. in Clark county, to 
Margaret Turman, wlio was born February 
6, 1823. Two children were born to them 
and the mother died August 22, 1843. The 
father afterward married again, but there 
were no children by the second union. Mr. 
X'eff was an honorable, upright man and 
because he believed others were also, he 
trusteil friends by going security and thus 
lost much that he had saved, althovigh he 
still possessed a comfortable competence. 
In politics he was a Democrat and was a 
member c^f the Reformed church, in wliich 
he served as trustee. His death occurred 
February 8, 1885. when he had reached an 
advanced age. There were but two chil- 
dren in the family, the daughter being El- 
nora. the wife of Jacob ^Mitzel. a farmer 
of tliis locality. 

The mother of Dr. Xeff died when he 
was onlv five months old. He was reared. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



387 



Iiowever, upon the home farm after his fa- 
tli.er's second marriage, acquiring his edu- 
cation in the common schools and gaining 
mucli practical experience concerning farm 
work". \\'hen he was about twenty-one years 
of age lie married Miss Mlary Ann Shick, 
who was born in Bellefontaine, Ohio, a 
daughter of William and Catherine ( Shaw- 
fer ) Shick. Unto our subject and his wife 
ha\e been born the following children : W'ill- 
iani. a carpenter O'f Springfield, who married 
Allie Tho-mpsoai and has one child : Lottie, 
who Ijecame the wife of Henry Samsel and 
died at the age of twenty-five years ; Clinton 
F., of Springfield, who married Miss Ferree 
of Springfield, who married Miss Ferree 
and has two sons ; Harry, who wedded Sar- 
ah Owens and lives in German township ; 
Laura, Irvin, Glenna and Ida, all at home. 
At the time of his marriage Dr. Neff's 
father assisted him to buy the farm upon 
which he now lives. He has here fifty-two 
acres, on which he has made many excel- 
lent improvements, adding to the value and 
attractive appearance of the place. Ht also 
owns another farm of about thirty-five acres 
north iif Tremont. When he was thirty- 
five years of age he began reading works 
on veterinary surgery and as his knowl- 
of the subject broadened he commenced 
practicing. It was soon evident that his 
skill and ability ranked him with the most 
capable members of the profession in this 
liicality, and his patronage steadily grew 
until now it is very extensive. He has had 
remarkable success in the treatment of 
lockjaw, efifecting a cure in nearly every 
instance, and he is frequently called in his 
professional capacity to Springfield and sur- 
rounding towns. He has fifteen autograph 
letters and testimonials from those who have 
employed him in the treatment of this dread 



disease of the horse. One of these_reads 
as follows : 



"To J I' ham it May Concern: 

'"This is to certify that I saw at differ- 
ent times a horse belonging to Frank Wones, 
of New Moorefield, that was afflicted with 
a genuine case of tetanus or lockjaw. This 
horse was treated successfully by Dr. Nefif, 
of Tremont City, and is now doing service 
on an adjoining farm to mine. I believe if 
the owners of horses would inform them- 
selves of the first symptoms of this dreaded 
disease, Dr. Nefif could successfully treat a 
large per cent, of cases. This is the first 
case that ever came under my observation 
that recovered. We had had three cases on 
this farm, two we treated, but all died. 
"James Clark." 

Many other letters speak in equally fa- 
vorable terms of Dr. Nei¥'s ability in this 
direction afi'd his practice is constantly 
growing. He is well known in the county, 
where he has long made his home, as a re- 
liable, upright man. and has gained many 
friends who esteem him highly for his gen- 
uine worth. 



WMLLIAM HOLMES CRABILL. 

William Holmes Crabill is a retired 
farmer and stock-raiser now living in 
Springfield. He was born four miles 
northeast of the city, in Moorefield town- 
ship, upon the farm which he still owns — 
a tract of three hundred and fiftj^-four acres 
which his father entered from the govern- 
ment. David Crabill was a native oi Vir- 
ginia, born and reared near the Potomac 
river, and on lea\-ing the Old Dominion he 



388 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



made liis way westward to Ohio. He had 
been married in his native state and two of 
his cliildren were there born. He served 
as a soldier under General Wayne in the 
war of 1 812, holding the rank oi first ser- 
geant, and after his death our subject ob- 
tained the land warrant for his widow, which 
entitled her to an entire section of land be- 
cause he had l>een an olilicer. ^Irs. David 
Crabill bore the maiden name of Barbara 
Raer, and like her husband was a native of 
Virginia. His death occurred in 1839, 
when he was about fifty-seven years of age, 
and his wife passed awav in 1863. They 
were the parents of twelve children, eleven 
of whom reached years of maturty. Sarah 
1>ecome the wife of George Kiser and died 
in Champaign county, leaving four children. 
]\Iaria Ijecame the wife of Adam Yeazell. by 
whom she had seven children, and her 
death occurred in Champaign county. Illi- 
nois. John died at the age of sixteen years. 
Thomas married Sydney Yeazell, who died 
leaving a large family. David married Eli- 
za Hedges, by whom she ha done child, and 
died in Clark county. Tames and Joseph 
have also passed away. Mary became the 
wife of Joshua Crown and died leaving sev- 
eral children, but all are now deceased. Su- 
san married Levi lums Weir, and her chil- 
dren died prior to her death. Pierson S. is 
living upon the home farm. William H. is 
the eleventh in order of birth. Eliza mar- 
ried Oscar Jones and died leaving three chil- 
dren. 

William Holmes Crabill was reared un- 
der the ])arental roof. He had but limited 
opportunities for securing an education, 
never attending a free school. He was, 
however, a student in a subscription school 
for a short time and he has always been a 
great reader, whereby he has largely broad- 



ened his knowledge. He was but eight 
}ears of age at the time of his father's death, 
and he remained with his mother until twen- 
ty-two years of age. when he started out on 
his own account. The father was in very 
limited circumstances when he arrived here, 
not having money enough to purchase a cow. 
He had made the journev with Thomas and 
Solomon Voss, and he worked for them by 
the n'onth while his wife did the house work 
for them. As the years passed, however, 
Mr. Craliill prospered and became an ex- 
tensive land owner, having twelve hundred 
acres. Our subject therefore inherited over 
one hundred acres of land and has made 
the money with which he purchased the re- 
mainder of his farm property, now compris- 
ing three hundred and fifty-four acres. In 
earlier days he was an extensive stock dealer 
and dri)\-e stock from Illinois to Pennsyl- 
vania. His life has lieen a very busy one, 
and his close attention to his farming inter- 
ests resulted in bringing to him a very de- 
sirable capital. As the years passed his 
competence increased until he is now en- 
abled to live retired and yet to enjoy all of 
the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. 
His birth occurred May 10, 1826, so that he 
is now seventy-six years of age. He was 
reared in the faith of the Whig party, and 
cast 'lis first presidential ballot for Taylor in 
1848. In 1856 he voted for Fremont, and 
has since been a stanch Republican, although 
he has never been an office seeker. He 
served as assessor for sixteen years. He 
never sought the position, but proved so 
capable and efficient that he had no opposi- 
tion. He was also land appraiser at one 
time. Socially he is identified with Clark 
Lodge. Xo. TGI. F. & A. M., and in his life 
he has exemplified the helpful and charitable 
spirit of the fraternitv. 



THC BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



THOMAS L. CALVERT. 

Tliomas L. Calvert is a well known agri- ■ 
culturist. extensively engaged in stockrais- 
ing and the breeding of thoroughbred Jersey 
cattle and also conducts a dairy in Madison 
township. He was born in Georgetown, 
Maryland, December 20, 1858, and is a son 
of Thomas L. and Elizabeth (Paist) Cal- 
vert. When quite young his parents re- 
movetl with their family to Delaware coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 
he was eleven years of age. when he accom- 
panied his brother to Clark county, Ohio, 
and here began working on a farm by the 
month, which occupation he followed until 
about six years had elapsed. At first he 
worked for his board and clothes, but after- 
ward, as his strength and capability im- 
proved, he obtained ten diillars per month. 
In 1876 he returned to Pennsylvania and 
attended school in Montgomery count)-, to 
which locality his parents had in the mean- 
time removed. There he pursued his edu- 
cation for two years, when he again returned 
to Clark county, OJiio, and worked as a farm 
hand until 1882, whai he accepted the po- 
sition of clerk in a general store in Sehna, 
Ohio, where he remained for one year. On 
the expiration of that period he and his 
brother purchased the stock of that store, 
upon which they were able to pay but five 
hundred dollars; the balance they went in 
debt for, and as their business was very suc- 
cessful they were able to pay off all indebt- 
edness and soon began to acquire a comfort- 
aijle competence as the result of their integ- 
rity, industry and fair dealings with their 
customers. This partnership was main- 
tained until 1892, when Thomas L. Calvert 
sold out his interest to his brother. 

On the 14th of June. 1888, occurred the 
• 20 " 



marriage of Mr. Calvert tO' Miss Elta F. 
Warner, of Madison township, who was 
born and reared in the house in which she 
now resides. She is a daughter of Simeon 
and Elizabeth (Merritt) Warner. Her fa- 
tlier was born in Ross county, Ohio, Octo- 
ber 22, 181 7, and the mother was born in 
Xew Jersey. Her parents came to Ohio 
when Mrs. Warner was about eight years 
of age, settling first in Ross county. In 
1842, after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. 
Warner, they settled on a farm in Ross 
county. In 1846 they came to Madison 
township, Clark county, and settled on the 
farm which is now the home of Mr. and 
i\Irs. Calvert. Mr. Warner was a very en- 
ergetic and progressive man, and his enter- 
prising spirit and capable management of 
his business affairs brought to him a good 
return for his labors. He at first purchased 
two hundred acres of land in Madison'town- 
ship, which he brought to a high state of 
cultivation. To this he added until the farm 
at the time of his death comprised three 
hundred and eighty-nine acres of fine farm- 
ing land, the well tilled fields and thrifty 
appearance of the place indicating the care- 
ful supervision of the owner. Mr. Warner 
died Xovember 22, 1895, while his wife 
passed away November 3, 1891. The 
couple were highly respected and honored 
as worthy pioneer settlers in the community 
where they lived and labored, and many 
friends as well as their near relatives re- 
gretted their passing away. In his political 
\"iews 3ilr. Warner was a stanch and un- 
swerving Republican. For many years he 
served as trustee of his township, his fellow 
citizens being thus pleased to honor him 
with their confidence. ]\Ir. and Mrs. War- 
ner were the parents of twelve children, but 
only seven grew to vears of maturity, ^Irs. 



390 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Calvert Ijeing the youngest. Six of this 
family are yet living. The daughters who 
reached womanhood are : Martha J. ; ]Mar- 
garet A. ; Mrs. Sarah E. Schofield, who re- 
sided for a time in Knoxville, Tennessee, 
but died in Madison township in 1899; 
Mrs. Laura E. Wilson, the wife of Fred 
Wilson, a resident of Green township, Clark 
county; Mrs. Mary E. Dugdale, a resident 
of Dayton, Ohio; Mrs. Emma Pierce, of 
Springfield : and Mrs. Calvert. The last 
named received a good education, attending 
school in Baltimore, Maryland, some two 
years. Six children were born of her mar- 
riage to our subject, but three died in in- 
fancy. Those living are: Leland S., born 
NoA-ember 4, 1894; James Donald, born 
N'ovember 26, 1896; and Helen E., torn No- 
vember 13, 1898. 

Mr. Calvert supports the men and meas- 
ures of the Republican party, having cast his 
first vote for James A. Garfield in 1880. 
For six years he has served as township trus- 
tee. He has been a member of the Clark 
County Agricultural Society for over seven 
years and was its presidait for two years. 
He is also a member of the State Board of 
Agriculture, and is now acting as its treas- 
urer. He has attended as a delegate many 
of the conventions of his party ; was a mem- 
ber of the Knights of Pythias, at Selma, 
Ohio, while the lodge was in existence there, 
filling all the chairs and representing his 
lodge in the grand lodge of the state. It 
will be seen from this brief sketch of the life 
of one of iladison township's most highly 
respected citizens that Mr. Calvert has ful- 
filled his duties of citizenship in a creditable 
way to himself, and for the general social, 
moral and industrial welfare of his commun- 
ity. From small beginnings, he has taken 
athantage of the opportunities that have 



arisen as he has advanced in the business 
world. From early youth he has faithfully 
fulfilled all business obligations, thus win- 
ning the respect and confidence of all with 
whom the has had dealings. Taking a great 
interest in agricultural pursuits, he has made 
his farm one of the attractive and well con- 
ducted places of the county. His business 
yields him a good return, and he fully 
realizes in his prosperous life the value of 
labor judiciously expended and energy 
directed along the lines of sound business 
judgment. 



SAMUEL J. LAFFERTY. 

Among the valued representatives of 
mercantile interests in Springfield is Samuel 
J. Lafiferty, a dealer in stoves, tinware and 
queens ware, In an humble clerkship he en- 
tered u])on his business career but has since 
steadily advanced, improving his opportuni- 
ties, securing promotion through close ap- 
plication to duty, and by conscientious re- 
gard for the tasks imposed upon him. I'rom 
the time he became a member of a mercan- 
tile firm he also has continuously progressed 
and is to-day at the head of one of the lead- 
ing stores in his line in this city. 

Upon a farm in Harmony township on 
the 28th of Xovetnber, 1846, he was born, 
representing one of the old families of that 
locality. His paternal grandparents. \\'ill- 
iam and Jane Lafiferty, became early settlers 
of Harmony township, removing to that 
place from Pennsylvania, where had oc- 
curred the birth of Samuel H. Lafiferty, the 
father of our subject. Tlie latter was reared 
to manhood upon the old family homestead 
in this coimty. and after arriving at years of 
maturitv be married Catherine Corson. The 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



39' 



motlier died two weeks after the Ijirtli of her 
son ; the father died when he was l)ut a year 
old, so that at a very tender age Samuel J. 
Lafferty was left an orphan. He was then 
taken to the home of his grandfather, Will- 
iam Lafferty, and at the usual age entered 
school. He was also trained to habits of 
industry and economy upon the farm, where 
he remained until his twentieth year, when, 
desiring to £nter mercantile life, he secured 
a situation in a country store of Platts- 
liurg. Subsecjuently he was employed in the 
Capital City Plow & Harrow Works, where 
he remained for two years, after which he 
came to Spring-field and accepted a position 
in the hardware store of Baker & Brown. 
His connection with that house was main- 
tained for three years, at the end of which 
time the firm sold its stock to Messrs. 
Coblentz & ]\Iyers, ]\lr. Laft'erty remain- 
ing with the new firm and afterward pur- 
chasing an interest in the business, at which 
time the firm was changed to Coblentz, My- 
ers & Company. They dealt in hardware, 
stoves and shelf goods. When three years 
had gone b}-, J\Ir. Lafferty disposed of his 
interests and then spent two years upon a 
farm, after which he again became an ac- 
tive factor in mercantile circles, buying out 
the interest of Mr. Coblentz in the store in 
which he had formerly been a partner. At 
that time the firm style of Myers & Lafferty 
was assumed and it was in 1897 that the 
partnership was dissolved, Mr. Laft'erty 
taking as his share of the business the stoves 
and queensware. He has since been active- 
ly connected with the hardware trade of 
Springfield and now has a large and well 
equipped store, occupying a building forty 
by one hundred feet. He carries an exten- 
sive and well-selected stock of shelf goods, 
heavy hardware and queensware. Through 



the many years of his business connection 
with Springfield he has gained a wide ac- 
quaintance and is well known for his hon- 
esty and square dealing that has resulted in 
bringing to him a growing and profitable 
trade. 

On the 28th of May, 1874, 'Mr. Laft'erty 
was united in marriage to Miss Belle Mc- 
Cord, of Springfield, a daughter of Elias 
and Emeline (Hay ward) ]McCord. They 
now have four children : Clarence S., the 
eldest, who is now interested in the store 
with his father, was married in 1897 to Ella 
]\L Van Cleef, a daughter of George C. 
\'an Cleef, and they have one son, Charles 
V. Charles, the second member of the fa- 
tlier's family, is also' in the store. Emeline 
and Nellie, the daughters, are at home. 

When the country was invoh'ed in Civil 
war ]\lr. Lafferty manifested his loyalty 
to the Union cause by enlisting in the north- 
ern army as a member of the One Hundred 
and Fifty-third Ohio Lifantry, in which he 
served faithfully until honorably discharged, 
thus being entitled to membership in the 
Grand Army ijf the Republic. At the pres- 
ent time he is identified with Mitchell Post. 
In the Masonic fraternity he is a member 
<.)f Clark Lodge, No. loi, F. & A. ^I'.; 
Spring-field Chapter, No. 48, R. A. ^L ; and 
Palestine Co-mmandery, No. 33, K. T. His 
fraternal relations also connect him with 
another of the oldest and most honored or- 
ganizations of this character in the coimtry 
— the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
He is identified with Springfield Lodge and 
has been a representative to the grand lodge. 
He has served as master of Clark Lodge; 
high priest of the Springfield Chapter; 
and eminent commander of the Palestine 
Commandery, all of which indicates that 
lie is honored bv his brethren of these or- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ganizaticMis. There has been nothing sen- 
sational in his Hfe history, which is the 
chronicle of a business career marked by 
steadfastness of purpose and by close ad- 
herence to a high standard of commercial 
principles. 



JOSEPH MILXE XOKMAXD. 

\'ic\ved from a standpoint of financial 
advaiiceir.ent and from that of the re- 
gard of his fellow men the life of Joseph 
Milne Xormand may be termed a success- 
ful one. He is a machinist by trade and has 
placed upon the market his own valued in- 
ventions. He was also one of the organizers 
of the United States Tool Holder Company 
which is doing business in Springfield and is 
an important factor in the industrial interests 
of the city. 

More than a quarter of a century has 
passed since Mr. Xonr.and came to Spring- 
held, having arrived here on the 28th of 
September, 1872. He was 1)orn in Brcxik- 
lyn, Xew "S'ork, September 8, 1843, ^.nd 
is of Scotch lineage. His father. Alexander 
X'ormand, was born in Edinlxirg, Scotland, 
in 18 12 and died in 1845 ^^ the age of thirty- 
three years. He was an architect and builder 
of Xew York. His education was acquired 
in the University of Edinburg, and after 
coir:ing to America he followed the line of 
work for which he had prqjared in his native 
land. The year 1833 witnessed his arrival 
in the new world and here he soon estal> 
lished a successful business. He was one 
of the architects of the old Trinity church 
of Xew York city and many other important 
edifices there still show his handiwork. He 
lielonged to the old Scotch Covenanter 
church and was a man of unquestioned 



probity. His wife, who bore the maiden 
name of Isabella Milne, was borne in Dal- 
keith, Scotland, in 1825 and died in Wor- 
cester, ^Massachusetts, in 1897. By her first 
marriage she had three children : Josqjh 
M., of this review: John C, who is superin- 
tendent of the Wire Cloth works, for the 
firm of Wright & Colton, of Worcester. 
[Massachusetts, is married and has three 
children : Josqjh, Qiarles anil John C. Jr. : 
and Agnes, who died in infancy. After the 
death of her first husband Mrs. Xormand 
l:)ecame the wife of James Xeale. who was 
of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and the children 
lx>rn of the unicBi were Charlotte. Isabelle 
and Edward. The father of cur subject was 
a burgess in Scotland, and came of a well- 
to-do family, noted for longevity. He met 
his death, however, by accident. Like the 
other members of his family he was con- 
nected with the Masonic fraternity, belong- 
ing to Mount Moriali IcKlge in Scotland. 
After the death of Mr. Xormand his widow 
went to Worcester, Massachusetts, where 
her children were reared and educated. 

The subject of this review had but 
limited advantages in his youth. lie at- 
tended school until he was eight years of 
age. at which tim.e he was Ixmnd out to a 
millwright of Spencer, Ma.ssachusetts. and 
resided upon a farm. There oiu' subject 
worked for seven years, after which time he 
ran away and went home to his mother. 
After visiting her he started to go to sea, 
but stopping at Xorwich, Connecticut, he 
there accepted a ix)sition in a machine shop. 
After he had l^een there for about four 
months his former employer fountl him. 
X'ot wishing to return to the old service Mr. 
Xormand again ran away and tiiis time went 
to sea as a stowaway. He was compelled I" 
work his passage at first but he was an ajit 




J. M. NORMAND. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



395 



pupil and before he left tiie \esse] lie had ]>een 
ad\-aiiced until he became engineer on the 
steairer Whirlwind. He was engaged in the 
ciicsting trade in the \\'est Indies and South 
An.erica. After four years he returned to 
Massachusetts, where, in 1863, he enlisted 
in the Milbur}- Light Artillery, the command 
being known as the Tenth Unattached Com- 
pany. He served for one hundred days 
and then re-enlisted for three years or dur- 
ing the war, becoming a member of Com- 
pau}' F of the First Massachusetts Heavy 
Artillery. He was regimental armorer or 
ordinance sergeant and thus he served until 
the close of the war, when he was honora'bly 
discharged 011 the 28th of June. 1865. 

Mr. Norniand afterward worked four 
years as a machinist and in 1866 he again 
went to sea, being an engineer on various 
boats engaged in the coasting trade. He 
took out five United States licenses during 
his seafaring experience. He followed this 
lite until 1868 when he returned to Nor- 
wich, Connecticut, working in the machine 
shops there until 1872, and in that year he 
started to California, but did not proceed 
be^'ond Cincinnati, Ohio'. The sam.e year 
he came on to Springfield, where he found 
employment as a joiurneyman machinist in 
the James Lefifel Wheel works, where he 
remained for a year. He was afterward 
engaged in experimental work on the Ander- 
-m boiler in the employ of P. P. Mast & 
Ci in- pany until 1874. In that year Mr. Nor- 
niand was married and removed to Mechan- 
icsburg, Ohio, where he becaire superintend- 
ent fur the IMechanicsburg Screw Feed 
I 'irain Drill Company. He developed the 
business and remained there until the shops 
were cooipleted and in running order. In 
1876, however, he returned to Springfield 
and here found eir.ployment with the St. 



John Sewing Machine Company, remaining 
as tool maker and contractor for three years. 
He afterward became a jo'urneyir.an machin- 
ist in the John H. Thomas & Sons factory 
and later he held responsible positions with 
\'aripius concerns dealing in implements, 
going upon the road as a traveling salesman. 
He was thus engaged until 1884, when Mr, 
Thomas soild out the engine business and 
Mr. Norniand went with the department to 
the Springfield Engine and Thresher Com- 
pany. The next spring he spent in Penn- 
sylvania, introducing their goods, separators 
and engines. In 1885 he developed what is 
now kno\\n as the Thomas Pump and La\\n 
Mower. He remained with the company for 
three years, or until 1888, when he sold his 
in.terests aud patents to the Thomias Manu- 
facturing Company. In 1889 he went to 
Belmont, New York, where he developed a 
pum]) for Clark Brothers. After a year, 
however, he sold his interests there and 
again came to this city. In 1878 he Imilt 
his property in the west end', which he sold 
when he went to New York and after his 
return from the east he interested himself 
in the development of a corn planter and 
opened a shop at No. 87 South Factory 
street, doing- experimental work. Later he 
sold his patents on the corn planter and was 
engaged in other mechanical work until 
July 6, 1901, when he organized the United 
States Tool-holder Company and began the 
manufacture of various goods. 'He was 
elected vice president and manager of the 
company and held that position until its re- 
organization, at which time he was chosen 
superintendent. Since the re-organization 
the business has been carried on under the 
name of the Fairbanks Tool Company, with 
which the United States Tool-holder Com- 
pany was merged. Air. Norniand has 



396 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



aciiieved marked success in the line of his 
cliosen held of endeavor. He has thorough- 
ly mastered the principles of mechanics and 
his own investigation, research and in- 
genuity have succeeded in giving to the 
puhlic many valuable patents which have 
pro\ed of much use in the business world. 
In 1 87..] occurred the marriage of Mr. 
Normand and ]Vliss Sarah C. Brandle, who 
was a daughter of l^aniel Brandle, a farmer 
and carpenter. She was born in 1844 and 
attended the public schools. Mr. Normand 
purchased and remodeled his present home 
and is now comfortably situated there. He 
is a member of Clark Lodge. No. 101, F. 
& A. :\I. : Springfield Chapter. Xu. 48, R. 
A. M.: Springfield Council, No. 17. R. & 
S. M. ; and Palestine Commandery, Xo. 33, 
K. T. He is likewise a member of Ingomar 
Lodge. Xo. 610, K. P., and of the Uni- 
formed Rank of the Knights of Pythias, 
having been sergeant major of the Third 
regiment of that organization. He 5s a 
past grand of Ephraim Lodge, No. 146, I. 
O. O. F. : belongs to the Bene\-olent & 
Protet-tive Order of Elks; to :\Iitchell Post, 
Xo. 43, G. A. R. and to H. H. Stevens 
Comn-and. Xo. 16, of the Union Veterans 
Union. In politics he is a Democrat but has 
never aspired to office. As a citizen he has 
always been progressive, interested in every- 
thhig pertaining to the general goo<l and to 
public progress and improvement. He is a 
n:an of domestic tastes, yet of wide experi- 
ence in the affairs of life and one who by his 
marked ability in his chosen calling has 
gained distinction therein. 

WALTER C. POWELL. 

Tludughout Springfield, where he has 
long made his home and where he has a 
wide acquaintance, the subject of this re- 



view is known as Dick Powell and the cir- 
cle of his friends is an extensive one, show- 
ing that he is popular with his many ac- 
(uiaintances. He occupies the position of 
chief engineer in the city water works and 
over his record in this position there falls 
no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. 

\\'alter C. Powell was bom in Spring- 
field March 9, 1851, antl comes of a family 
of Welsh origin. The family has, however, 
been established in America through many 
generations. At an early day representatives 
of the name settled in Kentucky, whence 
others of the family came to Ohio. The 
great-grandfather and the grandfather ni 
our subject were both soldiers of the Re\- 
olutionary war. the former serving as an 
officer .in the American army, while the lat- 
ter was in his father's regiment. It was in 
the year 1812 that the grandparents came 
from Kentucky to Ohio. The country was 
then the hunting ground for the red men 
and was almost an unbroken wilderness. 
The Powell family endured the hardships 
of early pioneer times and when they came 
to Ohio they passed through Springfield and 
Clark county, continuing their journey Id 
Urbana. Their youngest child, Benjamin 
Powell, was born in Paris, Kentucky, July 
15, 1806, and was only six years of age at 
the time of the removal of the grandparents 
to this state. He had two brothers, Elijah 
and Timothy, who were soldiers in the war 
of t8ij. Longevity is one of the charac- 
teristics of the Powell family. Benjamin 
Powell was reared in Urbana and was there 
married in 1828 to Miss Elvira Munson, 
who was born in Otsego county, Xew York, 
in 1808. She was a daughter of Walter 
INIunson. who was buried in the Columbia 
street cemetery of Springfield in 1814. Her 
motlier bore the maiden name of Lois Xor- 
ton. l*;ivira Munson had two brothers and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



397 



one sister, and by her mother's second mar- 
riage to a Mr. Winaiis. two daughters and 
two sons were born. The family resided in 
Champaign county, Ohio, but in tlie early 
'.20s removed to South Bend, Indiana, liv- 
ing on the site of the city. They became very 
prominent people of that locality, but all of 
the members of the family have now passed 
away with the exception of Mrs. Olive 
Chess, who lives in New York city and who 
has alwavs been a favorite aunt of ^Ir. 
Powell, of this review. This branch of the 
IMunson family comes from the old Man- 
hattan stock that first settled in New York 
city. After his marriage Benjamin, the 
father of our subject, removed to South 
Bend, Indiana, where he followed the tail- 
or's trade for sometime, but subsecjuently 
he returned to Ohio. In the Hoosier state he 
purchased considerable land at a low price 
and Walter C, of this review, had visited the 
place. Soon after his return to Ohio, Ben- 
jamin Powell came with his family to 
Springfield, but after a short time removed 
to Tremont, where he carried on the tail- 
or's trade. He also was tollgate keeper for 
sixteen years. In all matters pertaining to 
the public good he was interested and was 
a public-spirited and progressive man. He 
died in 1S75, and in 1S77 his wife passed 
away and was laid by his side in Ferncliff 
cemetery, Springfield. Benjamin Powell 
had a large circle of friends and associates 
and was a man of dry humor and consider- 
able satire, whose interesting and humor- 
ous sayings are often recalled by many of 
his old associates. He kept well informed 
on the questions of the day and was an earn- 
est Christian gentleman. His wife, too, 
was a believer in Christianity and reared her 
ch.ildren in the faith of the ]\Iethodist Epis- 



copal church, of which she and her husband 
belonged. 

This worthy couple were the parents of 
nine children. Martha A. Ijecame the wife 
of E. P. Myei-s, who was one of the old 
merchants of Springfield, and died in 1881. 
Charles E., who was a blacksmith by trade, 
served for five years in the Civil war as a 
member of tlie Union army and died in St. 
Paris, Ohio, July 9, 1873. Mary Grace is 
the widow of Josiah Driscoll, a well known 
liveryman of Springfield. EHza, born in 
1834, became the wife of Colonel H. D. 
John and died in Springfield in 1863. Ol- 
ive, born in i8.|o, is the widow of George 
C. Yager, who was a miller of Fostoria, 
Ohio, and her home is now in Springfield. 
William, born in October, 1842, enlisted for 
.service as sergeant of Company B, Sixty- 
sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the Civil 
war, and was killed upon the field of battle 
at Cedar Mountain August 9, 1862. John, 
who was a driunmer in Company H, Seven- 
ty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was 
killed while in the service of the fire de- 
partment in Springfield June 24. 1873, at 
which time he was twent_\-se\'en years 
rif age, his birth having occurred September 
15, 1845. "^"C' son, who was the eig-hth 
in order of birth, died in infancy. 

Walter C. Powell, the youngest sori ar.d 
cliild in the famil}'. pursued his education 
in the public schools of Tremont and of 
Springfield, and also attended a private 
scIt 'ol. At the age of se\-enteen he put aside 
his text-books and began learning the trade 
of carriage manufacturing under the direc- 
tion of David West, who is now deceased. 
In 1869 he entered tlie railroad service of 
the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & In- 
dianapolis Railroad, running between 



398 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Cleveland and Columbus as fireman, and in 
1872 he was ])rnmiiied to engineer on the 
Cincinnati division. He ran on this road 
until 1878, when on account of ill health he 
gave up railroading and in the same year 
began work in the fire department as cap- 
tain of the Factory street engine house and 
engineer of the steamer. On the 8th of .\])ril. 
1882, he began working for the cit\- as chief 
engineer of the pumping department of the 
water works and in this capacity he has 
rendered \ery effective service to the city. 
In 1885 he became identified with the Hop- 
pcs Manufacturing Company, as one of the 
incorporators and directors, and remained 
with that company until 1893. In 1892 he 
was one of the incorporators and directors 
of the Safety Emery Wheel Company and 
remained with that company until January. 
1902. Mr. Powell is self-educated in me- 
chanics but has a comprehensive under- 
standing of mechanical i)rinciples, as well as 
being a jjractical workman in this line. In the 
development of the water works system he 
has taken an active part, having assisted in 
impro\-ing the ]ilant. and as the demands 
for the city water has increased he has as- 
sisted in selecting and purchasing the ma- 
chinery, which is now used in pumping three 
and one-half million gallons of water daily 
for ciu'rent Consumption. When he accept- 
ed his ])resent position there was a demand 
for only three hundred thousand gallons 
d.ailw and the puminng engine had a capac- 
ity of two to five millions. This pumping 
engine has been superseded by one with a 
capacity of from five to seven millions of 
gallons daily. Since 1882 Mr. Powell has 
had full charge of the pumping service. In 
1902 the supplemental water supply system 
was put in under his supervision and the 
])umi)ing station is C(|ui])ped with the most 



modern machinery, including an Allis en- 
gine, a triple expansion. 

In November, 1878, occurred the mar- 
riage of Mr. Powell and Miss Margaret E. 
^'ager, who was born in Sidney, Ohio, Sep- 
tember 6. 1859, and obtained a public school 
education. She was married in West Lib- 
erty, where her father. Clark ^'ager, had 
located in 1878. He was a luiller by trade 
and he died at the home of his daughter in 

1892. at the age of seventy years. His wid- 
ow, who bore the maiden name of Ellen 
Thomas, is fixing with a daughter in Sidney. 
at the age of seventy-six years. There are 
three children li\ing, two daughters and a 
son. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Powell have been 
born nine children. Xellie E., born .\ugust 
25, 1879, is the wife of William .\. Web- 
ster, who is assistant engineer of the jjump- 
ing house. Wilda G., born June 12, 1883. 
is a graduate of the high school of the class 
of 1901. Olive Margaret, born December 31. 

1893, Agnes Louise, born ^March 14, 1895, 
and Mary Elizabeth, born December 8. 1897, 
are at home. Ruth Fay died in 1892. at 
the age of three years : Benjamin C. died at 
the age of eighteen nn-nths; and two sons 
died in infancy. 

]"or a time Mr. Powell lived on Factory 
street, but in 1882 removed to the water 
works. His wife is a member of the Second 
Ci:ingregational church and he is one of its 
liberal supporters. He belongs to Anthony 
Lodge, F. & A. M.; Sjiringfield Chapter, R. 
A. M.; Springfield Council, R. & S. M. ; 
.and Palestine Commandery, K. T. He is 
also a member of Moncrieft'e Lodge, Xo. 33, 
K. P.. which he joined in 1872. Having 
spent his entire life in Springfield Mr. Pow- 
ell is well known and it is a recognized fact 
that his labors have been untiring in behalf 
of the water works svstem here, since he 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



399 



became connected therewith. The acquaint- 
ance of his manhood, classing him among 
tlie men of worth in the community, have 
made him one of the representative residents 
of this place. 



THE CITY PUMPING STATION. 

The localities from' which many cities O'f 
the world derive their water supply are 
among the most beautiful and interesting 
spots on earth, particularly so when such 
supplies have their sources in mountain 
regions adjacent to these cities. Upon the 
other hand, such cities as Springheld, 
having no such source of supply, have to 
look to local surroundings for their base of 
suppl}-. Frcim a geological point of view 
the present supply of the city is received from 
a \-alley covering an area of seventy square 
miles of watershed. At one time the lo- 
cation was a lake, connected with the chain 
running through Ohio, coming from Penn- 
sylvania. The bed is a fine gravel, which, 
of itself, is a filter. At a gi\-en point, fifty- 
seven hundred feet from the pumping sta- 
tion, there is a depth of thirty-two feet of 
clear, pure water, which has never been 
drawn upon, and at a nominal cost the mains 
can be extended to that and, taking a north- 
easterly direction, can be extended to nine- 
ty-seven hundred feet from the station and 
get an unlimited supply lasting fo>r man_\- 
years. .V topographical survey of this 
\alle)' made by William Sharon, and test 
■wells sunk by W. C. Powell foir the interests 
of the city, show conclusively that such coiu- 
ditions exist, and even thongh there would 
be a drought for years it \\-ould not impair 
the supply oif water. 

In 1902 Mr. Powell had charge of the 
laying of mains for supplemental supply and 



has worked hard to carry through his cher- 
ished plans. The work thus started, and 
now extending twenty-five hundred feet 
frcjin the pumping station, which stands in 
the neck of Buck Creek valley with its later- 
al run out into the valley, gives a flow of 
four and a half million gallons daily. 

In 1897 there was an excessive rainfall 
which filled the area completely, and 
only the lower end has been drawn upon. 
There has lieen over three million gallons 
daily pumped by the station, and the flow 
from the supply base has been one million. 
The fall is seven feet to a mile. By run- 
ning to the ninety-seven hundred-foot point 
from the station the city could get a flow 
of ten million gallons daily. The water 
supply of any city is one of the most neces- 
sary as well as of the most important re- 
quisites. By the expenditure of a few thou- 
sand dollars the city could g"et a water sup- 
ply equal to any city of four times its size 
and lasting iar all time. The plant is 
equipped with the most modern machinery, 
including an Allis triple-expansion pumping 
engine and one Gaskill compound-pumping 
engine of five million-gallon capacity, and 
all attachments to facilitate and lessen the 
cost of producing water. Mr. Powell is a 
man of wide mechanical knowledge, and the 
present system being laid is the result of 
years of persistent labor on his part. He 
is a conscientious man and competent to ho^ld 
the rqwusible position he has held for the 
past twenty years. 



RFA^ EDWIX C. DIXWIDDIE. 

In the temperance field of Amercia the 
Rev. Edwin C. Dinwiddle is a distinguished 
worker, and is known to manv of the labor- 



400 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ers in behalf of temperance in the old world. 
Untiring in his devotion to the cause, his 
efforts have beai availing in many instances 
in promoting tenperance sentiment whidi 
has l>een directh- followed hy good results, 
and his influence is a power for good in 
behalf of humanity that is widely acknowl- 
edged by those interested in the abolition of 
the sale and use of intoxicants. 

Mr. Dinwiddie was born in Springfield 
September 29. 1867, a son of John A. and 
Edith J. (Brelsfordj Dinwiddie. Tlie fa- 
ther was bom in Beirbrook. Greaie coimty, 
Ohio, and was the son of John Dinwiddie, 
Sr., whose birth occurref! in a wagon while 
his ])arents were on their way westward 
from .\dams count}-, Pennsyl\-ania. His fa- 
ther, who was also named John, 1>ecame a 
resiflent of Sugar Grove township, Greene 
coimty. John A. Dinwiddie, the father of 
our subject, was reared and educated in Bell- 
brook, spending his boyhood days in his 
father's shop and on a farm, and in 1858 
he came to Springfield, where he entered 
upon his business career; w^as a salesman in 
the employ of Mr. Murphy, a dry goods 
merchant, and eventually liecame a member 
of the dry goods firm of Brelsford, Dinwid- 
die & Company. Tliey conducted a store 
on "Trappers' Corner" until aliout 1870, 
the business prospering, and for fifteen years 
Mr. Dinwiddie was connected with \\'arder, 
iMitchell & Company, the Champion ]\Ia- 
chine Company and W'hiteley. Fassler & 
Kelly. In 1S99 he entered the employ of 
the government at Washington, D. C, in 
the census bueau, and has since been in the 
capital city. His wife was also born in 
Bellbrook, Ohio, and was educated in the 
old Springfield Seminary of this city. She 
was a daughter of \\'illiam and Xancy 
Brelsford, who died during her girlhood. 



after which she was reared by her grand- 
father. Unto the parents of our subject 
were born two children: William, who 
resides in the south ; and Edwin C. 

From his early lx>yhood Edwin C. Din- 
widdie has takeii an active interest in tem- 
perance work, and while yet in school be- 
came identified with the Band of Hope, a 
children's temi^erance organization, and was 
also in the "blue ribljon campaign" insti- 
tuted by Francis Murphy. After leaving 
school he became a stenographer in the em- 
ploy of John Foos, president of the St. John 
Sewing Machine Company, in whose em- 
ploy he remained for seven years, resign- 
ing to attend Wittenberg College, and later 
to engage in temi>erance work. In 1894 
he became identified with the Anti-Saloon 
League, and was the second lecturer and or- 
ganizer employed in its work. In 1883 he 
had taken an active part in the fight for con- 
stitutional prohibition, and was a stanch 
Fupporter of the Frohil>ition party from 1884 
until 1S90, and was the secreary of the state 
executive committee of that party. Since 
the year mentioned, however, he has been 
identified with the Republican party. In 
December. 1896. he was appointed superin- 
tendent of the Anti-Saloon League of Penn- 
sylvania, prior to which time he had been 
the editor of the official organ of the league 
— Tlie American Issue — and manager of 
the legislative department of the state work, 
but resigned to accejit the new apix)intment. 
In the fall of 1899, when the league decided 
to establish national headquarters at Wash- 
ington, D. C, he was appointed legislative 
superintendent of the American Anti-Sa- 
loon League, which ]x>sition he still holds, 
being elected successively 1w the conveitions 
at Chicago in May, 1900, and at Washing- 
ton in Deceiuber, 1901. He has carried 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



on his work along- progressive and practical 
lines, which have been attended with gootl 
results in awakening and directing public 
sentiment against the saloon. 

Mr. Dinwiddle is a member of the Beta 
Theta Pi. a college fraternity, and a charter 
member of Ingomar Lodge, No. 6io, K. P., 
and a member of the Independent Order oi 
Good Templars. In 1893 he represented 
the Good Templars of Ohio at the Inter- 
national Supreme Lodge held in Des 
Moines, low^a, and was elected grand coun- 
sellor at Sandusky, Ohio, the saine year, and 
grand electoral superintendent at Marietta, 
Ohio, in 1895. In 1902 he was the repre- 
sentative of the District of Columbia Grand 
Lodge of Good Templars to the interna- 
tional meeting held in Stockholm, Sweden, 
and there was appointed a member of the 
international committee on prohibitory legis- 
lation, representing the United States. This 
committee is a permanent one. Lie was 
also requested to officially represent the 
Good Tempars in national legislative mat- 
ters before congress. 

On the 8th of November, 1894, Mr. Din- 
widdle was united in marriage to Miss Olive 
H. Smith, a daughter of Oliver and Mar- 
garet (Negus) Smith, of Emporia, Kansas, 
formerly of Selma. near Springfield, Ohio, 
and to them have been born one child, Hor- 
ace Milton. Our subject and his wife hold 
membership in the Fourth Lutheran church 
of Springfield, and in 1894 he was licensed 
and later ordained to preach by the \\'itten- 
berg Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran 
church. Rev. Dinwiddle makes his home 
in Springfield, although his official head- 
cjuarters are in Washington, D. C., but 
wherever he is. he is untiring in his efforts 
to promote the cause of temperance along 
all lines that tend to the suppression of the 



liquor traffic, and in this line of his life's 
activity he has become widely known 
throughout this country and abroad. 



THE SHAW FA^IILY. 

As representatives of the class of sub- 
stantial builders of the great commonwealth 
w^ho served faithfully and long in the en- 
terprising west, we present the Shaw fam- 
ily that in pioneer times -was established in 
the Buckeye state, its members nobly doing 
their duty in establishing and maintaining 
the material interests, the legal statute and 
the moral welfare of this community. Rob- 
ert Shaw, now deceased, was born near 
Trenton, New Jersey, Noveinber 29, 1804. 
His parents were Roger and Ann (Swang- 
er) Shaw, who removed to Ohio during his 
Ixiyhood, probably about 18 12. The father 
settled in Greene county and there Robert 
Shaw was reared to manhood. His father 
ne\-er rnvned land but was in limited circum- 
stances. He had a large number of chil- 
dren, of whom Robert was the fourth in 
order of birth. After arriving at years of 
maturity he was married in Clark county in 
January, 1S34, to Miss Polly Wilson, who 
was born near Boston, Massachusetts, Oc- 
tober 3, 1812, a daughter of Junius and 
Sally (Chapin) Wilson. Her mother's 
people came to Ohio when Mrs. Wilson w'as 
a young girl. She was born in 1779, and 
Mr. Wilson's birth occurred in 1776. Mr. 
Shaw had made a start in the world and 
owned land in Greene county before his first 
marriage. Ultimately he added to his 
possessions until he was a large land owner. 
By his marriage he became the father of 
ele\'en children : Sarah L : Charles, who 



402 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



is a gr(Dcer in Springfield ; Snowden, a farm- 
er of Greene county, who married Angelina 
Jacobs and has three children; Margaret 
Ann, the wife of John Kanp, of Hammond, 
Louisiana, by whom she has two children; 
Cyrus; Lydia KIizal)eth, the wife of Abram 
Rasner. of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, by 
whom she has two children ; Mary C. ; 
Achilleus, who married Ida Kettles; Carrie; 
Horace; John A.; and Findley W. The 
father of this family was a Democrat in his 
political affiliations, but never sought or de 
sired office. His wife died in 1882. and he 
passed away February 9. 1886, respected by 
all who knew him. He was a leading and 
influential citizen of his community at an 
early day in its development. He shared 
in the task of reclaiming the wild land for 
purposes of civilization and carried on farm 
work at a time when the cruder implements 
of an early day made such work much more 
difficult than it is at present. He labored 
energeticall\- and perseveringly. however, 
and thus he became a large land owner of 
the county. 

Findley Whiteman Shaw is the youngest 
of the eleven children of Robert Shaw, and 
was Iwrn in Miami township, Greene coun- 
ty, Ohio, January 11, 1856. There he was 
reared to manhood upon the home farm 
until he was nineteen years of age, and dur- 
ing that time acquired a good common 
school education. At the age of nineteen 
he left home, going tO' Pittsburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, where he was employed in the manu- 
facturing establishment of Rasner & Dinger 
for two years, receiving one dollar per day 
for the first year and eight dollars a week 
for the second year. He found this occu- 
pation congenial, but as the factory closed 
down in the winter he was therefore thrown 
out of emplc-iyment. He returned home and 



resumed farming. On the 31st of Decem- 
ber, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss 
Mary A. Patton. a daughter of Thomas and 
Marietta (Wilson) Patton. For some 
years after his marriage he rented land, and 
in 1888 purchased the farm of sixty acres 
upon which he is now living, and has since 
given his attention to its improvement. In 
his family were ten children : Emerson J., 
Raymond B.. \\"ilbur G., Walter R.. Ed- 
ward, Paul, Minnie E., John, Nettie and 
Ruth. Findley \\ . Shaw has followed in 
the footsteps of his father as regards iwli- 
tics, giving his support to the Democracy. 
He is a leading member of the church of 
'S'ellow Springs, in which he is now serv- 
ing as trustee, and he also belongs to the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows at that 
place. 

Cyrus Shaw, the fifth child in the fam- 
ily of Robert and Polly ( Wilson) Shaw, 
was bom in I\Iiami township, (jreene coun- 
ty, October 30, 1S42, and, like the other 
children in the household, spent the days of 
his youth on the old homestead, acquiring 
his education in the common schools, which 
he attended through the winter months, 
while in the summer seasons he worked on 
the farm. He remained at home until 1864, 
when he enlisted for service in the Union 
army as a member of Company F, Eighth 
Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, joining the com- 
n^and on the 15th of February. He was 
sent to Camp Dennison, and thence to 
Charleston, West Mrginia. He took part 
in the Lynchburg raid, and his company was 
detailed to forage. He was first under 
fire at Beverly, where the command was 
captured for the second time, on the iith 
of January, i8r)5. He was then taken to 
Libby prison, where he remained for thirty- 
five davs. when with other Union soldiers 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he was exchanged. At Beverly he was ill 
in the hospital with erysipelas in the limb. 
After being exchanged he returned home on 
■furlough antl on the expiration of his 
leave of absence he rejoined his regiment at 
Clarksburg, West Virginia, and was soon 
afterward mustered out, the war having 
l>een brought to a close. After returning 
home Cyrus Shaw began farming, which he 
continued in Ohio until 1872. when he went 
t(_i California, by way of New York and 
across the isthmus of Panama, being thirty- 
one days oa the trip. He remained only a 
few months, and then returned by I'ail, but 
when he had spent a few months at home he 
again went to California in the following 
.April, and was gone until 1876, when he 
once more took up his abode in Clark coun- 
ty. In 1879 he was united in marriage to 
]\Iiss Sarah E. Baker, of Green township, 
Clark county, who was born in Ripley coun- 
ty, Indiana, April 23, 1857, a daughter of 
Asa and Caroline ( LefTel ) Baker. Her 
maternal grandfather, Daniel Baker, lived 
to be a very old man. Her father was born 
near Ennn in Alad River township, Clark 
county, August u. 1820, and his wife's 
birth occurred in Springfield township Oc- 
tober 13, 1825. In their family were five 
children : Tliomas Hialmer, of Springfield, 
who married Augusta McGrath and has two 
children ; Alargaret A., the wife of Lloyd 
Fryant, of Springfield, by whom she has one 
child; ]Mrs. Shaw; Alice and John B., both 
of whom are living in Springfield. The 
mother also survives, and lives in that city. 
Cyrus Shaw and his wife became the parents 
of seven children: George W., bom Feb- 
ruary 20. 1880; Charles D., born January 
15, 1882; Leslie P., born October 23, 1884; 
Margaretta, born December 30, 1887; Ralph 
I., born April 7. 1890: Harvey, born Janu- 



ary 25, 1892; and Henry Foster, born 
March 28, 1894. Before entering the army 
Cyrus Shaw had purchased land in Clark 
count}-, and he now owns one hundred acres, 
on which he has made excellent improve- 
ments. He also farmed another tract oi 
land, and his agricultural pursuits are bring- 
ing to him a creditable and satisfactory in- 
come. He, too, votes with the Democracy, 
and is a member of the Presbyterian church 
at Clifton. Socially he is connected with 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at 
Yellow Springs, and he maintains his con> 
radesh.ip with the boys in blue through mem- 
bership in James Elder Post, G. A. R. 

Horace Shaw, who follows farming and 
stock-raising and is also a, dairyman of 
Green township, Clark county, was born in 
Miami township, Greene county, April 18, 
1 85 1, and is the ninth in a family of ele^^en • 
children whose parents were Robert and 
Polly (Wilsoai) Shaw, Under the parental 
roof in the usual manner of farmer lads of 
that period he spent his boyhood clays, and 
the common schools af^forded him his educa- 
tional privileges. He remained at home 
until about thirty years of age, and was n:ar- 
ried in Green towmship, Clark county, on 
the loth of June, 1880, Miss Angie B, Ham- 
ma becoming his wife. Their union has 
been blessed with seven children : Frank, 
Maude, Dessie, Fanny, Lucy. Carl and 
Lydia. For some }-ears Horace Shaw lived 
in Greene county and in 1S84 came to his 
present place of residence in Clark county, 
having the previous year purchased eighty- 
three acres o^f land. He has erected a good 
house and has other modern equipments and 
accessories upon his place. In the cultiva- 
tion of the soil he is meeting with g-ood suc- 
cess. He is a Democrat in his political affili- 
ations. Although the Republicans in his 



404 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



district outnumber the Democrats three to 
one he was elected land appraiser in 1900, 
a fact which indicates his personal ix>pular- 
it)' and the confidence rqx>sed in him by 
those who know him best. He belongs to the 
Lutheran church and is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias fraternity at Clifton, in 
which he has filled all of the chairs, while 
in 1902 he was elected deputy grand chan- 
cellor. 

John Shaw, another member of the well- 
known and honored family of this portion 
of Ohio, opened his eyes to the light of day 
on the old family homestead in Greene coun- 
ty Septemljer i, 1853. He and his brother 
Horace started out in life for themselves at 
the same time, and as a companion and help- 
mate for life's journey John A. Shaw chose 
Miss Elizabeth Hamma, the sister of his 
brother's wife, this wedding being celebrated 
on Christmas'day of 1877. In 1883 he pur- 
chased the farm adjoining that which be- 
longs to his brother Horace, becoming the 
owner of one hundred and twenty-two acres 
of land here. All the improvements found 
upon it have been made by Mr. Shaw, who 
is a wide-awake and progressive farmer, 
carrying on the work in harmony with ad- 
variced ideas concerning agriculture. He 
and his wife have five children : Ethel }klay. 
Clara H.. Jessie, Irvin C. and Orvil. 'Hie 
eldest. Ethel May. is now the wife of Will- 
iam T. Waddle and resides in Green town- 
ship. Mr. and Mrs. John Shaw hold mem- 
bership in the Lutheran church. He began 
his life in Clark county, following fanning 
on his father's land, and since that time he 
has lived in this county, where he is a 
worthy and respected agriculturist. The 
Shaw family is a prominent and honored 
one in this portion of Ohio. Its meinbers 
have ever been true to the duties of citizen- 



ship, have been found reliable and trust- 
worthy in business and loyal to the duties 
of private life. Tliey are business-like and 
energetic fanners, and all who know them — 
and their friends are many — entertain for 
them high regard. 



GEORGE F. HEMPLEMAX. 

George F. Hempleman. for many years 
a farmer and stock-raiser in Madison town- 
ship, Clark county, near South Charleston, 
was born August 13. 1827, just across the 
road from his present home. He was a 
son of George and Sarah (Fletcher) Hem- 
pleman. His paternal grandfather, George 
Hempleman, Sr., was born in Germany in 
1732 and was twenty years of age whai he 
came to America, locating near Philadelphia. 
He was a weaver by trade, but at the time of 
the Revolutionary war he put aside business 
cares and joined the Colonial army, being 
present during the memorable winter at 
Valley Forge, when Washington and his 
troops suffered such hardships. He lived 
to the very advanced age of one hundred 
and ten years, five months and twenty-nine 
days, his death occurring in 1842. He was 
laid to rest in the old cemetery at South 
Charleston. After he was one hundred 
years of age he applied for a pension, but as 
he was then old and feeble and his mind was 
not as active as it had formerly been .he could 
not furnish the data necessary, so he never 
received the aid from the government which 
he deserved. He had three children: 
Adam, who died in West Union. Adams 
county. Ohio: George, the father of our 
subject : and Elizabeth, who became the wife 
of George Weaver. After living for a time 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in Georgia they came to Ohio, and removed 
from Clark county, this state, to Madison 
county, where Mrs. Weaver died. After 
the family came to this state the grandfather 
made his home with his son George. The 
latter was born within three miles of Phila- 
delphia, and while yet a boy accompanied 
his parents on their removal to the west 
shore of I\Iaryland. They afterward went 
to Virginia, and from the Old Dominion 
came to Ohio about 1808. The father of 
our subject was married while in Virginia, 
the lady of his choice being Sarah Fletcher, 
who was born near Winchester, that state. 
After coming to Oiiio he purchased one hun- 
dred and seventy acres of land and later 
added a tract of one hundred and sixty acres 
tO' his farm property. He lived to be about 
seventy-five years of age, passing away in 
1853. He was twice married, and our sub- 
ject was of the second family. By the first 
marriage there were ten children, and by 
the second there w^ere but tw'O — George 
Fletcher and his twin sister, who became the 
wife of E\an Evans and m'ade her home in 
St. Louis, where she died. Of the first mar- 
riage there is only one survivor, Daniel, who 
is now living' near Clintoai in DeWitt coun- 
ty, Illinois. 

George Fletcher Hempleman, whose 
name introduces this record, was reared to 
manhood upon the home farm and acquired 
a good common school education. At the age 
of twenty years, he began to operate his 
father's land on shares, and when twenty- 
two years of age he went to Perry county, 
Illinois, where he purchased a small tract 
of land. He and his brother Henry 
bought cattle, our subject herding them 
during his one year's stay in the west. 
After his return io Ohio he was married, 
on the iqth of December, i8so, to Miss 



Margaret Hill, a native of Clark county and 
a daughter of Robert C. and Margaret 
(Harvey) Hill. She grew to womanhood 
in this comity and received a common-school 
education. For a year after their marriage 
;Mr. Hempleman rented land, and then re- 
moved to the place where he spent the re- 
mainder of his life. It was then owned by 
his father, and fifty acres of the land had 
been partially cleared, but the remainder was 
a brush pasture. Our subject made all of 
the improvements upon the farm, including 
the erection of the fine brick house, which 
was built in 1870. He placed many rods 
of tiling on his land, and it is now a very 
rich and productive farm of one hundred 
and si.xty-two acres. 

Unto our subject and his wife were born 
five children : Marguerite, the wife of Levi 
Jones, of Madison township, by whom she 
has two children, Mabel E. and George 
Fletcher; Sarah E., who became the wife of 
John L. Hess, and they died leaving three 
children, George H., who married Mabel Mb" 
Donald; Clifford M., who wedded Fannie 
A'l!'ls- a:-d Margie E. ; Adella D., who is 
the wife of William C; Butcher and resides 
near YelloAV Springs, in Clark comity, and 
they have one child — Clara K. ; Anna L., 
who is the wife of John L. Stroup and re- 
sides at "S'ellow Springs, Greene county, with 
their three children — Elwood D., Fannie M. 
and Efiie C. : Effa, the youngest member of 
the Hempleman family, is at home. 

In his political afiiliations Mr. Hemple- 
man was a Democrat until the time of the 
repeal of the Missouri compromise. He 
cast his vote for Fremont in 1856 and later 
he supported Cooper. He was a member of 
the Presbyterian church, to which his wife 
also belongs, and in which he served as an 
elder, an.d he did e\-erything in his power 



406 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tc promote cliurch work and advance the 
cause of Christianity. In 1850 he became 
a member of the >Iasonic fraternity and ex- 
emphfied in liis life its Ijeneficent teachings. 
After a useful and well spent life he died 
suddenly of heart trouble June 14, 1902. 



JOHN LEFFEL. 

Hardly had the work of improvement 
and progress been begun in Clark county 
when the Leffel family was established with- 
in its borders. John Lefifel was then but a 
lx)y but he was destined to bear a part in th.e 
work of early development and to continue 
as a valued citizen of this community 
through many years. He was acti\el\- en- 
gaged in agricultural pursuits and at all 
times his co-operation could Ije depended 
upon to aid in pronioting measures for the 
general prosperity and upbuilding of his 
locality.. Xo history nf Clark county would 
be complete that did not mention the Leffel 
family. 

The su1)ject of this review was born in 
Botetourt county. \'irginia. on the i8th of 
February\ 1808. his parents being Jacob and 
Mar\- (Kritz) Left'el. The father was also 
a native of Virginia, whence he came to 
Ohit>. settling in Bethel township, Clark 
county, in 1820. On his removal to this 
state he was accompanied by several of his 
brothers. Tliroughout life he followed the 
ocu]Xition of farming and became one of the 
influential men of this community, being 
highly respected not only for his geiiuine 
worth but for his business sagacity and open- 
handed methods of doing business. His 



bond and when he died at the advanced age 
of eighty years Clark county mourned one 
of its honored pioneers and worthy citizens. 

In the family of Jacob Leffel were the 
fc^lowing children: John, the subject of 
this sketch ; William, who married Julia 
Tritle: Samuel, who married Catherine Gor- 
don ; James, a sketch of whom appears on 
another page of this volume; Peter, who 
n-jarried Jane Brandinburg; George, who 
married Caroline Kiefer ; Henry, who never 
married ; Mrs. Mary Botkin ; Mrs. Margaret 
Croft; Mrs. Elizaibeth Brandinburg; Mrs. 
Martha Rowland; Mrs. Lucinda Verdeer; 
]\Irs. Cathei-inc Olinger; and Mrs. Sarah 
Shull. 

John Leffel, whose name introduces this 
record, was only twelve years of age wlieii 
he Ijecame a resident of Clark county, re- 
moving thitlicr with his ])arents, the family 
Ijeing established in a new home near Car- 
lisle in Bethel township. To a limited ex- 
tent our .subject had attended school in Vir- 
ginia and he also studied in the schools of 
this county, but his educational privileges 
were meager and altluxigh he became a well 
inforsned man in later \ears, his knowledge 
was acquired through practical experience, 
reading an*! observation. He remained 
under the parental roof until twenty-one 
years of age, although on attaining his ma- 
jority he began earning his own livelihood. 
He started out for himself with an ax and a 
cash cajjital of two and one-half dollars, but 
he ix)ssessed strong detenr.ination to suc- 
ceed, combined with marked industry, and 
these are a sure foundation upon which to 
build pros])erity. Me engaged in chop- 
ping away the timber on n'any an acre in 
this county and thus was a n.aterial 
benefit in clearing and improving the land. 

When twenty-eight years of age Mr. 




JOHN LEFFEL. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



409 



Leffel was united in marriage to Mrs. 
Susanna Lnwry Croft, widow of George 
Croft and a daughter of David Lowry, who 
was one of the honored pioneer resi- 
dents of Bethel township. Her mother died 
when she was very young. Mrs. Leffel was 
a nati\'e of this locality and her entire life 
was spent within a radius of three-quarters 
of a mile from the place o^f her birth. After 
their marriage the young couple located on 
a farm just south of Donaldsville, on which 
they resided a few years and then purchased 
an adjoining ifali'm, where theyi ren,ained 
until called to the home beyond. Mr. Leffel 
was a \'ery hard working nian aaid he was 
found in the fields early in the morning and 
there continued his labors until night over- 
took him. It was his unremitting diligence 
that brought him success, making him one 
of the substantial residents of his com- 
munity. He was always a man of unques- 
tioned integrity in business affairs and in 
private life, and he enjoyed the high esteem 
of all with whom he came in. contact. As 
he prospered in his undertakings he added 
t'_> his property from year to year until he be- 
came the owner of five hundred and twenty- 
five acres of well improved land which he 
owned at the time of his death in addition to 
valuable city property. 

Un.to Mr. and Mrs. Leffel were born 
four children. William Blair, the eldest, 
died at home. Jacob Wright passed away 
and was buried in Ferncliff cemetery of 
Springfield. Nancy Rebecca became the 
wife Qif Jam.es E. King and unto them have 
been born three children who are yet living, 
while two passed away and were laid to rest 
in the family lot in Ferncliff cemetery. 
Those who' still survive are: Ida May, the 
wife of ^Michael O'Harra, a resident of 



Colum'bus, by whom she has three children 
— Maude, Edward and Earle; William 
Grant, who married Alma Beck and is liv- 
ing in Dayton, Ohio; and Daisy A., the wife 
of Frank J. Wragge. Paulina C, the young- 
est n^ember of the Leffel family, died at the 
age of sixteen years and was buried in the 
Xew Carlisle cemetery. 

Mr. Left'el was a man oif very liberal and 
generous impulses. The poor and needy 
found in him a friend. He was always con- 
siderate of the feelings of others and when 
his substantial assistance was needed he did 
mot -hesitate to give it. He was a member 
of the Lutheran church, while his wife be- 
longed tO' the Christian church. Both were 
true to their religious convictions and the 
principles of Cihristianity found exemplifi- 
cation in their good deeds, noble purposes 
and kindly impulses. Mr. Leffel passed 
away on the 19th of March, 1888, and his 
wife departed this life April 6, 1893, at the 
age of eighty-seven years. Thus ended witli; 
Clark county tiie connection of two of its. 
most worthy pioneer citizens. Tbrough. 
many decades Mr. Leffel had been a witness 
of the growth and transformation of this, 
county and had ever rendered practical as- 
sistance t(j' the work of improvement. His 
life lis in many respects well worthy of 
emulation and should serve as a source of 
inspiration t(ji others who have to begin a 
business career as he did, without capital 
He realized the value of industry and lionesty 
as factors in the world, and upon those equali- 
ties he builded his success. His efforts, toO', 
were conducted in a manner that gained for 
him the unqualified confidence, resi>ect and 
good-will of those with whom he w^as asso- 
ciated and his is an hcinored nan;e which is 
revered Ijv all who knew him. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



JOSHUA T. RIDGELV. 

'I'lie pulsing industrial activities and ex- 
tensive commercial interests of Springfield 
which ha\e led to the rapid growth and ma- 
terial progress of the city, find a worthy 
representative in Joshua T. Ridgely, the 
president of the Ridgely Decorative Com- 
pany. He established the business in 1894 
and has since conducted it in such a n anner 
that substantial profits have accrued, while 
at the same time the enterprise has fully met 
the demands of the public in the' line of 
paper hanging, painting and decorating. 

From Maryland comes Mr. Ridgely. 
who was lK)rn in Middletown. that state. 
January 3, 183 1. his parents being Joshua 
and Margaret (Holter) Ridgely, who were 
-also natives of the same state, the latter be- 
ing a daughter of Samuel Holter, who was 
likewise Iwrn in Maryland. TVie father of 
our subject was a soldier in the war of 1812. 
In the year 1853 Joshua T. Ridgely left his 
native state and came to Springfield, where 
he has since resided, covering a period of 
half a century, during which time he has 
been actively connected with the line of busi- 
ness which yet claims his attention. In the 
spring of 1849 lie began learning the trade 
of a house painter, paper hanger and deco- 
rator, and after mastering the business he 
worked as a journeyman for a time, after 
which he began business on his own account. 
Later he took and executed contracts, em- 
ploying men to earn,' on the business as the 
demand came. Gradually his patronage has 
increased, and during the busy season of the 
year Mr. Ridgely employs from twenty-six 
to thirty men. l>eing one of the largest con- 
tractors in this line in central Ohio He car- 
ries a large and full stock of paints, wall- 
paper and other supplies of a like cliaracter. 



and his sons, who are j^ractical business 
men, are associated with him. Some of the 
finest decorative work in Springfield has 
i;een executed by the representatives of this 
house, and in the conduct of his business Mr. 
Ridgely has ever kqjt in touch with the ad- 
vancement which is continually being made. 
This artistic work is being carried on by 
the Ridgely Decorative Company, which 
holds higli rank as a representative of this 
department of industrial activity. 

On the 3d of January, 1854. occurred the 
marriage of Mr. Ridgely and Miss Elizabeth 
Geisinger, of Maryland, a daughter of Sam- 
uel L. Geisinger, who was a leading mer- 
chant tailor of that state. She is also a 
niece of Commodore David Geisinger, who 
when a n.idshipman with Commodore Blake- 
ley on the AV'asp, in 181 4, was sent home in 
command of the Atlanta, an English vessel, 
which the latter had captured and found to 
be a great prize. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ridge- 
ly were born four children, three sons and 
one daughter: Clara Blanche, the wife of 
William H. Holmes, of Springfield: Charles 
Tilghman, who is a meml^er of the firm and 
secretary and treasurer of the Ridgely Deco- 
rative Company; Hiram Geisinger. who has 
charge of the paper department of the busi- 
ness; and Francis B., who is foreman of the 
company's pai>er hangers. 

Mr. Ridgely exercises his right of fran- 
chise in support of the men ami measures 
of the Democracy, and his first vote was cast 
for Franklin Pierce and his last for Will- 
iam Jennings Bryan. Uix:>n the Democratic 
ticket he was elected a member of the school 
board of Springfield, serving in that ca- 
pacity for sixteen consecutive years. He is 
an active and valued member of the St. Paul 
Methodist E])iscopal church and long served 
as one of its trustees, was steward of the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



clnirch for a number of years, and for thir- 
ty-four years has been secretary of the Sun- 
day school. 

He entered upon his business career in 
an humble capacity, but like many other 
brainy, energetic young- men who have come 
to the city in the day of small things and 
have since left their impress upon the im- 
portant development of Springfield, he did 
not wait for a specially brilliant opening — 
indeed he could not wait, and liis natural in- 
dustry would not have permitted him to do 
so, even if liis financial circumstances had 
been such as to make it possible. He early 
•showed conspicuously the traits of character 
that have made his life successful. He per- 
fonned all his duties conscientiously and in- 
dustriously. Like most other business men, 
Tie may not have found all his days equally 
bright, but his rich inheritance of energy 
and pluck have enabled him to turn defeat 
into victory- and promised failure into suc- 
cess. His strict integrity, business conserva- 
tism and judgment, have been so' universally 
recognized that he has enjoyed public con- 
fidence to an enviable degree, and this has 
naturally brought to him a lucrative patron- 
age. 



JAMES BOYD THOMSON. 

James Boyd Thomson is now li\'ing- a 
retired life at No. 284 West High street, hav- 
ing accumulated a handsome competence 
which has enabled him to put asde the ardu- 
ous cares of a busmess career. He was 
born in Pleasant Ridge, Mad River town- 
ship, September 14, 1841, and is a son of 
Robert Thomson, whose birth occurred in 
county Antrim, Ireland, in 18 14. The pa- 
ternal grandfather, James Thomson, was a 



native of Ireland, and spent his last days 
on the Emerald Isle. He followed the oc- 
cupation of farming. In the family were 
three sons, of whom James died in Iowa, 
Robert in Ohio, and William in Ireland. 
The grandfather of our subject lived to the 
advanced age of seventy-eight years, and his 
wife passed away when Robert Thomson 
was only two years of age. The little lad 
then went to make his home with his grand- 
parents and was reared under their roof, 
pursuing a common school education in his 
native country. He served an apprentice- 
ship to the mercantile business with an un- 
cle, and on the 27th of June, 1837, he land- 
ed at Castle Garden, New York, w^ith but 
little money, yet possessed of a resolute de- 
termination to make the most of his oppor- 
tunities and thus advanced in life. He 
opened a night writing school in Philadel- 
phia, being a good penman. He afterward 
went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and secured 
a clerical ix)sition, which he later resigned 
ill order to remove to Cincinnati, Ohio, 
where he became wharf clerk. In 1840 he 
was married in Dayton and there secured a 
situation as a clerk in a stoie which was con- 
ducted by Samuel McPherson. In the 
same year Robert Thomson came to Clark 
county. His wife who bore the maiden 
name of Charlotte Patton, was born in War- 
ren county, this state, in 181 5, and was of 
Scotch-Irish lineage. She inherited con- 
siderable property from her people, being 
one of the heirs of a bachelor uncle, James 
Ferguson, who died in Hagerstown, Mary- 
land. He was a great hunter. He visited 
Clark county in company with Henry Bech- 
tle, and had located land here, having pur- 
chased eight hundred acres. Through his 
judicious investments and well directed bus- 
iness affairs he accumulated much wealth. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Robert Thomson and his bride came to 
Clark county and settled iip.)n some of this 
land which had been entered by her uncle. 
They remained upon the farm there twelve 
years, and in 1832 came to Springfield. Mr. 
Thomson did not achieve very great success 
as a fanner for lie had Ijeen reared in mer- 
cantile lines. He therefore opened up a 
grocery business in Union Hall, in connec- 
tion with Samuel McPherson, which part- 
nership continued about two years. He 
then opened a store of his own on the east 
side of Fountain avenue, between High and 
Main. This he carried on for three years, 
after which he began the manufacture of 
candles, a business which claimed his time 
and energies for twenty years and proved a 
profitable source of income. During t!i > 
time Mr. Thomson alsu became connected 
w'ith business enterprises which were suc- 
cessfully conducted, and thus he won a very 
gratifying and handsome competence. His 
was a sturdy manhood and an active, in^lus- 
tiious nature, and in matters of citizenship 
he was found to be progressive and public- 
spirited. He accumulated considerable 
property, but before his death he disposed 
of most of this. Although his school privi- 
leges were limited he read widely, keeping 
well informed on the questions of the day. 
His death occurred at the family home at the 
corner of Tliomson avenue and High street 
in 1886. His wife had previously passed 
away on the 21st of August, 1S73, and 
Mr. Tliomson had been again married, his 
second union being with Elizabeth Faber, 
who was born in Pennsylvania and is now 
living in Springfield. In politics Mr. 
Tliomson was a Whig until the dissolution 
of that party, when he became a stanch Re- 
publican. By his first marriage there were 
two children, James B. and .\nnie, the lat- 



ter the wife of William C. Smith, who re- 
sides (^n West Main street in Springfield. 
Her first husband was Hudson B. Clark^ 
who was a descendant of the founder of this 
county. By her first marriage she had one 
son, Robert Clark. There were no children 
by the second union of Mr. Thomson. 

James Boyd Tliomson spent his child- 
hood days in Springfield, and after pursuing 
his preliminary education in a select school 
he entered Wittenberg College. At the age 
of nineteen he began his business career as 
a salesman in the dry goods store of Isaac 
^IcCreight, and on leaving that employer 
he entered the United States army for one 
hundred days' service under Captai.i Asa 
Bushnell. On the expiration of that period 
Mr. Thomson returned home and entered 
the candle manufacturing business of his 
father, continuing the san.e until the 
business was closed out, a period of twelve 
years. He acted as its manager, thus re- 
lieving his father of the care and responsi- 
bility in his old age. Tlieir factory was 
equipped with modern machinery for mak- 
ing candles, and the enterprise was success- 
fully conducted. Mr. Thomson is a man 
of resourceful business ability, and he ex- 
tended his affairs into other lines of activ- 
ity. He carried forward to a successful 
completion whatever he undertook, and his 
counsel and judgment have proved valuable 
in the conduct of many leading enterprises 
here. In T879 ^'^^ candle factory was 
closed and Mr. Thomson joined Montgom- 
ery Patton in the establishment of a grocery 
store, which they carried on until 1884, 
when the}' closed out the enterprise. Mr. 
Patton was one of the heirs of Mr. Fergu- 
son, from whom Mr. Thomson's grandmo- 
ther had received her legacy. Since retir- 
ing from merchandising our subject has. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



been engaged in handling real estate, but is 
largely living retired, save for the personal 
supervision which he gives to his invested 
interests. 

In 1875 in Spring-field occurred the 
marriage of Mr. Thomson and Miss Julia 
McPherson, a native of Baltimore. Mary- 
land, and a niece of Samuel McPherson. 
who was the first employer of the father of 
our subject. Her parents were John and 
Elizabeth (McKinnell) McPherson, both 
nati\'es of Scotland. They had but two 
children — Mrs. Thomson and I\Irs. \'irt;inia 
Heckler, both of this city. 

Tn politics Mr. Thomson is a Republican 
and has been registrar in his precinct since 
1892. He has ne\er been an aspirant for 
oftice, although he has been • tendered of- 
ficial preferment many times. In 1900 and 
1901 he served as a member of the board of 
revision and equalization, faithfully dis- 
charging his duties to the satisfaction of all 
concerned. He has been appointed executor 
of many estates antl has thus gained an in- 
sight to legal matters. He belongs to the 
Grand Amiy of the Republic. He is inter- 
ested in matters of general good and his co- 
operation is ne\-er withheld from any n-.ove- 
ment for the substantial improvement of his 
comnumity. His memory carries him back 
over a long period in the development uf 
Ohio. He was a boy in Enon when in 
1848 the Sandusky Railroad was being built. 
The old men of that day greatly opposed the 
railroad, but the work of progress cannot be 
impeded by a few individuals, and the build- 
ing was continued. IMr. Thomson has also 
witnessed m.any changes in Springfield, as 
it has grown and developed into one of the 
most enterprising manufacturing cities of 
the central west. Through his long connec- 
tion with business alTairs here lie has ever 



borne an unassailable reputation for honesty 
in dealing and for fidelity to duty and well 
does he merit the rest which is now vouch- 
safed him, as he lives in his pleasant home 
surrounded by all of the comforts which go 
to make life worth the living. 



JOSEPH A. BECKER. 

Joseph A. Becker, who resides on the 
National pike, three miles from Springfield, 
was born in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, 
in 1848, and is a .son of John and Elizabeth 
(Zimmerman) Becker, also natives of 
Dauphin county. Removing westward, 
they took up" their abode in Clark comity, 
two and one-half miles north of Springfield, 
in the year 1849, driving 'from 
their old home in the Keystone state 
with a wagon and team oif horses. 
After arriving at their first place of 
residence the father purchased a farm in 
German township, near Eagle City, Clark 
county, Ohio, and upoai that place Joseph 
A. Becker spent his boyhood days. He was 
one of a family of nine children, eight of 
whom are yet living: Solomon, a resident 
of Kansas ; John, who makes his home in 
Tremont City, Clark county : Louise, de- 
cea.sed ; Susie, the wife of John Beard, of 
^^■infield. Kansas : Lydia, of Tremont City, 
Ohio; Amos, a twin brother of Lydia, and a 
resident of Kansas: Joseph A.: \\'illiam. 
who is living in Kansas; and Emma, the 
wife of Lewis Miller, of Tremont. 

Joseph A. Becker was only a little lad 
when brought by his parents to Clark coun- 
ty and was only eight years of age at the 
time of his father's death. He remained on 
the home farm, however, until after he had 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



attained his majority, and acquired his edu- 
cation in the Mount Zion school of Elagle 
City. In 1871 he began learning the butch- 
er's trade under the direction of Aaron 
Reader, for whom he worked for four years. 
On the expiration of that i>eriod. with the 
capital he had acquired through his own la- 
bor, he embarked in the butchering business 
on his own account, renting a place in String 
Town for about a year. He next removed 
to Sugar Grove Hill, on his own property, 
and built a home, in which he resided for 
nine years. He afterwards purchased five 
acres on the National pike, near Rockaway, 
three and one-half miles west of Springfield, 
and erected thereon a fine brick house, which 
is one of the most attractive country seats 
of Clark county. Until elected assesor in 
April, 1902, he carried on the butchering 
business at that place, disposing of his prod- 
ucts at the city meat market, and his success 
was largely attributable to .the fact that he 
applied himself closely to the work in which 
he embarked as a young tradesman. He 
wias one of the oldest market men doing 
business in Springfield, havinig helped build 
the old market, in which he owned a stall 
until it was torn down to be replaced by the 
new market. When the latter was com- 
pleted he was one of the first to rent a stall, 
and continued business there until he entered 
upon the duties of his present office, when 
he turned the slaughtering and market bus- 
iness over to his sons, who now have charge 
of the same under the name of Becker Bro- 
thers. 

On May 10, 1876, occurred the marriage 
of Mr. Becker and Miss Barbara Lohnes, a 
daughter of Peter and Catherine (Bungert) 
Lohnes, both of whom came to this ountry 
from Germany. They were married in 
Springfield and reared a family of five chil- 



dren : John, who married Tilda Krapp and 
is living in this city ; Mrs. Becker ; Elizabeth, 
who married C. S. Courson and resides in 
Springfield; Catherine, the wife of John 
Clark, of the same city; and William, who 
married Anna Holly and is living in Spring- 
field. They also lost one child — Cora, w'ho 
died in infancy. The marriage of Mr. and 
Mrs. Becker was blessed with five children, 
four of whom are yet living : Bertha, Irvin, 
Joseph and Catherine. Laura died at the 
age of four and one-half years. 

Mr. Becker is identified with the Knights- 
of Pythias fraternity and in his political 
views is a Republican. Although elected 
assessor of Springfield township, he has 
never been a politician in the sense of office 
seeking, preferring to devote his time and 
attention to his business affairs, in which 
he has met with creditable success. 



OSCAR X. STEWWRT 

Oscar X. Stewart belongs to one of the 
leading and prominent families of Clark 
coimty and is now successfully following 
farn.ing and stixrk-raising in llarnony 
township, near the town of Plattsburg. He 
was born in Green township, Clark county,. 
Ohio, Februar)- 5, 1833, and is a son of 
John T. and Ann ( Elder) Stewart, who 
were nati\es of Dauphin county, Pennsylva- 
nia, whence they came to Ohio. The fa- 
ther made the trip with his brothei- Samuel 
in 1806, and the mother came with her par- 
ents in 181 3. They were marrietl in Green 
township in 181 5 and began their domestic 
life upon the farm. Sanniel Stewart, the 
grandfathei" of our subject, had died in 
Pennsylvania and his wife also passed away 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



there, but Robert Elder, the maternal grand- 
father, took up his abode in Green town- 
ship, Clark county, Ohio, in 1813. 

John T. Stewart was born in 1781 and 
after coming to this state he and his broth- 
er purchased five hundred acres of land, 
which was divided between them. It was 
all in the wild woods and was destitute of 
any improvements placed there by the white 
man. He first erected a log house and in 
1823 he erected a brick residence, which is 
still standing and is used to-day. In the 
family were ten children. Our subject was 
the seventh son and eighth child. Nine 
of the children grew to years of maturity 
and six are still living. Perry was a soldier 
of the Civil war and captain of Company 
A, Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry, and is now 
living in Springfield ; has served two' terms 
as county commissioner and for one term 
represented his district in the state legisla- 
ture. Elder R. is also living in Springfield. 
Samuel died in Hardin county, Ohio, in 
1888. Charles died in Springfield October 
26, 1902. James M. served for two terms as 
proljate judge of Greene county, Ohio, and 
is living in Xenia, where he is a prominent 
attorney-. Thomas E., who was first lieu- 
tenant in a company in the One Hundred 
and Thirty-fifth Ohio Infantry, is now liv- 
ing in Green township. Oscar N. is the 
next of the family. William C. is living in 
Springfield. Harriet died in infancy. Ju- 
lia, who was Ijorn in Decemher, 1815, being 
the eldest of the family, became the wife of 
David Anderson and lived in Green town- 
sliip until her death. The father was at 
time a supporter of the Whig party and 
left its ranks to become a member of the 
Liberty party. He was a very strong tem- 
perance man and was opposed to oppression 
in any form. Upon the organization of 



Green township he became its first clerk and 
served in that capacity for several terms. 
When the Presbyterian church of Clifton 
was O^rganized he also became its first clerk 
and filled the position for several years. He 
was likewise justice of the peace for twen- 
ty-three years and though he tried many 
cases only one of his decisions was ever re- 
versed. He was likewise associate judge 
for one term and thus figured prominently 
in public afifairs, leaving the impress of his 
individuality upon the judicial history and 
upon the general progress of his community. 
He died April 16, 1850. 

Oscar N. Stewart spent his boyhood 
days upon the home farm in Green town- 
ship and during that period acquired a good 
common school education. When about 
twenty-two years of age he started out in 
life on his own account. His father had 
become an extensive land owner and he in- 
herited from his estate a tract of one hun- 
dred and forty acres. To the development 
and cultivation of this he devoted his en- 
ergies until the 23rd of April, 1861. Al- 
most immediately following the outbreak 
of the Civil war, in response to President 
Lincoln's first call for volunteers, Mr. Stew- 
art offered his services to the government, 
becoming a member of Company E, Six- 
teenth Ohio Infantry, under command of 
Captain Philip Kershner. He was with 
that regiment for about four months and 
was with the division that was at Phillippi 
and Carricks Ford. On the expiration of 
his term of service he returned home. 

On the 28th of January, 1862, Mr. Stew- 
art was married to Miss Rachel Nichelson, 
of Harmony township, Clark county, where 
she was born, a daughter of Andrew and 
Rachel (Hammond) Nichelson. They 
lived upon his farm in Green township until 



416 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1884, and he aiid his wife owning aUogeth- 
er more than eight hundred acres of land, 
in the year mentioned they removed to his 
present home in Piattsburg, where Mr. 
Stewart erected a fine residence, and has 
since practically lived retired although he 
has valuable and extensive farming interest. 

The home at Mr. and Mrs. Stewart has 
been blessed with three children who grew 
to maturity. Herbert P., the eldest, mar- 
ried Miss Armina Tuttle and resides in 
Green township. They have four sons, Ira, 
Roy, Walter and Arthur. Ralph, who is 
secretary of the Mutual Aid Society and re- 
sides in Springfield, married Miss Grace 
Carlton and they have one son, Oscar Carl- 
ton. Frank E. who completes the family, 
is at home. 

Mr. Stewart votes with the Repuolican 
party, having endorsed its principles since 
the time when John C. Fremont was its first 
candidate in 1856. He belongs to the Chris- 
tian church at Plattsburg and is one of its 
deacons. He is also a member of Wilson 
Post, Xo. 602, G. A. R., at Vienna Cross- 
roads. He has filled all of the chairs in 
the local post and has attended the national 
reunions held at Philadelphia and Colum- 
bus. He also visited the Centennial Expo- 
sition in Philadelphia in 1876 and the 
World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. 



CAPTAIX H.\RRY M. KAXKIX. 

Harry M. Rankin, who is captain of the 
Central Fire Comjxiny of Springfield, was 
born in West Jefferson. Madison comity. 
Ohio. Oct(>lx:r 4. 1859. and is a son of War- 
ren H. Rankin. Sr.. l>eing the second cliild 
and oldest son born of his father's second 



marriage. In the public schools of Clark 
county he obtained his educatitni and at the 
age of ele\en years he l>egan work on a farm 
attending school during the winter months. 
He was in tlie employ of Thomas McBeth, 
a farmer, and when Mr. McBeth removed to 
Springfield the subject of this review re- 
mained in his employ. He learned the 
florist Ixisiness with that gentleman and af- 
ter having thoroughly mastered it in prin- 
ciple and detail he began business for himself 
in 1880, renting the Clayson greenhouse. 
There he engaged in the raising of flowers 
and vegetables and as success attended his 
efforts he was afterward enabled to purchase 
land and erected a home and greenhouses of 
his own, meeting with 'prosperity in the 
conduct of his business through a number of 
years. He spent a few months in the south, 
but did not relinquish his business during 
his absence from the city. While in the 
south he worked for.tlie South Florida 
Railroad Company for eight months and 
then returned to Springfield, where he con- 
tinued in business as a florist for a year, 
conducting a general retail trade. In 1886 
he was emjiloyed as a clerk in a large general 
store in SpringfieUl. 

Tlie same year he became a member of 
the fire department and later received a regu- 
lar ajjpointment. By close attaition to his 
duty he has steadily worked his way upward 
until he now occupies the responsible posi- 
tion of captain of the Central Fire Company. 
He was first stationed in the Central engine 
house, where he remained until 1889, when 
lie was transferred to No. 4. Sotm after- 
ward he was made captain there and subse- 
quently he was returned to the Central sta- 
tion with the rank of captain. .\s is usual 
witii the firemen he has had varied experi- 
ences and has many times narrowly escaped 




HARRY M. RANKIN. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



with his Hfe. As great courage, fearlessness 
and sound judgment are required from those 
who aid in protecting the community from 
the fire element as is demanded of those who 
fight for liberty or principle upon the field 
olf battle. Captain Rankin also has had 
varied experiences in handling apparatus 
and men and has kept abreast with improve- 
ments that have been made in the methods 
of fighting fires through the means O'f su- 
perior mechanical appliances. His atten- 
tion is given in an undivided manner to his 
duties and he enjoys the highest respect and, 
regard of the men who serve under him. 

On the 1 6th of August, 1880, occurred 
the marriage of Captain Rankin and Miss 
Anna E. Ritter, who was born in Spring-field 
August 31, i860, and is a daughter of Sam- 
uel and Catherine Ritter, both of whom are 
residents of this city and are now in ad- 
vanced years. Mrs. Rankin was educated in 
the public schools here and by her n-arriage 
became the mother of twelve children, but 
four of this number are now deceased. 
Frederick, born in 1881, died at the age of 
eighteen years, four months and fourteen 
days; Earl E., born February 11, 1883, is 
now a resident of Muncie, Indiana ; Elmer, 
born in 1884, died in infancy; \\'alter V., 
bfirn No'vember 12, 1885, is serving in the 
United States navy, being stationed at Xew- 
port, Rhode Island; Clifford, l»rn in 1887, 
died at the age of two months; Herhert, 
Ixirn October 22, 1888, is in the employ of 
his uncle in the restaurant business; Ralph, 
born May i, 1S90, is at home; Wilbin-, born 
in 1892, died at the age of five months and 
twenty-one days ; and Arthur, born Septem- 
ber 20. 1893, Hazel M., born Sqjteirber 13, 
1895, Harry, Jr., born .\ugust 8, 1898, and 
Esther, born April iq. iqoi, are still with 
their parents. 



Captain Rankin purchased lot No. 584 
Lagonda avenue and erected thereon his 
present home. In his political affiliations he 
has ever been a Republican but has ne\'er 
sought or desired office. He belongs to 
Qark Lodge, No. loi, F. & A. M., and 
Springfield Chapter, No. 48, R. A. M., and ' 
he also holds membership in Ephraim 
Lodge, No. 146, I. O. O. F., and the Fire- 
men's Relief Association, in which he has 
filled all the offices. His wife is a member 
of the ■ First Congregational church. He 
obtained a practical education in the school 
of experience and realizing that fidelity to 
duty is one of the strong elements of success 
he has through this means and through 
ability steadily worked his wa}- upward. 



LUKE L. YOUNG. 

.\lmost twenty years have passed since 
Luke L. Young became a resident of 
Spring"field. He is now an engineer on the 
Ohio Southern Railroad, and is one of the 
most capable representatives of the com- 
pany. He was born in Woodburn, Macou- 
pin county, Illinois, August 15, i860, and is 
a son of the Rev. John C. Yoimg, a minister 
of the Christian church, who was born in 
North Carolina in 1S07 and went to Illinois 
when e!e\-en years of age in company with 
his father, John Young, who was one of the 
pioneers of that state, locating there in the 
year in which Illinois was admitted to the 
Union. There the father of our subject 
was reared to manhood amid the wild scenes 
of pioneer life and became connected with 
tlie farming interests, which he followed 
successfully for many years, accumulating 
considerable property. He also devoted 



420 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



much of his time and energies to the work 
of proclaiming the gospel, as a minister of 
the Christian church, and his influence was 
of no restricted order. He left the impress of 
his individuality for good upon many lives 
with whom he came in contact. As a com- 
panion and helpmeet for life's journey he 
chose Sarah F. Hall, who was born in Ten- 
nessee June 14, 1826, and is now residing 
in \lattoon. Illinois. He had been previously 
inarried. and by the first union there were 
three children. Unto the parents of our sub- 
ject were bom four sons and a daughter: 
Edwin, who is the superintendent of the 
Young Advertising Agency in Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania; S. P., who is a traveling 
salesnian for the firm of Fairbanks & Morse, 
and lives in Mattoon Illinois; Arthur C, 
who is engaged in the drug business in Har- 
risburg, Pennsylvania; Luke L. of this re- 
view ; and Mrs. Sarah Madison, whose hus- 
band is general car foreman for the St. 
Louis & Peoria Railroad Company, and re- 
sides in Springfield, Illinois. The children 
were all educated in the public schools and 
in the colleges in Eureka and Carrollton, Il- 
linois. Tlie father, after a long, useful and 
honorable life coverinig seventy-five years, 
passed away in Toledo, Illinois, in August, 
1882. 

To the public school system of his na- 
tive state Luke L. Young is indebted for the 
early educational privileges he received. At 
the age of twelve years he began working in 
a printing oftice in Litchfield, Illinois, and 
after learning the trade he followed it for 
six years. Subsetiuently he si>ent two years 
in a machine shop, being employed as a brass 
founder in the railroad shops. In April, 
1883. he came to Springfield and secured a 
situation in the shops of the Ohio Southern 
Raiload. He there remained for a few 



months, but in the same year he went upon 
the road as a fireman, and in February, 1886, 
was promoted to the position of engineer in 
recognition of his capability and faithful- 
ness. He has been in the passenger service 
since 1899 rvmning between Springfield and 
Jackson, and at different times has worked 
on various divisions of the road. He has seen 
many changes in the road and the manage- 
ment, has witnessed many improvements, 
and is now the third oldest man in the ser- 
Aice of the company. He has l>een fortunate 
in that he has never had to serve any time 
because of accidents to property. He is 
very careful in his work, and his systematic 
labors and his care and precisi(jn have 
gained for him the confidence of the corpor- 
ation which he serves. 

Mr. Young organized the division Xo. 
360 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire- 
men and was made its master. He after- 
ward left that organization and joined the 
division No. 208 of the Brotherhood of Lo- 
comotive Engineers, of which he became 
corresponding and financial secretary, serv- 
ing in this office for eleven years. He was a 
delegate to the St. Louis convention in 1898 
and to the convention in Milwaukee in 1900. 
He is at present chairman of the board of 
adjustments of the Xorthern and Southern 
Divisions of Engineers, and has been 
brought in touch with the leading men of 
the countr}- in this w^ay. 

In Illinois, in 1880, Mr. Young was 
united in marriage to Miss Minnie D. 
Strickland, whose birth occurred in Charles- 
ton, Illinois, June 21, i860. Her father, 
Henry Strickland, is one of the oldest en- 
gineers on the St. Louis division of the Big 
Four Railroad, and although sixty-five years 
of age is still in active duty. In his family 
are three daughters and a son : Mrs. Min- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



nie Young;: Mrs. Samuel Wheat, of Waco, 
Texas ; Olive ; and Charles, who is an en- 
gineer and lives at home. Unto Mr. and 
Mrs. Young have been born five children, of 
whom two died in early childhood — Ethel 
and Charles. Tht others are : Frank, who 
was born July 4, 1886; Florence, born May 
30, 1889; and Ruth, born October 5, 1891. 
Socially Mr. Young is connected with 
Clark Lodge, No. loi, F. & A. M. ; Spring- 
field Chapter, No. 48, R. A. M. ; Springfield 
Council, No. 17, R. & S. M.; and Palestine 
Commandery, No. 2)i, K. T. He also be- 
loiUgs to MoiicriefTe Lodge, No. 2,^,, K. P., 
and his wife is a member of the Clifton Av- 
einie Methodist Episcopal church, to the sup- 
port of which he is a liberal contributor. In 
politics he is a Jacksonian Democrat, but has 
never been an active worker in party ranks. 
\n his life he exemplifies the spirit and teach- 
ings of the Masonic fraternity, of which he 
is a worthy representative. He has a rail- 
road career above criticism, and is deserv- 
ing of high commendation because of his 
ability and fidelity. 



CHARLES EDWARD BOST. 

Charles Edward Bost, who is occupying 
the position of foreman blacksmith for the 
Superior Drill Company, having serve;l in 
this capacity since March, 1886, was born 
in Frederick City, Maryland, January 18, 
1851, and is a son of Isaac Bost, whose birth 
occurred in Frederick c(Xinty. Maryland, in 
1817, wliile his death occurred in 1895. ' ''"^ 
l)ateinal grandfather. Henry Bust, was 
a farmer and slave-holder. Under the par- 
ental roof Isaac Bost was reared, acquiring 
a common-school education and through- 



out his active career 'le was engaged in 
wood-working. He wedded Mary Frazier, 
who was born in Maryland in 1820 and died 
in that state in 1900. Her father, Jeremiali 
Frazier, was a soldier in the war of 1812, 
and our subject now has in his possession a 
musket which was carried by the grandfath- 
er in that second struggle with England. 
Jeremiah Frazier was a cabinet-maker by 
trade and thus supported his family. The 
Bost family is of English lineage. The 
father of our subject was a Democrat in 
his political views, and both he and his wife 
were meinbers of the Lutheran church. Un- 
to them were born nine children, of whom 
two daughters died in early childhood. The 
others are as follows : Cornelia is the wife 
of Valentine Hartman, a resident of Carroll 
county, Maryland. George served in the 
Civil war, becoming a member of the First 
Maryland Regiment of Infantry, with which 
he served as a private until he was wounded 
in both legs. He went to the west in 1875. 
Simeon L. W., a resident of Braddock, Fred- 
erick county, Maryland, is a blacksmith by 
trade and is now serving as a member of 
the state legislature. Charles Edward is the 
next of the family. Zachariah F.. is a 
blacksmith of Springfield, now in the em- 
ploy of the Springfield Architectural Iron 
Works Company. Gideon is a butcher by 
trade and is living in Michigan. William 
D. is a fireman residing in Springfield. The 
children were all educated in the common 
schools and in an academy in Frederick 
coiuity, Maryland, and all of the sons have 
become connected with mechanical pursuits. 
Charles Edward Bost was educated as 
were the other members of the family un- 
til sixteen years of age, when he put aside 
his text books and was apprenticed to learn 
the Ijlacksmith's trade in Lovettsville. \"ir- 



422 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ginia. He served for a term of two years 
there and afterward spent two years at an- 
other place as an apprentice in the same 
neighborhood. He was afterward con- 
nected with the Antietam Iron Works for a 
time and subsequently followed blacksmith- 
ing in Knoxville, Maryland. In the spring 
of 1875 he arrived in Springheld and found 
employment as a journeyman tool dresser 
in the New Champion Works. In the sum- 
mer of 1885 he entered the service of the 
P. P. Mast Company in the same capacity, 
and in 1886 he was offered a position of 
foreman of the blacksmith department of 
the Superior Drill Company, which position 
be accepted, having since served in that 
capacity. He now has twenty-three men 
under his immediate supervision and is well 
qualified to direct their labors owing to his 
practical undeistanding of the business. He 
has devoted his entire attention to the work 
of the department and hundreds of tons of 
iron annually pass through the shops, being 
molded under his supervision. 

Mr. Bost was married in Virginia in 
1870 to Jane E. Butts, who wiis born in 
Virginia in 1852, a daughter of Oliver G. 
Butts, who was a blacksmith by trade and 
died in the Old Dominion in 1901. In his 
(family were three sons and four daughters, 
including Mrs. Mary Conard, of Pittsburg, 
Pennsyh'-ania ; Mrs. Etta Nuse, of Spring- 
field; and Mrs. Bost. Unto our subject 
and his wife have been born three children, 
two ilaughters and a son, who ha\e lived 
to years of maturity, and one daughter died 
in infancy at Antietam, Maryland. Orrie. 
born in Virginia, in 1871, is the wife of 
Rev. F. E. Leamer. a Lutheran minister, 
who was educated at Wittenberg C( lle^e. 
She, too, was a student in Wittenberg, mak- 
ing a specialty nf vrn-al and instrumental 



music, and for ten years, from the time of 
me organization of the Second Lutheran 
church, she served as its organist. Frank- 
lin ("i. horn in 1875. is now in the black- 
smith department of the Superior Drill 
Con pany. 01i\er G.. an adopted son, was 
born in Sandy Hook, Maryland, in 1881, 
and is a son of a sister of Mrs. Bost. He 
was educated in the public schools, after- 
ward made a tour of the south, the west 
and of Canada, and is now a bolt-maker in 
the employ of the Superior Drill Company. 

In 1875 Mr. Bost removed to his pres- 
ent location and after renting for a time 
he purchased a house and iremodeiled jt, 
making it a very comfortable home. He 
came to Springfield a poor man, but by sav- 
ing his earnings and judiciously investing 
his capital in real estate he has accumulated 
a comfortable competence. He and his 
wife have worked harmoniously side by side 
and are now living to enjoy the fruits of 
their labor. He owes his advancement en- 
tirely to his well directed efforts, his capa- 
l)ility and his well-known honesty. Both 
]Mr. and Mrs. Bost are members of the Sec- 
ond Lutheran church. They were among 
a company of forty-five who left the First 
Lutheran church and organized the Second 
Lutheran church in 1885, ibecoming char- 
ter members. For ten years he served as a 
deacon and in 1900 was elected an elder. 
He has servetl on the official board since the 
organization of the chureh. and for ten 
years was treasurer of the Sunday-school. 
In politics he is a Democrat and while he 
has never been an aspirant for public office 
he has frequently served as a delegate to 
the city and county conventions. In the 
spring of 1902 he was appointed by Mayor 
Milligan as a member of the board of po- 
lice and fire commissioners. He has taken 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



a decided stand against Sunday desecration 
and labors earnestly to uphold the dignity of 
the police and tire departments. Socially 
he identified with Anthony Lodge, F. & A. 
M., having been made a Mason in 1893. He 
is also a member of the National Fraternal 
Union, in which he is an officeholder. A 
man of domestic habits, fond of his own 
home, he is also public-spiritetl and progres- 
sive and is one of the highly respecletl resi- 
dents of his adopted city. 



SAMUEL R. HOCKMAN. 

Samuel Rhodes Hockman since 1876 
has owned and operated the Eagle City 
Mills in German township, on the banks of 
Mad river, and is a well known and worthy 
representative oi the industrial interests of 
this portion of the county. He was born in 
Shenandoah county, Virginia, near Wood- 
stock, September 26, 182 1, and is a son of 
Peter and Rebecca (Rhodes) Hockman. 
His grandfather, George Hockman, was 
also a native of Shenandoah county, born 
April 26, 1777, and his death occurred 
April 21, 1847. The father of our sub- 
ject, was a farmer by occupation, carrying 
on agricultural pursuits throughout his bus- 
iness career. He passed away December 
II, 1873, at the age of seventy-three years, 
eight- months and eleven days, while his 
wife who was born November 17, 1798, 
died in Virginia, April 7, 1878. 

Mr. Hockman of this review remained 
with his parents until he had attaijied his 
majority, at which time he secured employ- 
ment in a mill at Tomsbrook, in liis native 
county, entering the services nf William 
Wright, with whom he remained for a year. 



receiving five dollars per month in compen- 
sation for his labor. He was then able to^ 
doi a journeyman's work, and manifested 
such efficiency that not long afterward he 
obtained a position as foreman of a mill. 
He also operated rented mills in different 
places. 

On the 29th O'f January, 1852, in Shen- 
andoah county, Virginia, occurred the mar- 
riage of Mr. Hockman and Miss Eliza 
Gochenour, who was born in that county 
February 14, 1829, the youngest daughter 
of Christian Gochenour and his wife, who 
were likewise natives of Virginia. As Mr. 
Hcckman was a miller he was exempt from 
military service in the Civil war. He lived,, 
however, in the path of the contending arm- 
ies and had to grind grain for both the Un- 
ion and Confederate troops. He also suf- 
fered considerable loss because of the con- 
ditions O'f the war and a'fter its close he 
came to Ohio in 1867, having just about 
enough money to bring him to this locality. 
He had a brother living in Champaign coun- 
t} and was thus induced to seek a home in 
this state. Mr. Hockman worked by the 
month for a year at fifty dollars per month. 
He afterward rented mills, which he con- 
ducted until 1876, when he purchased the 
Eagle City Mills, becoming the owner of a 
half interest and of twelve acres of land. 
After two years he became sole proprietor 
and has since conducted the mill with good 
success. In 1885 he equipped it with a full 
roller process and is now doing a good bus- 
iness in the manufacture of flour, the sales 
of his product being quite extensive. He 
also bought other land until he now has 
eighty-five acres. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hockman have been 
born ten children : ^klilton Henry, born 
November 11, 18^2, married Ella Dietrich. 



424 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and lives in German townsliip. niey have 
three children — Ada, who is keeping liouse 
for her grandfather; Nora and Ida. Ly- 
dia Catherine, horn April 6, 1854, in Shen- 
andoah county, Virginia, is the wife of 
George Swartz of German township, and 
.they have two children, Elma and Cora. 
Mary M., born in Virginia April 6, 1858, 
died March i, 1885, and was buried at Tre- 
mont. John Martin, born September 14, 
1859, in Virginia, married Anna Christ, and 
they have two children, Effie and Noah. 
William A., born November 2, 1862, in Vir- 
ginia, married Edna Mann, by whom he had 
one child, Wesley. He afterward married 
Miss Grirbe and his third wife bore the 
maiden name! of Agnes Markee. Their 
home is near New Carlisle, Ohio. Benja- 
min F., born in Virginia, March 18, 1865, 
is married and lives at Sumner, Illinois. 
Samuel D., born in Virginia, January 8, 
1867. is a dentist, practicing in Charleston, 
Illinois. Enma \'.. Imhii in Campaign coun- 
ty, Ohio, April 19, 1869, is the wife of 
Thomas H. Prosser, who was born in Mon- 
mouthshire, England. October 7, 1870, and 
came to America with his parents when ten 
years of age. Anna R. died in childhood. 
Betty, born August 12, 1874, is the wife 
of Charles Shoup, of Pike township. 

Mr. Hockman is not a politician nor an 
office seeker. He served, however, as post- 
master of Eagle City for twenty-two years 
for the accommodation of the neighborhood. 
He was reared in the faith of the German 
Baptist church and he has always lived an 
upright, honorable life, characterized by dil- 
igence and perseverance. All that he ix>s- 
sesses has come to him as the direct re- 
ward of his earnest labor and the popular 
miller of Eagle City is widely and favor- 
ablv known. 



JAMES P. LEFFEL 

Eighty-five years have passed since 
James P. Leffel, now deceased, came to 
Clark county to cast in his lot with its pio- 
neer settlers. People of the present century 
can scarcely realize the struggles and dan- 
gers which attended the early settlers, the 
heroism and self-sacrifice of lives passed 
upon the borders of civilization, the hard- 
ships endured, the difficulties overcome. 
These tales of the early days read almost like 
a romance to those who ha\'e known only 
the modern prosperity and conveniences. 
To the pioneers of the early days, far re- 
moved from the privileges or conveniences 
of city or town, the struggle for existence 
v.as a stern and hard one, and these men 
and women must have possessed indomita- 
ble energy and sterling moral worth of 
character, as well as marked physical cour- 
age, when they thus voluntarily selected 
such a life and successfully fought its bat- 
tles under such circumstances as prevailed 
in Ohio in the early part of the nineteenth 
century. Mr. Leffel was one formed in 
strong physical and moral mold and he took 
an active and important part in transform- 
ing this wild region from its primitive condi- 
tion to a state of richness that made it a 
valuable farming district. 

I'.iini in liiitetonrt cnuiUy, X'irginia. 
March 20, 1799. James P. Leffel was a son 
of John and Margaret (Osbshane) Leffel, 
who were also natives of Botetourt county. 
where the father died. In their family were 
eleven children:. Samuel: John; Jacob; 
Daniel; .\nthony: Thomas; James P.; 
Mary, who became the wife of Abraham 
Perry: Elizabeth, the wife of William 
lXx)d: Margaret, the wife of Arthur Cola- 
son; and Sarah, the wife of Michael Tay- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



425 



lor. After the death of the fatlrer the moth- 
ei and children left Virginia and came to 
Clark county, Ohio, settling m Bethel town- 
ship. 

Daniel LefTel was the first of tiie broth- 
ers to emigrate to this state, arriving some 
four years before our subject. In 1817 
James P. Leffel and his mother came over- 
land, arriving at Daniel's home on the day 
on which he was eighteen years of age — 
March 20, 1817. I'he family has long 
been connected with the history of Spring- 
field and of Clark county, many of them be- 
coming prosperous farmers here. The 
subject of this review found employment 
as a farm hand, receiving eight dollars per 
month for his services. He was industrious 
and economical and after four years spent in 
that way he entered the employ of his broth- 
er John in a 'fanning mill and a year later 
became a partner in his milling and distill- 
ing 'business near Enon. They built the 
mill which for years was owned and oper- 
ated by Henry Snyder and were thus early 
connected with the development of indus- 
trial interests here. At that time there were 
no railroads or canals and Mr. Leffel would 
take the flour which he manufactured to 
Cincinnati by ox-teams. Money was very 
scarce in Ohio in those times and so he fre- 
quently received merchandise in exchange 
for the breadstuffs which he sold, and on 
returning with this to Clark county he 
would sell it to the people of this commun- 
ity for cash or exchange it for wheat. He 
continued in the milling business for about 
eight years, selling out in 1854. He then 
removed to Springfield township, south of 
the city, where he purchased a farm and 
tliereon he spent his remaining days, adding 
to his property from time to time as his fin- 
ancial resources increased. His judicious 



inxestments made him one of the prosperous 
agriculturists of the community and he 
owned sixteen hundred acres of fine farm- 
ing land, well improved, besides valuable 
business blocks and other city property. 

Un the 1st of January, 1820, James P. 
Leffel was united in marriage to Miss Eliz- 
abeth Miller, a native of Virginia and a 
daughter of Ferdinand and Elizabeth (Per- 
ry) Miller. They had ten children : Mich- 
ael born March 22, 1822, married Elizabeth 
Cosier and died at his home on the Yellow 
Springs pike; Martin, a farmer, died in Mi- 
ami county, Ohio; James M. is also de- 
ceased; Joseph is mentioned elsewhere in 
this volume; Reuben, born May 9, 1836, 
married Rachel McClelland ; Elizabeth is the 
widow of Ma.thew Irie and resides on South 
Limestone street, Springfield ; Scott is a res- 
dent of Dayton ; Margaret died in child- 
hood ; Abigail and Benjamin are also de- 
ceased. 

Air. Left'el was a man of strict business 
principles, thoroughly reliable, and his word 
was as good as his bond. He was never 
known to enter into any business transaction 
that could not bear the closest investigation 
and his name thus became a synonym for 
honesty. He was an adherent of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church and in his political 
views was first a Whig and after the organ- 
ization of the Republican party joined its 
ranks. He died April 7, 1887, having for 
fourteen years survived his wife, and was 
then laid by her side in Ferncliff cemetery. 
He had passed the eighty-eighth milestone 
on life's journey and his path had ever been 
the straight one, which indicates an upright 
character and devotion to principle. He 
bore no unimportant part in the early de- 
velopment and improvement of this portion 
of Ohio but helped to change pioneer condi- 



426 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lions to tliose of a more advanced civiliza- 
tion, that the white man might have the 
use of this rich and fertile section of the 
state. His work was well done, his pros- 
perity worthily won and to h-m is due a 
debt of gratitude from present and coming 
generations who profit Ijy what he accom- 
jijished in pioneer times. 



HARRY A. TOUL^nX, B. L. 

As a representative of the class of sub- 
stantial builders of the great commonwealth 
of Ohio who have served faithfully in this 
enterprising state, we present the subject of 
this sketch who has performed his full duty 
in establishing and maintaining the material 
interests, legal status and moral welfare of 
this community. He is particularly well 
known as a patent lawyer and in this branch 
of the science of jurisprudence he has be- 
come a sijecialist. He has gained distinc- 
tion, continucfl.is stu<l\- and investigation 
broadening his knowledge and increasing 
his capability until he has few equals among 
the patent lawyers of Ohio. 

Harry Aubrey- Toulmin was born in 
Toulminviile. Ala'bama, November 26. 1858. 
His father, Morton Toulmin, was a cotton 
broker erf Mobile, Alabama, and died in the 
year 1896. His widow, who bore the maiden 
name of Frances H. Toulmin. is now a resi- 
dent of Springfield. The l)o\-ho<xl days of 
Harry A. Toulmin were passed in the city 
of Mobile, where he attended a private 
school and later he was a student in Xew 
Orleans and subsecpiently in Washington, 
D. C. where he pursued his studies for 
several years. After completing his school 
education he entered the law department of 



the National University at Washingtoii, D. 
C, and was graduated in that institution in 
June, 1882. with the degree of Bachelor of 
Law, standing second in a class of fifty. 
During this time he was also employed as 
managing clerk in the office of a patent law 
firm of the capital city. After his gradua- 
tion he was admitted to the bar of the state 
of Maryland in Octol>er, 1883, first upon 
oral examination in an open session of 
court and then upon motion in the supreir.e 
court of the state. In March. 1884, he was 
admitted to practice in the supreme court of 
the District of Columbia. 

Jn the meantime, in 1883. Mr. Toulmin 
formed a jiartnership for the practice of 
patent law, which he had adopted as his 
specialty, tecoming a memlier of the firm of 
Toulmin & Sen-.nes, which relation was main- 
tained until February, 1897. tie received 
early recognition at the bar in his specialty 
and his services were retained by many man- 
ufacturing establishments in various parts 
of the ccnmtry. He was regarded as one of 
the leaders of the younger members of the 
1:ar of the patent office. Finally, in Septem- 
ber. 18S5. on the solicitation of clients who 
desired him to open an office in Springfield, 
he came to this city still retaining, however, 
his \\'ashingt(xi office. He receivetl further 
recognition from Springfield n-.anufacturers 
and offers were made by them of retainers 
if he would settle regularly in this city. Ac- 
cordingly he took this step in February, 
1887. and lias since been a resident of Clark 
county. He has an e.xtensive clientage, re- 
ceiving the patronage not only of many 
Springfield manufacturers and inventors, 
but also i){ many prominent business men 
throughout the middle west, his practice 
covering a wide territory. He is retained 
bv the vear bv numerous manufacturers and 




H. A. TOULMIN. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



429 



the jjatent law Ixisiness which he has man- 
aged has been of a very important character. 

FolloAving his admission to the eastern 
courts referred to abo\-e, he was admitted 
to the federal courts of Ohio and of other 
states of the middle west and of the west, 
while in December, 1893, he was admitted 
to practice in the supreme court of the United 
States, upon the calling of his first case in 
that tribunal. He fought for a doctrine in 
that case which was adopted and announced 
by the court in its opinion and which there- 
after became the leading case upon that 
propositiijn — the effect of a prior patent is- 
sued by the goivernment upon a subsecjuent 
patent issued to the same party for subject 
matter embodied in such prior patent ; the 
proper practice of the patent office under 
such conditions and the relation of such 
cpiestion t<j' the matter of attem.pted per- 
petuity under patents. While Air. Toulmin 
has been so engaged in the practice of patent 
law he \vds also become associated with some 
of the important industries of Springfield. 
He was one of the organizers and incorpor- 
ators of the Victor Supply Company and is 
now one of its directors and the vice presi- 
dent. This company coaiducts a manufactur- 
ing and jobbing house, doing business in 
Springfield, Ohio. 

In April, 1887, was celebrated the mar- 
riage (jf Mr. Tonlmin and Miss Rosamond 
E\"ans, a daughter of Dr. Warwick and 
'Sluvy Mason. (Washington) Evans, of 
Washington, D. C. Unto them have been 
]3in-n two children, Warwick ]\Iorton, who 
died at the age oi sixteen months ; ;and 
Harrv Aubre}', Jr. The parents are mem- 
bers of Christ Episcopal church, of which 
Mr. Toulmin is serving as vestr}'man at the 
present time. He has taken an active part 
in charitable and benevolent work in this 



city and is recognized as a benefactor of 
different public benevolent interests. For 
a shc'rt time he was. a director in the Young 
Men's Christian Association while its new 
building was being erected. He resigned 
that position for want of time to give to 
the duties of the office as he conceived them 
to be. For the past seven years he has been 
a member oi the lx>ard of associated charities 
of Springfield, is an active worker on the 
finance committee and does all in his power 
to promote the object O'f its organization. 
He has also taken an active interest in the 
city b.ospital which at one time came under 
tiie care of the board of public affairs. 

Mr. Toulmin llias always been a Demo- 
crat in his political affiliations and both in 
anil out of office has been- an eairnest worker 
in jjehalf of improivements and measures for 
the general grwxl of the city. Ele was an ad- 
\is>.)ry member and the vice president of the 
board of public affairs of Springfield froan 
1895 until 1897 during the administration 
of Mayor P. P. Mast, and during that time 
the initial ^\•ork involved in the planning 
and construction oif Snyder Park was done 
and he is the author of the inscription on the 
n.-.cmorial stone iti the park. The park com- 
prises a tract of two hundred and ten acres 
wifich at that time had recently been donated 
by Snyder Brothers to the city and this board 
had in cha'rge the plan for preparing the 
park and instituting the work of imiprove- 
ment. As a citizen Mr. Tonlmin has ever 
Ijeen actuated by motives for the general 
grind, with no desire for the honors of office, 
finding that his time and attention are fully 
('.cu])ie(l by his private business interests. 
In. the department oi jurisprudence which he 
decided to make his specialty he has achieved 
prominence and is no less distinguished and 
honored as a citizen than as a lawver. 



430 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



REV. CHARLES STROUD. 

Rev. Charles Stroud, whose labors have 
been a potent element in the moral devel- 
opment of Springfield and of this section of 
Ohio, and whose business ability has been 
demonstrated in his judicious investment 
and careful conduct of private affairs, well 
deserves representation in this volume as 
one of the most prominent and honored men 
of this city. Eor nearly twenty years he 
was pastor of the Gennan Lutheran church. 
Be was born in the city of Reading, Penn- 
sylvania, on the 4th of January, 1822, and 
is a son of Jonathan and Catherine (Eisen- 
beise) Stroud. His paternal grandfather 
was born in Bristol, England, and, having 
attained to man's estate, he emigrated to 
America. He first settled in Montgomery 
count)-, Pennsylvania, but afterward re- 
moved to Reading, that state, where he car- 
ried on agricultural pursuits until his death, 
which occurred when he was sixty years of 
age. He was a member of the Society of 
Friends and a man whose upright, honora- 
ble life won for •him the confidence and re- 
spect of all with whom he was associated. 
Jonathan Stroud, the father of our subject, 
was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, and 
was reared in that state. In his youth he 
aided his father in conductinig a store and 
later engaged in merchandising on his own . 
account in that city, where he died when 
thirty-two years of age. His wife was a 
native of Pennsylvania and was of German 
ancestry. She died in 1843. In their fam- 
ily were six children, of whom the sub- 
ject of this review was the fourth in ortler 
of birth. 

Rev. Stroud of this review was only 
seven year of age at the time of his fa- 
ther's death. He acquired hi^ preliminary 



education in the public schools, also pursued 
a preparatory course in the Pennsylvania 
College at Gettysburg, and in 1849 came 
to Springfield, where he pursued his edu- 
cation at Wittenberg College. In 1850 he 
took up the stud}- of theology and was 
graduated in that department with the class 
of 1851, after which he was licaised to 
preach by the Miami synod. While still a 
student he had begun preaching in Spring- 
field, having been engaged as regular pas- 
tor of St. John's church, and for twenty 
years he continued to occupy its pulpit. Dur- 
ing this time the church made substantial 
and commendable progress and proved a po- 
tent element for good in the community. 
Rev. Stroud labored earnestly for the up- 
building of the cause of Christianity 
through this organization. He was an earn- 
est, logical speaker and was the loved pas- 
ter of his flock. People of all denomina- 
tions respected and honored him and his 
v.ork in behalf of the church which proved 
of great public good. 

While in school, Rev. Stroud had be- 
come accpiainted with Miss Clara Keever, 
who was a student in the hoarding school of 
Springfield, while he was here pursuing his 
collegiate work. She was born near Leb- 
anon, in Warren county, Ohio, and there 
their marriage was celebrated on the 28th 
of August, 1 85 1. The lady was a daughter 
of John and Elizabeth (Rogers) Keever, 
who were natives of Franklin county, Penn- 
sylvania, and of Georgetown, Kentucky, re- 
spectivel}'. Her paternal grandfather was 
John Keever, formerly of Pemisylvania, in 
which state he lived and died. John Keever 
the father of !Mrs. Stroud, removed to 
Warren county, Ohio, purchased large 
tracts of land there, improved his farms 
and therehv gained a fortune. He died in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1834, while his wife passed away at the age 
of se\enty-t\vo }ears. In their family were 
twelve children, Mrs. Stroud being the elev- 
enth in order of birth. She pursued her 
education in the seminary on East High 
street and was a most estimable lady. At 
the time of their marriage Rev. Stroud re- 
ceived the meagre salary of two hundred 
and fifty dollars per year and it was not un- 
til nine years later that his salary was in- 
creased to five hundred dollars per year. As 
time passed, however, he managed to save 
some money and make investments in real 
estate, which were so judiciously placed that 
his capital was largely increased. He then 
made other improvements and in this 
way acquired a handsome capital. He 
made two -additions to the cit}- of Spring- 
field known as Stroud" s first and second ad- 
ditions. These were platted in 1875, and 
in 1871 his wife inherited a half interest in 
]\Jount Ayr, the county seat in Ringgold 
county, Iowa. In 1901 Rev. Stroud was 
called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, 
who departed this life on the 27th of Sep- 
tember, of that year. Their married life 
had covered the long span of fifty years and 
twenty-seven days and they celebrated their 
golden wedding only a short time prior to 
the death of Mrs. Stroud. The warm es- 
teem in which she was universally held was 
indicated by the fact that her funeral was 
one of the largest ever held in Springfield. 
The synod took action upon her death in 
the following: "Resolved, that the sym- 
pathy of this body is hereby extended to our 
sorely ibeireaved Brother Stroud in these 
hours of loneliness." The above was a re- 
lK)rt on the president's report, which fol- 
lows : "\\'e are called upon also to^ record 
the death of the \\ife of our brother, the 
Rev. Charles Stroud, which occurred at 



Springfield, Ohio, on September ;27th after 
a protracted illness. Funeral ser\-ices were 
held from the family residence on the 29th. 
They were conducted by Dr. AI. J. Firey, 
of the First church oif which the deceased 
had long jjeen a consistent member. He 
was assisted in the services by Drs. Ruth- 
raufif and Breckenridge, of ^\'ittenberg 
Seminary, and your president. In the 
death of his Avife Brother Stroud lost a 
helpmeet, indeed and the sincere sympathy 
of our synod goes out to him in his great 
affliction. May 'He who gi\-eth His grace 
to the sorrowing' ever be his comfort and 
support." 

The father of our subject was an old line 
Whig, and reared in the faith of that party. 
Rev. Stroud cast his first presidential iballot 
for Henry Clay. In 1856 he voted for Fre- 
mont and has since been a stalwart Republi- 
can. In early life he became a member of 
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but 
afterward demitted from that organization. 
Soon after his marriage he joined Spring- 
field Lodge, No: loi, F. & A. IM. and has 
since attained tO' the eighteenth degree of 
the Scottish Rite. At the time of the Civil 
w-ar he wag a stanch Union man and used 
his aid and influence to further the cause of 
freedom. Rev. Stroud's fine residence at 
the corner of High and Shafer streets is 
a splendid structure standing in the midst 
of fine grounds and the beauties of this place 
do much to make the evening of life pleas- 
ant for this honored and venerable man 
who has traveled lifes' journey for more 
than eighty years. Although he has retired 
from acti\-e connection with the ministry, 
his zeal and interest in church work have 
never abated and his influence has e\-er been 
found on the side of the right the true and 
the beautiful. \Miatever has tended to 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



benetit man or uplift the race and to pro- 
mote the cause of Christianity have received 
his endorsement and support, and while he 
has prospered in his business undertakings 
he has used his wealth worthily, contribut- 
ing most generously ot the support of those 
measures the object of which is to promote 
the intellectual and moral culture of the 
community. There is no citizen of Spring- 
held who is more truly honored and re- 
spected tlian the Rev. Charles Stroud, and 
in the evening of life he can look back over 
the past without regret and forward to the 
future without fear. 



DA\'ID AXDERSOX. 

The United States holds nowhere in her 
confines more energetic, progressive or en- 
lightened citizens than are found within the 
borders of Green towiiship, Clark county, 
Ohio — a district well adapted for agricultu- 
ral pursuits, being rich in natural advan- 
tages which ha\e required only the touch of 
civilization to yield up of the the abundant 
stores contained in the rich farming land 
there. Among the leading agriculturists 
in the township above mentioned was num- 
bered David Anderson, who was born there 
May ,28, 1844, upon the land where his wid- 
ow now resides. He was a son of John and 
IMary (Smith) Anderson, both of whom 
were natixes of Scotland, the mother of Ed- 
inburg. and the father born in the northern 
part of the same country. Both were reared 
in their native land, biit did not become ac- 
quainted until they arrived in America. 
John Anderson came to the "land of the 
free" with his parents, John and Agnes 
(Smith) Antierson, who were the parents of 



fi\e children namely : James ; David, for 
w horn the subject of this review was named 
and who is now deceased, having died in 
Greaie county, Ohio; Elizabeth, deceased 
v.ife of William Bradfute, who resided in 
Greene county; Marjorie, who became the 
wife of Thomas Elder and died in Clark 
county; and John, the father of Da\id of 
this review. 

Upon the home farm, which was the 
place of his birth, David Anderson was 
reared and in the common schools of the 
district he received a fair education. He 
was early trained to the work of the farm, 
and remained with his parents tmtil, in re- 
sponse to his country's call for aid, he enlist- 
ed in Company D, One Hundred and Forty- 
si.xth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was in 
the army for about four months, during 
which time he took part in many skirmishes 
and engagements. He was taken sick and 
was in the hospital for a time, and his early 
death at the age of thirty-two, when in the 
prime of life, was probably the result of 
exposure while in the service. Upon his 
father's death he inherited the home farm 
of one hundred acres, and there continued 
to reside until called to his linal rest. August 
7. 1876. 

On the 30th of November, 1871, oc- 
curred the marriage of Mr. Anderson anil 
Miss Margaret Funston, a daughter of 
Thon:as and Hannah (Mills) Funston. She 
was bom in Green township, Clark county, 
September 5, 1843, 'i"<i received a good 
common-sch(X)l education in the district 
where she resided, which was supplemented 
by attendance in a select school at Clifton. 
Her father, Tliomas Funston, was a cousin 
of General Funston, of Philippine renown, 
and was a native of the Blue Grass state. 
ha\ ing been -born in Bourbon county, Ken- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



433 



tr.cky, wlience lie came to Ohio at the age 
of two years, with his parents, John and 
Keziah ( Scott j Funston. Her grandfa- 
tlier, John Funston, was born in Ireland, and 
was a young man when he came to Ameri- 
ca. A\'hile en route to the new world he 
was captured by pirates and was held a 
prisoner for two years. He was a valiant 
soldier in the war of 1812 and took part in 
the battle called Perry's Victory. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were born 
two children : Clarence, born on the home 
farm June 2, 1873, received the advantages 
of a good common and high school educa- 
tion, having graduated in the class of 1892. 
Upon the home farm he was reared, and on 
the 23d of November, 1898, he was united 
in marriage to Miss Julia Hatfield, who was 
born in Green township, a daughter of James 
and Harriet (Stewart) Hatfield. They 
make their home on the farm owned by his 
mother. Albert Funston, the second son, 
was born upon the home farm February i, 
1876, and was but six months old at the time 
of his ifather's death. He, too, resides with 
his mother upon the home farm and assists 
in the care of the same. Upon completing 
his high school course, he entered Antioch 
College, where he took a ibusiness course. 

David Anderson was a man of high 
principles and undoubted integrity, of a 
genial, pleasant manner, which endeared 
him to his many friends. He was ever in- 
terested in the growth and prosperity of his 
community, and at his death the township 
lost one of her representative citizens, the 
country a brave and loyal patriot and the 
wife and children their nearest and best 
friend. The sons have grown to be valued 
members of the community in which tliey 
live. The father was a stanch Republican, 
though not a politician in the sense of office 



seeking. The sons, too, aftiliate with the 
Republican party. The eldest son vuted 
for William McKinley at the time O'f his 
first nomination, and the younger brother 
cast his first ballot for that honored presi- 
dent on his second nomination. Mrs. An- 
derson has proved a most capable manager 
of the home farm, which she now crmducts 
with the assistance of her two sons. All 
the improvements and accessories of a model 
farm of the twentieth century are to be 
found upon the place, the neat and attrac- 
tive appearance of which is enhanced by a 
substantially and beautifully constructed 
residence which was erected by ^^Irs. An- 
derson in 1898, their old home ha\ing Ijeen 
burned in 1892, The home farm comprised 
one hundred acres, which ]\Irs. Anderson 
inherited in part from her husband's es- 
tate. The balance she purchased of the 
heirs. To this she has added other tracts 
until the farm is one O'f the large and highly 
cultivated tracts of the township, and is as 
a monument to the eflicient care and super- 
vision of Mrs. Anderson. She and her two 
sons are respected members of the Presby- 
terian church at Clifton, as was also the 
husband and father in his life time. The 
community regajrd them as honored .and 
valued citizens and they enjoy the confi- 
dence, respect and good-will (if all who 
know them. 



JAMES M. LEFFEL. 

There is proof of the attractiveness of 
Clark co'unty as a place of residence in the 
fact that so many of her native sons re- 
main within her borders, finding pleasant 
homes here and carrying on business pur- 
suits which yield them a good living. James 



434 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



M. LefFel was among those born in Clark 
county Avho have spent their entire lives 
here. Mr. Leffel was a progressive farmer 
and stock-raiser known for his straightfor- 
v.ard dealing in business, and his death re- 
moved from the county one who was widely 
and favorably known in this part of the 
slate. His (birth occurred in Mad River 
township, near Enon on the 31st of Janu- 
ary, 1832. His father, James P. Leffel, is 
mentioned on another page of this work, 
and fromi early pioneer times the family 
name has been inseparably linked with the 
history of this portion of the state, asso- 
ciated with progress, improvement and ad- 
vancement. 

The bo}-hood da}-s of our subject were 
quietly passed upon the home farm. He en- 
j(:>yed the pleasures in which boys of the 
period indulged, pursued his education in 
the public schcwjls and assisted in the farm 
work, li\-ing with his parents until his mar- 
riage. On the _'5th of March, 1865, he 
wedded Miss Isabelle Wells, a native of Mi- 
ami county, Ohio, and a daughter of Rich- 
ard Wells. They became the parents of 
four children : Clarence B., who resides in 
the west; James L., who is living on a farm 
on Clifton pike, and wedded Mary E. Wike, 
by whom he has one son, Ralph ; Maud V., 
the wife of James B. Rice, of Springfield, 
where they live with their six children — 
Raymond, Homer, Guy, Blanche, Alarie 
and Helen ; and Leslie B., who married Ma- 
bel Harris, by whom he has three children, 
Leona, James W. and Franklin, and resides 
on the old home place which belonged to 
his grandfather. 

Throughciut the years of his manhood 
James M. Leffel followed the occupation to 
which he was reared — that of farming. He 
also carried on stock-raising quite extensive- 



ly, having good grades of stock upon his 
place, for which he found a ready sale on the 
market. He was never dilatory or negli- 
gent in his work which was always char- 
acterized by diligence and progressiveness, 
and thus he prospered in his undertakings. 
He died upon the farm where his father's 
death occurred, passing away April 26, 1877. 
his remains being interred in the family lot 
in Ferncliff cemetery. He was a member 
<jf Ephraim Lodge, L O. O. F., and Im- 
proved Order of Red Men, and both organ- 
izations assisted in conducting the funeral 
services. In politics Mr. Leffel was a Re- 
publican and twice served as trustee of 
Springfield townsliip. On another occasion 
he was the nominee for the office and was 
defated by only one vote. By reading he 
became a well informed man, and was a 
close and interested student of the world's 
I)rogress as manifest in the hapi^enings of 
the present age. The sterling traits of his 
character were such as drew him to his as- 
sociates in close bonds O'f friendship and 
endeared him to his family in such a way 
that his loss was most severely felt. He 
had added to the sum total of the world's 
good because he favored everything that 
tends to uplift humanity and threw his in- 
lluence on the side of right and truth. His 
widow still resides on the home farm and 
is a most estimable lady, well known in 
this communitv. 



CHASE COLVIX. 

Chase Cohin is a well known merchant 
of South Charleston, where he is engaged 
in dealing in wire fencing and farm imple- 
ments. He was bom Alarch i, 1864, in 
(jreenc countx-, Ohio, near Cedarville, and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL' RECORD. 



435 



ib a son of David T. and ]\Iaria (Larkin) 
Colvin. The paternal grandfather, Thomas 
Colvin, came to Ohio, at an earl}- day, lo- 
cating in Greene county. He was a self- 
made man and prospered in his undertak- 
ings. His son, the father of our subject, 
was born in Frederick county Virginia. Feb- 
ruary 1 8, 1829, and came with the -family to 
this state, where he was married April 13, 
1853, to Maria Larkin. His death occurred 
in 1886 and his wife passed away in De- 
cember, 1898. His parents removed from 
Greene county to a farm in Madison town- 
ship, Clark county, settling near South 
Charleston, whai Chase Colvin was only 
about three years of age. He is the third 
in a family of five children. ^Vilbur was 
a graduate of the high school at South 
Charleston and afterward entered college at 
Athens, Ohio, where .he was also graduated. 
He then read law with J. Warren Keifer, at 
Springfield, and subsec[uently pursued a 
course in the State Law School, where he 
vas graduated. For several years he prac- 
ticed in Springfield and then went to Harri- 
man, Tennessee, being employed as a teach- 
er in the university of that state. He is 
now with the Alkahest Lecture Bureau, of 
Atlanta, Georgia. He married Miss Ada 
Duvall, of Springfield, and they have one 
child. Estella is the wife of J. \V. Towns- 
ley, a fanner and horse breeder of Fayette 
county, Ohio, and they have two children. 
Chase is the next younger. ^Matta is the 
wife of Charles A. Ware, who is engaged 
in the real estate and oil liusiness in Florence, 
Alabama. David L. is a graduate of the 
Ohio Wesleyan University, pursued a post- 
graduate course in the university at Colum- 
bus and is now traveling in the interest of 
Prohibition. 

On a farm near South Charleston ]\Ir. 



vin spent the days of his boyhood and youth, 
early becoming familiar with the labors of 
field and meadow. He also acquired a good 
education in the schools of South Charles- 
ton and was graduated in the class of 1881. 
Subsec^uently heattended Nelson's Business 
College at Springfield. About the time of 
his father's death, in 1886, he entered upon 
his business career. Being the oldest of the 
sons who were left at home, he took charge 
of the five farms belonging to the estate, 
being one of the administrators of the prop- 
erty. The land was not divided for several 
years and Mr. Colvin of this review had full 
control. 

On the 27th of October, 1897, Chase 
Colvin was married near South Charleston 
to Miss Nellie Ramsey who was born in this 
locality, and is a daughter of William J. and 
Jennie (Murray) Ramsey. She is a grad- 
uate of the high school of South Charleston 
and for one year was a student in the Ohio 
Wesleyan University at Delaware. They 
have two children, Jane, who was born in 
this town October 10, 1898; and Edith, born 
September 25, 1902. 

At the time of his marriage Mr. Colvin 
took up his abode in South Charleston where 
he has since lived. He inherited about one 
hundred and iforty acres from his father's 
estate and purchased some of the other heirs 
until he had about two hundred and thirty- 
six acres. He has, hoiwever, since sold one 
of his farms. In addition to his other real- 
ty- interests he has five residences in Harri- 
man, Tennessee. He began dealing in wire 
fencing, has built up a large trade in this 
portion of the county and is now prosper- 
ing. He also manufactures iron fence posts. 
His business interests have been capably 
managed and his enterprise and industry 
liave brought to him creditable success. Li 



436 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



politics Mr. Colvin is independent, his sym- 
pathies being- with the Prohibition part\-. 
He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal 
church, in which he is serving as a trustee. 



WARREX H. RAXKIX. Sr. 

Warren H. Rankin. Sr.. was born in 
Springfield. January- 6, i8ji. and was a son 
of George Rankin, who was a prominent 
character in the early history of Springfield. 
Tlie father was a contractor and builder 
and erected the old courthouse here and also 
the old newspaper building where the Bush- 
nell building now stands. It was jjuilt. how- 
ever, as a hotel and was known as the Ex- 
change Hotel but later it was converted into 
a newspaper oflice. He also built the brick 
and stone Imildingat No. 67 North Spring 
street. The year 181 1 witnessed the arrival 
of the family in Springfield. George Ran- 
kin was a native of Virginia and there made 
his home until his removal to this state in 
181 1. The following year he joined the 
American army to serve in the war of 181 .2. 
He lx>ught land in Springfield and was the 
owner of a plat of ground from Xorth street 
to Main street and all east of the alley to 
Spring street, also from the National pike 
and from Greenmount avenue east to Bel- 
mont avenue and south to Mill Run. He 
was a very prosperous man but the heirs 
never realized anything from the estate be- 
cause of the misn:anagen:ait of guardians. 
George Rankin was married Sn 182 1 to 
Sarah Meadows, who was connected with 
the Lyons and Meadows families of \'ir- 
ginia. prominent and early settlers of that 
state rqiresented by lo\-al American soldiers 
of the Revolutionarv war. 



Unto George Rankin and his wife were 
Ijorn ten children : Cyrus, who went south 
in 1840. became a captain in the Confederate 
army during the Civil war and has never 
been heard from since ; Charles died in Clark 
county; William died in Columbus; War- 
ren H. is the subject of this review ; Mar>- 
Jane and Lorenza Dow are the next younger 
of the family ; Eliza A. is living in Spring- 
field : George is deceased ; John makes his 
home, in ^loorefield township, Clark coun- 
ty: and Josqjh died in childhcxxl. The fam- 
ily is noted for longevity. Tbe children re- 
ceived good educational privileges, fitting 
them tor life's practical duties. All were 
Ix'rn at the family home on Spring street. 
John was a soldier in the Civil war ajid his 
son William became a soldier in the Span- 
ish-American war. On the maternal side 
the Rankins come of German lineage and of 
Scotch ancestry on the paternal side. George 
Rankin died in 1852 when alwut sixty-four 
years of age. his birth having occurred in 
1788 and he was buried in the northwest 
comer lot in the Columbia street cemetery. 
After his death his wife purchased ten acres 
of land in Moorefield township and there 
made her home until her death, in 1866. 
when she was laid to rest in Grecmount 
cemetery. 

Farther back than the first generation, 
however, could ^^'arren H. Rankin trace his 
ancestry, for the family was founded in 
.\merica by James Rankin, who was a native 
of Scotland. Coming to the United States 
he settled in Virginia on the banks of the 
James river near Stanton. Augusta county. 
He brought with him his six sons and three 
daughters. He had considerable monej- 
which he invested in land and slaves in the 
Old Dominion, but his sons did not like the 
]x-vrtii:n of the state in which they were 




WARREN H. RANKIN. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



reared and ha\'ing attained tlieir majority 
tliey scattered. At tlie time of the Revolu- 
tionary war James Rankin joined the Ameri- 
can army and loyally fought for the cause 
of independence. 

Warren H. Rankin of this review pur- 
sued his education in what was known as 
Reed's school, three miles east of the city, 
having giX)d ad\antages for that period. At 
the age of twelve he drove carts while the 
national pike was heing built and he also 
had experience as a rider of race horses 
when a lad. For two years in earh" life he 
engaged in truck gardening and subsequent^ 
ly was a clerk in a hotel in Columbus, Ohio, 
for a time. Later he engaged in training 
horses for track work and was in the employ 
of the United States mail service as a mail 
carrier Ijefore railroads were built into 
Springfield. At the time of railroad con- 
struction he became a brakesman and after 
a few years began firing on the Little Miami 
Railroad between Columbus and Cincinnati, 
Ohio. Later he was promoted to the posi- 
tion of engineer in recognition of his trust- 
worthiness and ability. He had charge of 
a stationary engine at South Charleston and 
also one at West Jefferson. Ohio, during the 
days when wood was burned for iuel ; but 
eventually he abandoned railroad work and 
turned his attention to the conduct of a hotel 
and restaurant in West Jefferson, also carry- 
ing on a li\-ery business tliere. For a time 
he ran a train from Dayton to Toledo, 
Ohio, and was always actively engaged in 
one or another line of work. At various 
times he resided in W'est Jefferson. South 
Charleston and Yellow Springs and in 1864 
he came to Springfield, establishing a gro- 
ceiy store near the cornef of East Main 
street and Spring street. He had previously 
moved his familv to this citv and after lo- 



cating here he not only was connected with 
commercial affairs but followed the business 
of a stationary engineer in and near the city 
for a number of years. He was always an 
active and industrious man. well liked by 
all who knew him and trusted 1)y all who 
had business relations with him. Li 1896, 
however, he retired from active business 
life to enjoy a rest which he had truly 
earned and richly deserved. He died Sep- 
tember 27. 19CJ. at the age of eighty-one 
years and nine months. 

;\Ir. Rankin was twice married. In 
Springfield, Ohio, he wedded Miss Hannah 
Fleckman. who was born in Clark county in 
1824 and they became the parents of four 
children but all died in earlv life. His wife 
also passed away and later he left Spring- 
field and engaged in railroad work and as 
a stationary engineer for railroads and other 
concerns for some time. Li 1854 he was 
again married in West Jefferson. Ohio, the 
lady of his choice being Miss Matilda ]\Ic- 
Neal, who was Ixirn in Carlisle. Cumberland 
county, Pennsylvania. September 15, 1832. 
and was a daughter of Jacnb and Catherine 
(Fought) McXeal. Xine children were 
born unto her parents : Catherine, who 
was born October 20. 1823, became the wife 
of A. L. ]\Iartin and is now deceased ; Jacob, 
born December 16, 1825, is yet living; 
Mary A., bom December 22, 1827, has 
passed away; Isabella, who wa5 horn on the 
19th of September. 1829. became the wife of 
.M. S. Carter, of St. Louis, Missouri; Ma- 
tilda, born February 7. 1832, married W. H. 
Rankin and died September 21. 1892; Julia, 
torn May 24, 1834. is the wife of J. J. 
Booth; Sarah, born October 17. 1836, is a 
resident of Plain City. Ohio ; Eliza, born 
]klarch 24, 1839. is the deceased wife of 
U'illiam Churclmian : Maria, born February 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1 6, 1842. has also passed away. These 
children were educated in the schools of their 
day and wei'e memhers of a prosperous and 
highly respected family. They came of 
Scotch-Irish ancestors and were reared in 
^\'est Jefferson, 'llie father was justice of 
the peace for many years in \\'est Jefiferson 
and was a leading and influential citizen of 
his community. Unto ^Ir. and Mrs. Rankin 
were born eight children : Mollie, who died 
in childhood : Harry !M. and Warren H., who 
are represented elsewhere in this work; 
John, who is a dealer in fruit and vegeta- 
bles in Springfield and has two childrai; 
Clara, who is living in Dayton, Ohio; 
George, who is a florist emploA-ed by Good 
& Reese, and has three children ; Edward, 
who is engaged in clerking for C. J. Bowfus ; 
and Jacob, who is in the en^ploy of Good 
& Reese, is married and has three children. 
]\Ir. Rankin of this review had many 
and varied experiences during his long life. 
He net with reverses and successes in busi- 
ness and watched the growth and develop- 
ment of Springfield, always taking an ac- 
tive interest in everything pertaining to the 
general welfare and progress. He ever en- 
deavored to do what was right, to maintain 
straightforward iVeilations between himsedf 
and his fellow men and his career was noted 
for his integrity and fidelity to duty. From 
an early period in the history of Clark comi- 
ty the name of Rankin has been closely in- 
terwoven with the same. Tlie representa- 
tives of the family have ever been peojile of 
worth, active in support of all measures for 
the general good, ^^■arren H. Rankin sus- 
tained the enviable family reputation by an 
upright life characterized by industry, in- 
tegrity and diligence, and well deserves hon- 
orable mention in the history of his native 
countv. 



WARREX H. RAXKIX, Jr. 

Warren H. Rankin, Jr., was born in 
Springfield. March 8, 1861, and at the usual 
age became a public school student, there 
continuing his studies until he reached the 
age of eleven. He thai started out in life 
to earn his own living, entering the employ 
of a market gardaier who carried on busi- 
ness north of Springfield. For fifteen years 
he remained with that man. mastering the 
business in principle and detail. As his 
efficiency increased he was promoted 
gradually until he was given full charge of 
the business and at timesjie has had as many 
as fifty men working under him. At length 
he severed his connection with his old em- 
ployer in order to engage in business for 
himself and in 1886 established the whole- 
sale commisison house on West High street. 
Later he renwned to X'o. 55 Market Square, 
where he carried on a very extensive trade, 
empJoying eight niai and utilizing three 
teams in the delivery of his goods. He also 
carried on business as a wholesale and re- 
tail dealer in lialed hay, doing his own Ijal- 
ing of local products. A disastrous fire, 
however, occurred and occasioned him con- 
siderable loss, but phoenix-like his enterprise 
arose from the ashes and in due course of 
tine he had retrieved his lost possessions and 
had succeeded in securing an extensive and 
lucrative business. In 1898, however, he 
sold out and gave his whole attention to the 
restaurant business which he had purchased 
in 1 89 1 of William Curtis. The new enter- 
prise al-so proved a profitable one and his 
patronage has increased from the time that 
he furnished sixty me;ils per day until he 
now supplies seven hundred m.eals daily on 
an average. He employs twaity persons in 
the conduct of the business, to which he 




^W. H. RANKIN, JR. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



gives his personal supervision. He is a 
popular restaurant proprietor and because 
of his reasonable prices, palatable products 
and straightforward dealings he has secured 
a very liberal patronage. 

On the 15th of August, 18S1, Mr. Ran- 
kin was united in marriage to Miss Alice 
Brady, who was born on ]\Iain street in 
Springfield, in 1866, and died in 1888, leav- 
ing two cliildren, [Mabel Florence, the elder, 
born June 17, 1883. is the wife of Rev. J. 
W. Keller, a minister oi the Baptist church 
of Dayton, Ohio, to whom she gave her 
hand in marriage in 1902. The son, War- 
ren H., bom July 4,. 1885, died in 1889, the 
year succeeding his mother's death. On the 
20th of April, 1 89 1, ^Ir. Rankin was again 
married, his second union being with Miss 
Anna A. Baker, who was born at Ytellow 
Springs. They have three daughters. Hazel 
Mildred, born Alarch 4, 1892; Ruth Naomi, 
born January 29, 1894: and Ethel ]\Iay, 
born December i, 1895. 

]\Irs. Rankin is a member of the Method- 
ist church and an estim.able lady who en- 
joys the high regard of many warm friends. 
;Mr. Rankin has been a generous con- 
tributor to the support of the church. 
In politics he is known as an earnest Repute 
lican, who labors untiringly in behalf of the 
party and his service is disinterested be- 
cause he has never cared for political per- 
ferment for himself. He belongs to Spring- 
field Lodge, No. 2,i, I. O. O. F., and Mad 
River Encampment, nor wonld he accept 
offices in these organizations. He is also 
a n eniiber oi the Junior Order of the Ameri- 
can Mechanics and the Ccwnmercial Club. 
Mr. Rankin has gained a very wide acquaint- 
ance during the years of his business con- 
nection with Spring-lield and he has the qual- 
ities which render him a popular restaurant 



proprietor, for he is genial, obliging and 
courteous and moreo\-er his many friends 
recognize and appreciate his genuine worth 
and upright manhood. 



JOHN M. DEARDORFF. 

For more than a half century John M. 
DeardorfT, a capitalist and now a retired 
manufacturer has been a resident of Spring- 
lield. He was born in York county, Penn- 
sylvania, January 4, 1824, and is of Holland 
Dutch descent. His grandfather, John 
Deardorfif, and his father, Daniel Deardorff, 
were alsoi natives of York county, and the 
latter was born in 1793 and married Mar- 
garet Miller whose birth occurred in Perry 
county, Painsylvania, March 17,, 1795. Mr. 
Deardorff was a tanner by trade and his 
grandfather and his great-grandfather were 
also' tanners, and the old tannery in York 
county is still standing and is now owned 
and operated- by Mr. Cook. 

Under the parental roof Jobn M. Dear- 
dorff O'f this review spent the days of his 
, childhood and in the common schools of . 
York county acquired his preliminary educa- 
tion, which was supplemented by study in a 
select school, but his early advantages were 
not of a very important character or much 
in advance of those enjoyed by most lads 
of the period. He worked at the carpen- 
ter's trade in his native state and followed 
that business for several years when, think- 
ing that perhaps he would have better oppor- 
tunities in newer districts of the country, he 
came to Springfield, Ohio, in 1849, ^"d be- 
gan business here as a contractor and build- 
er. Success attended his efforts and his 
patronage gradually increased and became 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



more and more important in character un- 
til large contracts were awarded him and 
he thus became connected with the con- 
struction of many of the leading structures 
of the city, including the First Presbyterian 
church, the Zion German Lutheran church, 
several of the fine schoolhouses which adorn 
Springfield, the German Lutheran church on 
Plum streets, many of the substantial busi- 
ness (blocks and beautiful private residences. 
He also worked upon the plant of William 
Whiteley, which at that time was the larg- 
est of the kind in the \\x>rld. He also built 
the old Springfield Seminary, this being one 
of the first contracts awarded him after his 
arrival here. \\'hile engaged in this work 
Mr. Deardorff was also winning for himself 
an enviable reputation for reliability and 
trustworthiness in business afifairs. 

At a later date he became employed Ijy 
the Thomas & Mast Compau)', manufactur- 
ers of agricultural implements, and indeed 
was one of the members of the firm, his as- 
sociates being John H. Tliomas and P. P. 
Mast. The)- engaged in the manufacture of 
wheat drills, seeders, mowers and farm im- 
plements. For se\-en years Mr. Deardorff 
remained a member of the firm and then 
sold his interest to his partners and with- 
dre\v from the company. 

At the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. 
Deardorff was commissioned recruiting of- 
ficer to fill the quotas for Clark county, and 
succeeded in enlisting many of the men of 
the Second and Third Regiments. He held 
his commission during the five years of the 
war, and in 1863, he was commissioned to 
organize the Se\enty-first Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry, of which Rodney Mason was the 
colonel. At the time of the threatened raid 
through Ohio, upon short notice, he at once 
raised a company of men, was made its cap- 



tain and in a few hours was on his way to 
Columbus, Ohio, with his command, where 
this company was to be armed. It was com- 
posed of the best citizens of Springfield, men 
prominent in business and other walks of 
life. Throughout the dark and trying per- 
iod of civil strife Mr. Deardorff never wav- 
ered in his allegiance to the government or 
faltered in his faith in the ultimate triumph 
of the Union arms. 

\\'hen hostilities iiad ceased our subject 
returned to Springfield and became a mem- 
ber of the firm of Deardorff, ^liller & Com- 
pany, manufacturers of coffuis and caskets. 
This partnership existed for fourteen years, 
at the end of which time Mr. Deardorff' sold 
his stock and the name of the company was 
changed to the Springfield Casket & Coffin 
Company. His next business connection was 
with John Bean, Roscoe Bean, George H. 
Leffel and John Stafford. They formed a 
company called ^ the Springfiekl Tri- 
cycle Manufacturing Company with 
a capital stock of fifty thousand dol- 
lars and continued business from 1880 
until 1896, when the plant was 
rented out and the name of the house 
changed to the Springfield Gas & Engine 
Company, at which time 'Mr. Deardorff re- 
tired from active business. He has since 
devoted his attention to his private interests 
and to individual investments which have 
been so judiciously made that he is now one 
of Springfield's capitalists. Yet his success 
has been so honorabl\- won and S(^ worthily 
used that the most envious cannot grudge 
him his prosperity. 

Fifty-one years ago. Mr. Deardorff was 
married. He wedded Miss Elizabeth Pet- 
tigrew, of Springfield, a daughter of David 
Pettigrew, the wedding ceremony being per- 
formed in i8si. Five children have been 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



445 



born of this union: Harry E., now of Salt 
Lake City; Lizzie, the wife of W. D. Mar- 
tin, of Springfield; ^linnie, who married 
John S. Graham; Charles L. who is largely 
interested in the printing husiness at St. Au- 
gustine, Florida ; and Clara ^L, at home. 
The parents are devoted leaders of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, with which ]Mr. 
Deardorff has been identified since 1849, 
covering a period of fifty-three years. He 
has served as class leader for thirty years, 
has been steward for a number of years and 
is now clerk of St. Paul's ^lethodist Epis- 
copal church. 

A Republican in politics, upon that tick- 
et he was elected a member of the city coun- 
cil where he served for four years, and twice 
elected to the school board ; he was also' one 
of its members for four years. Earnest ef- 
fort, close application and the exercise of 
his native talents, have won him prosperity, 
but his energies have not been given solel}^ 
to the acquirement of wealth. He has never 
allowed its accumulation tO' warp his kindly 
nature. He has found time and opportun- 
ity to assist in measures for the general 
good, to aid in the moral development of the 
community and to put into practice his broad 
humanitarian principles. Kindness has been 
one of the motives of his life and his friends 
have found in him a man of a forgiving na- 
ture and of quick and generous sympathy. 



HEXRY L. SCHAEFER. 

Henry L. Schaefer. who is engaged in 
the undertaking and embalming business at 
Xo. 144 \\'est Main street. Spring-field, was 
burn July 31, 1S50, in this city. His father, 
Leonard Schaefer. was born in Germanv 



in 1823, learned the trade of locksmith 
in that coimtry and came to America from 
Stuttgart, Germany. He had there occu- 
pied the position of foreman in a large 
lock factf)Ty, being a \ery experienced and 
expert man in his line of business. Li 1849 
he emigrated to the new woiid, n.iaking his 
way direct to Springfield, Ohio', which was 
then a cily containing about five thousand 
inhabitants. Here he began business as a 
kjcksmith, and from the beginning his trade 
constantly increased. He alsoi conducted a 
machinie shop and began the manufacture o^f 
railings, fences and awnings. The first iron 
raihng which he inade is now on the resi- 
dence of the Catholic sisters of Springfield. 
The enterprise which he established in 1850 
was located on East Main street, 'between 
Spring and Foster streets. For many years 
he followed an active business career here 
and was regarded as an important factor in 
the industrial life of the city. It was an ac- 
cident which caused him to choose Spring- 
field as his place of residence, ^^'hile on 
board the vessel coming to .\merica he was 
taken ill with smallpO'X. ' He had intended 
to locate in Cincinnati, Ohioi, but as cholera 
was A-er\- prevalent there he remained in this 
city. For nearly forty years he conducted 
business here and was respected as an indus- 
trious, aiergetic man, who well merited the 
success which attended his efforts. His 
business card was in the first directory ever 
published in this city, in 1852. Leonard 
Schaefer came to America a single man 
and was here married by Dr. Chandler Rob- 
bins to Rosina Esslinger, who^ was born in 
Germany in 1823. Tins marriage took place 
in 1849, ^irs. Schaefer coming to America 
soon after her hustond's arrival. Her fa- 
ther, John Gottleib Esslinger. was a soldier 
against Bonaparte in 1814. and our subject 



446 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



now has a painting- of his grandfather in 
his uniform, it having been brought to this 
country by Mr. EssUnger. Henr}' L. Sdiae- 
fer was the only child born of tliese parents 
who grew to maturity. The mother died in 
1869, and in 1870 the father was again 
married and had three sons by this union — 
C. .Albert, who is now associated with the 
Thomas Manufacturing Company; Leonard, 
who is in the employ of Elder & Tuttle, deal- 
ers in hardware; and Paul, who is employed 
by the Webster & Perks Tool Company, of 
Springheld. The father died at the old home 
place on East Main street, May 5, 1895, 
where he had erected a residence. In poli- 
tics he took an active interest and supported 
the Democratic party, but was ne\-er an as- 
pirant for office. He belonged to St. John's 
German Lutheran church and was a mem- 
ber of the old Union Fire Company. Xo. 3, 
of Springfield. 

Henry L. Schaefer, whose name intro- 
duces this record, pursued a public school 
education and entered his father's machine 
shop, where he learned the trade of a ma- 
chinist. In 1869 he went to Stuttgart, Ger- 
many, where for two terms he studied m.e- 
ch?jiical drawing in a government mechan- 
ical college, returning to this country in 
the fall of 1870. He was abroad during a 
part of the Franco-Prussian war. On his 
return he took up his aibode in his native 
city and entered his father's shop, where he 
remained until 1875. In that year he secured 
a position in the tool dqiartmiait of the 
Champion Bar & Knife works and was in 
charge as foren-.an of one of the dq^artments. 
Gradually he worked his way upward un- 
til he was foreman of se\-eral departments. 
He gained the confidence of his employers 
l^ecause of his fidelity to duty and In- reason 
of his natural mechanical gaiius. Thei-e he 



reir.ained until 1893, when he went to Chi- 
cago, Illinois, and entered the school of em- 
balming. .\fter successfully passing his ex- 
amination there he returned to Spring-field 
and began business here as an undertaker 
and embalmer, in which A\ork he has been 
very successful, his daughter acting as lady 
assistant. 

In 1872 ^Ir. Schaefer was married to 
Bertha Orthn-.ann, who was born in Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, in 1851. and was the daughter 
of Dr. and I\Irs. Frederick Orthmann. Her 
father practiced medicine in Hillsljoro, Ohio, 
where he died in 1858. The mother after- 
ward returned to Germany, where Mrs. 
Schaefer was educated. Unto our sul;- 
ject and his wife were born four chil- 
dren, of wliom one died in early chikl- 
liCKxl. Katherine is tlie wile of Henry 
S. Carpaitei-, of Hamilton, Ohio, and 
they have two children, Henry Schaefer 
and Gertrude Helen Carpenter. Bertha C. 
and Theodore Frederick are yet at home. 
The son is a graduate of the high school of 
Springfield and for two terms was a stu- 
dait in Wittenberg College. He also pur- 
sued a course in Nelson's Business College, 
and he is a n^cml^er of the Phi Gamma 
Delta, a college fraternity. He is now as- 
sisting his father in business, while Bertha 
is acting as lady assistant. The son-in-law 
of our subject is engaged in manufacturing 
confectioneiy in Hamilton, this state. 

Mr. Schaefer now resides at Xo. 59 
X'^orth Yellow Springs street. He erected 
a home on Clifton street, where he lived u-v 
nineteeii and one-half years, .and during the 
thirty years of his married life he has moved 
but twice. In politics he is a Republican, 
but is not active in political work. He held 
the office from 1S95 until 1898, inclusi\e, of 
county coroner and served as a member of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



447 



the board of education for the sixth ward 
in the '80s. Socially he is connected 
with Clark Lodge, No. loi, F. & A. M. ; 
Springfield Chapter, No. 48,, R. A. M.; 
Spring-field Coimcil, No. 17, R. & S. M. ; 
Piilestine Commandery, No^. 33, K. T'.. all 
of Springfield, and Antioch Ten.ple of the 
Nohles of tlie Mystic Shrine, of Dayton. He 
is also a meiBber of the Order of the East- 
ern Stai", and with his wife and daughter 
Beitha, belongs to Dayton Chapter. He 
has held a number of offices in the various 
^lasonic bodies and he belongs to Moncrieffe 
Lodge, No'. TjT,, K. P., also' belongs to- the 
Unifoirmed Rank and hoJds the position of 
major. He is a member oi Al Yemboi Tem- 
ple, Xo. 112, D. O. K. K., and holds the 
post oif royal \-izier in that organization, 
while in the lodge he is a past chancellor 
and a jjast grand representative to the grand 
lodge. He likewise holds membership in 
Goethe Lodge, No. 384, L O. O. F.. and 
Mad Rjiver Encampment, No. 16, and has 
passed tlie chairs in both, while his wife be- 
longs toi the Daughters of Rebekah. He is 
a member and senior past captain of Canton 
Occidental, No. 21, Patriarchs Militant; be- 
longs to Champion Council, No. 2, Jr. 
O. U. A. :\I. ; and Violet Council, No-. 29, 
Daughters of .Vmerica ; and Champion Cas- 
tle, No. 26. K. G. E. ; and to the Commercial 
Club. He was the secretary and treasurer 
of the local com.mittee who succeeded in 
establishing the Knights of Pythias Home 
in this city and was also a member of the 
committee that located the Independent Or- 
der of Odd Fellows Home here. He is 
one of the directors of the Clark County 
Building and Sa\ings Con.pany and is a 
member oi St. John's Lutheran church. For 
many years he served as a member of its 
IxKird of directors and has long been its 



president, ilr. Schaefer is well kno<wn in 
business, social and church circles, where his 
fidelity to. all the best interests of these has 
gained for him the warm regard and friend- 
ship of many. In business he has been suc- 
cessful because he has followed progressive 
methods and honorable dealings and as one 
of the respected representatives of Spring- 
field we present him to the readers of this 
volume. 



I. NEWTON SEEVER. 

I. Newton See\'er, \Aho' is a civil en- 
gineer of Springfield, was born in Sylvania, 
Licking county, Ohio, May 13, 1855, and 
is a son of Benjamin Seever. On the pa- 
ternal side of the family he com.es of French 
and German ancestr}-, while there is Scotch 
blood in the maternal line. For many gen- 
erations, hoiwe\'er, the See\-er family has 
been connected with Pennsylvania. Benja- 
min Seever was born in Fairfield county, 
Ohio, September 10, 1814, and was edu- 
cated in the comm.on schools. When twen- 
ty-fi\-e years of age he began preaching as 
a minister of the Christian church and was 
thus engaged in spreading the gospel in 
Maryland, \'"irginia, Pennsylvania and 
Ohio. He crossed the Alleghany mountains 
forty times, making the journey each time 
on horseback with the exception of one 
trip, ^^•hen he traveled in a buggy' of his 
own manufacture. In later years, after 
coming to Springfield, he became engaged 
in the manufacture of broom.s, building up 
a good business in this line. In 1856 he es- 
tablished his honie at Enon, Obio. and after 
engaging in preaching- for a time at that 
place he turned his attention to the business 
of making broon-s. increasing his output to 



44« 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



meet tlie s^rowing demanus ijf tlie trade un- 
til he was at the head of a large business. 
He is still alive, a hale and hearty old man, 
and has retained his physical and mental 
faculties unimpaired. He is a self-educated 
man and became well read, formerly do- 
ing" considerable literary work. He now 
resides at JIJ West Main street in Spring- 
i'leld. and he is respected and honored Ijy 
all who know him. He wedded ^lary J. 
Johnson, who came of an old Virginia fam- 
ily, and was born in Frederick county, that 
state, Deceir.ber 20, 1820. They celebrated 
their golden wedding on the ist of Jul\', 
1 90 1, at which time both were in 
gocd health, but on the 28th of September, 
of the same year. !Mrs. Seever was called 
to her final rest. In their family were two 
children: Isaac Xcwton. and Martha, who 
is at hon:e with her father. Benjamin 
Secver was one <-if fourteen children who 
reached maturity, but he and his brother 
Louis are the only ones now living. The 
old 'home place was in Fairfield county, and 
almost throughout an entire century the 
family has been ideniilied with the progress 
and upbuilding of this portion of Ohio, 

Baijamin Seever served as justice of 
the peace in Enon, and since coining to 
Springfield he has acted as a member of 
the lx)ard of education of this city. In poli- 
tics he is a Republican and socially is con- 
nected with Anthony Lodge, F, & A. M., 
being the oldest living men.ber of the organ- 
ization in point of years or continuous con- 
nection therewith. He is likewise the old- 
est member f>f Springfield Lodge, I. O. O. 
F. A public-spirited citizen and a man of 
upright and honorable purjxjse. he has 
gained a wide circle of friends and enjoys 
the esteem of all with \\\vny) he li.'is come 
in contact. 



I. X. Seever, whose name intro<luces this 
reco-rd, 1>egan his education in the public 
schools of Enor and. \vhen mv.c years of 
age removed to the city. He attended the 
township schools until his fi.ther's place 
was incorporated within the coqwration 
limits of Springfield, wheu; he Ijecame a 
student in the city schools. He afterward 
worked with his father in the manufacture 
of broon-.s until 1880, and likewise engaged 
in truck gardening, in 1880 he became in- 
terested in civil engineering and mastered 
the pro'fessioii under the direction of Thom- 
as Ivizer, \\ho was one of the «irh- survey- 
ors of the countv, but is now deceased. He 
remained with Mr. Kizer until the latter's 
death, when he joined the son, J. T. Ivizer, 
acting as his assistant until the death of 
J.T. Ivizer, when Mr. Seever succeeded to 
the business. He has surveyed the greater 
pajt of the comity and when with Thomas 
Kizer had a wide experience in line survey- 
ing. He does all kinds of civil engineer- 
ing work, has practical ideas and has ever 
been aiixious to advance in the line of his 
chasen calling. Being an excellent n:athe- 
mlaticiait, he readily learned the business 
and has becomie an expert surveyor. In his 
prO'fession he has laid out many additions 
to the city and has watched with interest 
the steady growth and development of 
Springfield. 

In politics ^Jr. Seever is a l\epu'blican. 
but he never aspired to office. In early life he 
made a study of music, which he pursued un- 
der the instruction of private teachers. l>eing 
at one time a pupil of Professor Arthur Mace. 
of Cincinnati, with whom he studied both 
vocal and instrumental music. He was aft- 
erward connected with various church choirs 
as a director, singer and organist for fif- 
teen years. He also organized a class and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



taught nnisic fur twelve years while con- 
nected with the churches. In later years he 
has given his attention more exclusively to 
civil engineering. For the past twelve yeaa's, 
however, he has been well known im con- 
nection with target rifle shooting and has 
won many prizes for his skill. He is a 
member of the Springfield Shooting and 
Fishing Club, and has been largely instru- 
mental in maintaining the existence o'f this 
organization. Air. See\-er is a very popular 
man who has a large circle of friends, in 
Springfield and the surrounding country, 
and wherever he is known he is held in 
high regard by reason of his sterling worth 
and his .social, genial disposition. 



DAVID BALLEXTINE. 

David Ballentine, deceased, was well 
known in Clark county as a representative 
farmer of German township, whose word 
was above c]uestion, whose life was honora- 
ble and upright and whose loyalty toi citi- 
zenship was one of his marked characteris- 
tics. He was born in Cumberland count}-. 
Pennsyh-ania, and with his parents came to 
Ohio when yet a young boy. His father 
and his mnther, W illiam and Nancy Ballen- 
tine. were both natives of Ireland, and in 
that country were reared and married, their 
wedding journey consisting of the \-oyage 
to America. They crossed the Atlantic to 
Baltimore and in that city both were taken 
ill and their money was exhausted in this 
way. The father was a wea\er by trade and 
when he had sufficiently recovered his health 
he began working at his chosen pursuit in 
Baltin ::re, his wife spinning the yarn. After 
they had gotten a start and acquired a little 
monev thev ren-.o\-ed to Pennsvlvania, where 



they purchased a farm. There the father 
also tollowetl weaving, while his sons culii- 
vated the land. Their home was in German 
township, Cumberland county, and it was 
upon that farm that David Ballentine of 
this review was born and grew toi manhood. 
W'liile at home, with others of the family, he 
burned the brick and built a good brick 
house, which has since been burned down, 
after having been occupied for many years. 
David Ballentine acquired a fair com- 
modi^school education, aaid always fond of 
books, he became an extensive reader. He 
had considerable elocutionary ability and 
all enjoyed hearing him read aloud. He 
also sang well and those accomplishments 
made him a favorite in the various house- 
holds where he \isited and among- the 
friends who w^ere entertained at his own 
home. He remained in his father's hooie 
until the timie O'f his marriage, which im- 
portant event in his life was celebrated Sq> 
tember lo, 1856, in German township, Clark 
county, by Rev. Jesse Goddard, the lady 
of his choice being Miss Loretta Wagner,. 
who was born in Springfield' township, No- 
\-ember 30, 1838, but at the time of her mar- 
riage was living in Gennan township. Her 
pareiits w-ere John and Nancy (Frey) Wag- 
ner, natives of Virginia, and in her child- 
hood they came to Ohio with their respective 
pareius. Mrs. Ballentine's father was a sol- 
dier in the war ot 1812, enlisting fc.r service 
when onl}' sixteen }-ears of age. He was 
a ]K)or man and w-orked at day labor in 
stone quarries, but he provided as best he 
could for his children. Mrs. Ballaitine ac- 
quired a good education in the public schools. 
She was the fourth in order- of birth in a 
family of tw-elve children, and Air. Ballen- 
tine was also, a member of a family of 
t\velve. 



4SO 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In the spring prior to his marriage Mr. 
Ballentine had i)urcliased seventy acres of 
land and soon after his n.arriage he and 
his wife reino\ed to that fanr, upon wliicli 
he lived throughout his remaining days. .\s 
time ])assL-(! lie a(l<led t<; the ])lacc. investing 
hin savings in furtiier property, until he 
became the owner of valuable land, com- 
prising a farm of one hundred and seventy 
acres, which he placed under a high state of 
cultivation, the well tilled helds bi-inging to 
him a go<xl return for his labor. He was 
enterprising and energetic, made the most of 
his opportunities and throiigh his diligence 
acquired a comfortable conqietence. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ballentine were born 
eleven children, of whom five are still living. 
Of those who passed away James was eigh- 
teen years of age at the time of his death., 
and the others dies in infancy. Clara, the 
wife of John Crove, had five children — Da- 
vid, Clarney E., Edgar Lamar, Delia M\r 
tie, antl Florence Belva. The last named 
was the eldest and died at the age of four- 
teai years. Ada, the second surviving 
daughter of ]\Irs. David Ballentine, -became 
the wife of Oliver Rust and has five children 
— Grace Adele, Clinton Luther. Roydon 
Earl, Lottie Gail and Oliver. McClellan, 
who lives in German township, n.arrietl Ida 
Michael, and their children are — Pearl S.. 
Estella G., Ernest, Glennie May. Emery 
and Bertha Loretta. Martin Luther married 
Rosa Donovan, and with their one son, Paul 
Lamar, resides in Springfield. John W'.. 
the youngest, wedded Maggie Wilson and 
lives in Lawrenceville. 

Mr. Ballentine was a Democrat in his 
]X)litical affiliations. He was pleasing in 
personal appearance, being a man five feet, 
e.ght inches in height, heavy set., well pro- 
portioned, and with black hair and eyes. In 



niHuner he was rather reserved and retir- 
ing, Ixit when once his friendship was gained 
he was alw ays true and loyal, holding friend- 
ship inviolable. He was a tanperate man 
and to his family a devoted husband and fa- 
ther. His personal characteristics were 
such that the)- endeared him greatly to those 
who knew him best. He passed away in 
1885 at the age of seventy-one years and 
was laid to rest in Lawrenceville cemetery, 
where Mrs. Ballentine has erected a taste- 
ful n-onument to his mentor)'. His life was 
characterized by diligence in business, by 
honesty in all transactions and it won for 
him the respect and confidence of those w ith. 
whom he was associated. He left to his 
widow sixty acres of land and also the 
hone in which she lives in German township, 
so that she is well provided for and is able 
to enjo)- the comforts as well as the nece-ssi- 
ties of life. She is an estimable lady who 
is widely kn(^wn and has many friends in 
Clark countv. 



CHARLES \'. BRETXEV. 

The record of an honorable, upright life 
is alwa\-s reiid with interest and Ijetter per- 
petuates the name and fame of the subject 
ihan does a monument, seen by few and soon 
crumlvling into dust beneath the relentless 
iiand of time. The history of Charles \'an 
Bretney well deserves maition in, this vol- 
ume, for he was long classed among the rep- 
resentatives of Springfield, where he con- 
ducted a successful business and his course 
was one which would serve to inspire oth- 
ers, as it showed what could be accom- 
plished through determination, laudable am- 
bition and faithful adherence to the ethics 
which govern commercial life. He died re- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



45' 



spected by all who knew him, because of 
his honorable career and his genial manner, 
which won for him many friends. 

Mr. Bretney was born in Spring-field, 
March 9, 1836, and was a son of Henry and 
Lncinda (Van Meter) Bretney. His father 
was born in Hagerstown, Maryland in 1796 
and when a child was brought to Ohioi 1j\- 
his father, Tobias Bretne}-. Tlie latter was 
a native of Plennsylvania and was left an or- 
phan in early childhod. He was reared, 
howe\'er, in the Keystone state and after- 
ward went to Alaryland. whence he rcmo\-ed 
to Ohio, settling in Cincinnati. Later he 
took up his abode in Lebanon, Warren coun- 
ty, Ohio, and there established the first tan- 
nery in this section O'f the state. He was 
a man of some m.eans and in his business 
affairs he prospered, for he applied hinrself 
closel}- tO' his work, and by his thorough un- 
derstanding of his trade, his close applica- 
tion and unremitting diligence worked his 
way steadily upward until he had acquired 
a competence. A devout and earnest n:em- 
ber of the Methodist church, he was one 
of the standard bearers of the organization 
to which he belonged and devoted much time 
and money to the cause of Chri.stianity. He 
is a Den:ocrat in jxylitical affiliations. His 
wife was long a sufferer from rheumatism 
and for nineteen years was unable to work, 
but she bore her affliction with Christian 
fortitude and patience. Her death occurred 
in 1845, when she was seventy years of 
age, and Tobias Bretney passed away in 
1853 at the ver\' advanced age of ninety- 
three years, both being interred in Ld)anon, 
Ohio. Unto this worthy couple were born 
thirteen children, ten of whom reached 
years of maturity : ]\Irs. Elizabeth Sinnard, 
of Hamilton county. Ohio: Henry, the fa- 
ther of our subject: William, of Warren 



county, Ohio; Sarah, the wife of Wilham 
Lakin, of Clenr.ont county, Ohio; Mary, the 
wife of John Lakin, alsot of Clermont coun- 
ty ; Joisq>h,.\vho was a graduate of tlie Phila- 
delphia Medical College and died in Holly 
Springs, Mississippi, where he was engaged 
in the practice of n.edicine ; Rebecca, the wife 
oif Richard Ritchey, of Lebanon, Ohio ; Tcf- 
bias, who died at the age of nineteen years ; 
Nancy, the wife of Dr. Nathan Thompson; 
Clarissa C, the wife of Nathan Nesbitt; and 
Allen, noiw deceased. 

Fron:ij his early childhood Henry Bretney, 
the father of our subject, resided in Ohio, 
and in 1830 he came toi Springfield, where 
he established a tanner}-, which has since 
been carried on and has never goaie out of 
the possession of the family. He was succeed- 
ed by Charles Van Bretney, and at the lat- 
ter's death his son, Harry Vaii ]\Ieter Bret- 
ney, 'became the owner and is still conduct- 
ing the business. Henry Bretney was wide- 
ly recoignized as one of Springfield's best 
business men in an early day. He was pro- 
gressive, wide-awake and enterprising and 
was thoroughly reliable in all his trade trans- 
actions. l\\ the manufacture of leather he 
displayed a comprehensi\-e knowledge of the 
business and of the best n-etliods of carrying 
on the w-ork and his products always found 
a ready sale on the market. His patronage 
steadily increased until he was at the head 
of a large and paying business. He was 
twice married and by his first union he had 
one child, but the mother and daughter are 
b&th now deceased. B}- his second marriage 
there were born four children : Sarah, the 
deceased wife of Joseph Van Meter; W'ick- 
liffe, who is living in Kentucky- ; Gifford ; and 
Charles Van. The father passed away 
in i86g and was laid to rest in FerncHff 
ceneterv. His wife survived hin^ until 



45^ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



J 876 and then she. tuj, was inierred in Fern- 
cliff. 

Charles Van Bretney, whose name intro- 
duces this record, was born, 1 eared and eilii- 
cated in Springheld, and throughout his en- 
tire life remained a resident of this city. He 
won for himself a leading position in trade 
circles, gained an honorable name and at 
his death left behind many friends, who still 
ciierish his memory. In early youth he be- 
came interested in his father's leather busi- 
ness, and, working in the different depart- 
n;nts, he became familiar with the trade in 
Ijrinciple and detail. Up<^n his father's 
death he succeeded to the ownership of the 
enterprise and from that time until his own 
deir.isc lie remained at its head, faithfully 
cairyiug on an industry which had become 
of much imi)ortance in trade circles of the 
city, through furnishing employment to a 
large number of workmen. At the same 
tin:e it brought to him a goi^l financial re- 
turn, owing to his careful guidance of his 
business affairs. At his death his son suc- 
ceeded to the management and the business 
is now carried on under the name of H. V. 
Bretney & Company. 

On the 5th of July. 18^)6, Charles Van 
Bretney was united in marriage to Miss Jo- 
sephine H. Clarke, a native of X'irginia and 
a daughter of William and Sarah ( Hans- 
berger) Clarke. Hei- parents were n.arried 
in Virginia and in the fall of 1849 came to 
Ohio, settling in Url\ana, where thev re- 
mainetl until called to their final rest. Unto 
Mr. and Mrs. Bretne>- were bom nine chil- 
dren: Lee Clarke, who died at the age of 
•eleven years: Harn,- Van Meter: Lucinda: 
Sarah, who died in childhood : Charles Will- 
iair,. who is residing in Xew York Cit\ : Le- 
ontine: Clara; Ralph; and Josephine. .Ml 
of the chil(h-en are still at home with the ex- 



ception of Charles, and with their mother 
reside at Xo. 313 East High street, in 
Spring-field. The family is one of promi- 
nence in the comn.unity and t-lie members 
of the household occupy an enviable position 
in social circles in which they move. 

Mr. Bretney indorsed the principles of 
the Republican party and gave his earnest 
support to the organization, believing it the 
duty of each' American citizen to take an 
active part in political affairs so far as sup- 
poi ting by ballot the measures in which one 
believes. At one time he served as a n.em- 
ber of the city council and while in office 
put forth every effort to promote the wel- 
fare and substantial improvement of the 
city along lines of progress and reform. He 
was a faithful memljer of the High Street 
Methodist Episcopal church and served on 
its official board. In 1893 he was called 
to the home beyond, his death (jccurri ng on 
the 5th of December. He was then L.id to 
rest in Ferncliff cemetery an id the deep re- 
gard of all who had known him. While he 
gained success in business, he had also won 
an untarnished name. He was popular be- 
cause he was always genial and approacha- 
ble. His friendship was highly prized by 
those who knew him and he was always one 
who held friendship as inviolable and hon e 
ties as sacred. 



SAMUEL HOUGHTOX. 

There is particular satisfaction in revert- 
ing to the life history of the honored and 
\enerable man whose name initiates this re- 
view since his mind. Ixire the impress of the 
historical annals of the state of Ohio from 
the early jjioneer tin.es down to the tw entieth 




SAMUEL HOUGHTON. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



centmy, and from the fact that lie was ever 
a loyal son of the Republic. He attainetl 
to a position of distinctive prominence in 
the thriving- city -where he long resided, and 
in his later years was regarded as one of the 
revered patriarchs of the community. He 
passed away at the age of ninety-two, but in 
his latter days was a remarkably well pre- 
served man. for nature is kind to those who 
oppose not her laws and Mr. Hoiighton 
ever had due reg-ard for the principles of 
right !i\-ing-. He witnessed the development 
of this country through almost an entire cen- 
tury and ever felt a just pride in what has 
been accomplished as the nation has pro- 
gressed, taking its place among- the great 
po'wers of the world. 

Mr. Houghton was liorn in Gilford, 
Vermont, December 24, 1810. His paternal 
grandfather, John Houghton, was long a 
resident of Green Mountain state and lived 
ti» attain the remarkable age of one hundred 
and fiiur years. Hecameof Eiiglish ancestors 
who were among the first settlers of \ew 
England. His wife bore the n-iaiden name 
of Miss Hoyt and among their children was 
Sanuel Houghton, Sr., whose birth occurred 
in Brattleboro, Vermont, October 15, 1781. 
He became a farmer and also had other 
business interests of importance, being en- 
gaged in the manufacture of brick. His 
acti\'ity in commercial and financial circles 
made him a valued citizen of the comumnity 
with which he was identified, and he thus 
left the impress of his indivitUiality upon 
its material advancement. He married 
Polly Chamberlain, a daughter of Benjamin 
Chamlierlain. 

.Samuel Houghton of this review- was the 
fourth in order of birth of the fourteen 
children born of this marriage. Ten of the 
iiun-iber reached mature ^-ears and five were 



married, having families of their ow-n. In 
early life he pursued his education in a 
private school and w-as afterw-ard for three 
n-ionths a student in a pubhc school, but at 
an early age he put aside his text Ijooks in 
order toi assist his father, who at that time 
was engaged in the manufacture of brick. 
When he had attained his m.ajority he ac- 
cepted a position as clerk in the postof^ce 
at Brattleboro, Vermoi-it. at a salary of ten 
dollars per month. When three years had 
passed, however, he resigned the position 
and returned tO' his home to assist his father, 
who paid him tweh'e dollars per month. He 
was thus engaged for a few years and on 
the expiration of that period sought a home 
in the w-est, iDelievimg that he might have 
jjetter business opportunities in a country 
less thickly settled, .\ccordingh-, he went 
to ^Michigan City, Indiana, w-here he entered 
ii-ito partnership with his brother-in-law, 
Rodney Field. This association was main- 
tained for seven years, on the expiration of 
which period Mr. Houghtoai sold out and 
turned his attention to the milling business, 
operating what w-as known as the City Mills, 
located in the vicinity of Michigan City. He 
continued in that business fo^r one and one- 
half years and- then resigned his position pre- 
paratory to returning to Vermont. He 
spent four years in his native state and w-as 
then again attracted by the possiljilities oi 
the west. 

In the year 1849 "^^^- Houghton became 
a resident of Clifton, Greene county, Ohio, 
where he engaged in the grocery business for 
several years, securing a good patronage 
which made his enterprise a profitable one. 
\Miai Mr. Houghton established this busi- 
ness his entire cash capital consisted of but 
sixty dollars. In the year 1856 he can.e to 
Spring-field am! entered into partnership 



456 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



with George Frenkenburg. under the firm 
name of Frenkenburg & Houghton. To- 
gether they carried on business for thirteen 
months and then the senior meinber of the 
firm sold his interest to Mr. Muzzy, this 
latter partnership continuing for seven years. 
The firm engaged in the grocery business, 
and on the e.xpiration of that period they 
sold out to John Winters, who carried on 
the business for sone time thereafter. At 
that time Mr. Houghton returned to Ver- 
mont on business. When his work in the 
east was accomplished he again cajr.e to 
Springfield and entered into partnership 
with Wililam Crothers, as a merchant. 
Their store was conducted for thirteen jears, 
at the end of which time Mr. Crothers 
died. Mr. Houghton then became sole pro- 
prietor of the enterprise and was well known 
as a leading and prominent business man of 
the city until his retirement to private life. 
He carried a large and well selected stock 
of gcKxls and his careful management, enter- 
prise and business activit)^ resulted in gain- 
ing for him very desirable success. 

In August. 1836, Mr. Houghton was 
uniteil in marriage to Miss Cora A. Field, 
of Gilford. X'ermont, who had l)een a 
schoolmate in his youth. She died in 1875. 
In 1886 Mr. Houghton married Mrs. Anna 
Herr, a most estimable lady, and Mrs. 
Houghton now occupies apleasant home in 
the city of Springfield at Xo. 19 South Fac- 
tory street. 

In his political views Mr. Houghton was 
a priiuounced Rqiublican, giving an inflexi- 
ble support to the party from its organiza- 
tion. For four years he was a trustee of 
the Children's Home. He was a church 
meinber from 1835 until the time of his 
death, filling many offices in the church, in- 
cluding that of se.xton and warden. Up to 



the tin;e of his death he was in possession 
of his faculties and gave his personal super- 
vision to the greater part of his business 
interests, and while not connected with mer- 
cantile affairs for some years, he had invest- 
ments requiring constant attention. By 
enei"g3" and good management he won a place 
among the substantial residents of this city. 
He died Xovemlier i, 1902. He stood in 
his old age when clothed with honor of 
wealth and a host of friends which his life 
work won, just where he stood as a young 
man beset with difficulties, for the best ele- 
ments of Christian progress, for education, 
for absolute justice, for the dignity of n.an- 
ual labor, for the church aiid the widespread 
of the gospel. Such lives are well worthy 
of study. Though his early education was 
meager, he achieved for himself, by conflict 
with obstacles and by continuous interest in 
e\er\- question of the age, an education 
which the profoundest thinkers might covet 
and which the thoughtful lines of his face 
and the simplicity of his bearing at once re- 
vealed. Tlie story of his achievements must 
in.spire a,ll young men who read it with a 
truer estimate of the value and of the surer 
rewards of character. 



JOHN REDDISH. M. D. 

Dr. John Reddish, who is now practically 
living retiretl at his pleasant home at 229 
\\'est Jefferson street, Springfield, was boni 
near Fletcher Chapel, in HamiCMiy town- 
.^hip, this county, on the 3d of Octolwr. 
1827, and is a son of Nathan and Harriet 
(O.Ktoby) Reddish. The father was Ijorn 
near Kingston. Somerset county, Maryland, 
Dcccirl)er 29, 1783, and was there reared 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to manhood. He learned the tanner's and 
cnrrier's trade tliere and when a yoimg man 
came to what is now Clark county, Ohio, 
establishing- the first tannery near Clifton 
about 1S07. A little later he removed to 
Springfield township, settling 00 section 14, 
near the headwaters of Mill Rlun, ajid es- 
tablished a tannery at what is now known 
as Locust Grove. He was three times mar- 
ried, the Doctor being a son of the third 
union. His first wife bore the maiden name 
of ^ilatilda Miller and unto them were born 
h\ e children. For his secoaid wife he chose 
[Mary McCle\^e. On the 26th of November, 
1826, he was united in marriage tO' Mrs. 
Harriet Loomis, nee Oxtoby. 

When the war of 1812 was in progress 
Nathan Reddish jo'ined the army, serving 
with the militia at Zane's blockhouse near 
Bellefontaine, Ohioi, near the headwatersi of 
Mad river. While defending that place he 
was woundetl by an arrow shot from an In- 
dian's bow. Later in life he purchased a 
farm, upcw which he lived in practical re- 
tirement, for his business ventures and in- 
\-estm-ents in land had brought tol him capi- 
tal suffiicient to enable him to put aside the 
more arduous duties of life. He had two 
farms, a part of one being now owned b}' 
Dr. Reddish. After an active, useful and 
honorable life he passed away July 7, 1853. 
By his third marria^ge there were three chil- 
dren, but twoi of the number died in in- 
fancy. In his political affiliations Nathan 
Reddish was a Whig, but he never sought 
or desired office. Numbered among the pio- 
neer settlers of the cotmty, he took an active 
part in its early development and improve- 
ment and in this work was associated with 
Jonathan Donnell, David Lowry and other 
\vell known ea,rly settlers. He held mem- 



bei'ship in the Baptist church at Muddy Run 
and was well known as a man of sterling 
worth and uncjuestioned integrity. 

Dr. Reddish of this review was reared 
upon his father's farm and pursued his edu- 
cation in a log schoolhouse, wdiere he spent 
a few weeks each winter. When only sev- 
en years of age he w^as taught to handle 
a gun and whai a boy of nine or ten }'ears 
he hunted wild turkeys and other wild game. 
When ten years of age he spent one term 
as a student in a school in Springfield and 
later a summer session in the preparatory 
department of Wittenberg College. Much 
of his youth and early manhood, however, 
was devoted to farm work, but at the age 
of twenty-se\-en years he read medicine for 
one year under the direction of Dr. Isaac 
Kay and the following year attaided lec- 
tures in the Starling Medical College at Co- 
lumbus, in which institution he was graduat- 
ed with the degree of M. D. in 1863. His 
study there, however, was not continuous. 
After he had spent one year in college he 
entered the oflice of Josiah Ramsey, a den- 
tist, in order to learn that profession, but 
on account of ill health he gave up den- 
tistry. He is now wearing a set of teeth 
which he made in 1866 — the last work that 
he did as a dentist. He finished the first 
\-ulcanizedi work done in the office oif his 
preceptor and would have undoubtedly be- 
con:e a successful dentist had not circum- 
stances compelled his relinquishment of 
the work. About the time of the inaug^ira- 
tion of the Civil war Dr. Reddish returned 
to Columbus and completed his course in 
medicine and surgery, being graduated in 
February, 1863. He afterward took a trip 
to the west and located four hundred acres 
of land about one hundred and fiftv miles 



45« 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



northwest of St. Paul, Minnesota, return- 
ing to Ohio in i866.- 

On the 2nd of Octoljer. of tliat year, the 
Doctor was united in marriage to Miss EHza- 
beth Vicory. a teacher in the public schoools 
of this citv. He tlien ren-.oved to liis farm 
in Springfield township, where they lived 
until 1883. There the Doctor carried on 
general farming and also engaged in deal- 
ing in land, buying and selling many farms 
in this jxirt of the county. He also became 
known as a dealer in city real estate and 
found the business to be profitable. In 1883 
he remmed to Yellow Springs, where lie 
retrained until 1896. and there erected a 
modern home. In the latter year, however, 
he disposed of his pro])ert\- interests there 
and tcx>k up his home just outside of the 
city limits, but in 1897 he came to Spring- 
field, where he ha.s since lived. On the 17th 
of August, 1900, he was called upon tt> 
mourn the loss of his wife. Two children 
had been born unto them, Ixit John B. died 
at the age of se\'enteen years. Bruce Vicor}-, 
bom June 30, 1876. is a graduate of Wit- 
tenberg College and is no\\ preparing for 
the Episco]jal ministiy as a student in the 
Theological Sen-inary at Chelsea Square, in 
New York city. In 1902 the Doctor was 
married to Mrs. Ella Melus, who was bom 
in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, a daughter of 
Amzi and Catherine (Gray) Melius. Mrs. 
Reddish was reared to womanhood in Penn- 
sylvania and was there married to Charles 
Melus, by wlunn s!ie had one daughter, 
Ixlinnie Gertrude, who became the wife of 
Charles Ketciicn, by whom she has one son, 
Giarles, J'-. Mr. ;\Ielus died in Pcnn.syl- 
vania aliout a year after their marriage. 
His widow afterward removed to Maryland, 
and in 1899 can e to Clark county, Ohio. 

Dr. Reddish is a Den.ocrat in his politic- 



al affiliations and in early life was a \\'hig, 
his first vote having been cast for Taylor 
in 1848. In 1856 he supported John C. 
Fremont and afterward cast his ballot in 
support of Lincoln, Grant and Greeley. He 
belongs to- the Central Methodist Episcopal 
church and served as a trustee of the church 
at Yellow Springs, which he joined in 1886. 
He was also an active Sunday-school worker 
there. The Doctor has traveled quite ex- 
tensively, gaining that broad culture and 
wide inforaiation which only travel can 
bring. In 1853 he attended the Crystal Pal- 
ace exposition in New York; in 1876 the 
Centennial exix>sition in Philadelphia, and in 
1888 he took a trip to California, tra\eling 
extensively along the Pacific coast. He re- 
turned ly\- way of Yellowstone Park. In ii>93 
he wa.s a visitor at the Columbian expositiim 
in Chicago and in 1901, accompanied 
by his son, he made a trip to the old world, 
landing at Liverpool on the ist of June. 
Then, on pleasure bent, he traveled to man\- 
interesting points in England, Scotland, 
France. Switzerland, Italy and Germany, 
making a trip down the Rhine, and also 
going to Holland and Belgium, He then re- 
tm-ned to his native country and he and 
his wife are now living quietly in their pleas- 
ant home in Springfield in the enjoyment 
of the fruits of his successful business ven- 
tures. He is a self-educated and self-made 
iron. \\^ithout any special fan.ily or pe- 
cuniary advantages in early life, he has 
worked his way steadily upward, continually 
broadening his knowledge 1)y reading, travel 
and investigation, and at the sajre time 
acquiring a handsome con-petence through 
well directed business efforts and judicious 
investments. He has a wide acquaintance 
in the cotuity of his nativity and the circle 
of his friends is an extensive one. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



459 



LE\^I ATKIXSOX. 

Levi Atkinson, now deceased, was a re- 
spected and honored resident of Clark coun- 
t}-. He was born on the Jonathan Chene_\- 
farm, December 5, 1S18. cUid was reared to 
farm Hfe. His parents were Cephus and 
Abigail (Oren) Atkinson, and o-nr suoject 
accompanied them on their various removals 
during his youth. They went ti;> Madison 
county, where they owned a large farm, but 
afterward sold that property and took up 
their abode in Champaign county. The fa- 
ther became a wealthy man and gave to 
each of his children twelve thousand dol- 
lars when they were ready to lea\-e the pa- 
rental roof and start ont in life for them- 
sehes. They had also been pro^'ided with 
good educational privileges and were thus 
well ecjuipped for life's' responsible duties. 

Levi Atkinson was united in marriage 
July 27, 1848, to Miss Mary B. Phillips, 
who was born in Fairfax, Vermont, April 
22. 1827. She was four }ears old when she 
came to Ohio. Her father, Seth Phillips, 
had removed to this state some time before 
and the mother, Mrs. Nancy (Blake) Phil- 
lips, came alx»ut 1831, bringing with her 
her sevai children, including Mrs. Atkinson 
and her twin sister, who were then but four 
years of age, and two younger children. 
Mrs. Atkinson received fair educational pri\-- 
ileges in her early girlhood, but her mother 
died when the daugh.ter was only thirteen 
y^ears of age and she afterward went to 
work to make her own living, receiving but 
fifty cents jier week, and among her duties 
was that of milking ten coiws each night and 
morning. 

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. At- 
kinson lived for some tin-e upon his father's 
farm. Thev afterward remmed to Greene 



county, where Mr. Atkinson purchased two 
hundred and niricty-six acres of land, upon 
which he spent his remaining days. He be- 
came the owner of over thirteen hundred 
acres, all in one body. His business affairs 
were capably conducted and his enterprise 
and untiring labor 'brought to him very cred- 
italjle success. 

L'nto Mr, and Mrs. Atkinson were born 
six children : John O., who is living at 
Lawrence, Kansas ; Mrs. Ann Pennington, 
of Jamestown, Ohio; Mrs. Laura Larkin; 
Charles, who died at the age of four years ; 
Sefh. wdio died in 1890; and Gw^enn, who 
irarried James Ann'strong and lives in Den- 
\er, Colorado. The father of this family 
was called to his final rest February 5, 1881, 
while the mother passed away on the 29th 
of Sqjtember, igoi. 

Mr. Atkinson was a Republican in his 
political affiliations. He was a birthright 
Quaker, and his wife joined the Society of 
Friends. Both were highly esteemed people, 
\\hose lives were in harmony with tlieir 
Christian faith and all who knew them re- 
spected them for their sterling worth. In his 
business afifairs as the years passed Mr. At- 
kinson prospered, and his course was such as 
to commaid him to the confidence and re- 
gard of all. He won a handsome compe- 
teice and was thus enabled to proivide well 
for his family. He left behind a comfortable 
competence, and also an untarnished nan'e. 

Mrs. Laura Larkin. his daughter, was 
born Septanber 2. 1854, obtained a good 
common school education and afterward be- 
came a student at Earlham College at Rich- 
mond, Lidiana. On the 8th oi March, 1874, 
she gave her hand in marriage to O. J\L 
Larkin and unto them have been liorn sev- 
en children, who are yet li^-ing. Paul P., 
who v.as born Fdiruary 24. 1876. in Lyon 



46o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



county, Kansas, where tlie family resided 
from 1874 until 1879, is at home. Mary F., 
IXJTO in Kansas, November 12, 1877, is the 
wife of Porter Cook, who is a graduate of 
Earlham College, and is now a teacher in the 
high scliool at Anderson, Indiana. Carl B., 
born in Greene county, Ohio, November 21, 
1880, is now engaged in clerking in a gen- 
eral store in Andersf>n, Indiana. Lena M., 
born in Greene county. Sqitemter 22. 1883, 
is now a student in a hospital in Denver. 
Walter J., born in Stokes township, Madi- 
son comity, December 30, 1885. is at home. 
Mark R., born in Madison county November 
14, 1892, and Ruby Gwenn, born in Madi- 
son county September 12, 1897, are also 
with their parents. Mrs. Larkin's father 
gave to each of his children two hundred 
and thirty acres of land. She sold her 
share in January. 1902, and has since pur- 
cliased one hundred and fifty-two acres, 
upon which she is now living, having a good 
hom.e here. She is a birthright member of 
the Quaker church, as are all her chil- 
dren. The Atkinson family and the Larkiii 
fan-.ily are well known in this section of 
Ohio, where the}- have gained many friends. 



TRVIXE .MILLER, LL. B. 

The rare example of sons of great men 
rising as high as th.eir fathers seems to sup- 
port the notion that there is in this country 
a sort of hereditary Ixir to public succession. 
This class of young men is not judged 'by 
their associates, but by their distinguished 
fathers and to bear an illustrious name 
seems often tO' invite the shafts of jealousy 
and envy. As a western editor has expressed 
it: "If anv scion of a house still honored 



rises to greatness he will have achie\ed it. 
He will not be born to it or have it thrust 
upon him, but he must be \ery gjeat indeed 
to overcome the disadvantage of standing 
in the shadow of tlie colossal dead." And yet 
an honorable ancestry is a precious heritage. 
Tliis Mr. Miller can claim, and at the same 
time he has become recognized as a most 
prominait lawyer at the Springfield bar. 

A native of Iowa, he was Ijorn in the 
city of Keokuk, June 10, i860, his parents 
l)eing Samuel F. and Eliza (Winters) Mil- 
ler. Her paternal grandfather was a soldier 
of the war of 18 12. The fathei- of our sub- 
ject was a distinguished lawyer and jurist, 
serving as judge of the supreme court of the 
United States, to which he was appointed by 
President Lincoln in 1862, when in his ju- 
dicial capacity he was called to Washington, 
D. C. There he died in 1890. He was a 
native of Kentucky and was a strong anti- 
slavery man, whose influence was marked 
in Ijehalf of the Union. His wife died in 
1900 in the nation's capital. 

Irvine Miller began his education in a 
private school in Keokulk, Iowa, and later 
attende<l the public schools at ^loimt Pleas- 
ant, Iowa, and Sharon, Pennsylvania. He 
was next in a private school at Washington, 
D. C, for two years, and after that spent 
three years abroad, continuing his studies in 
France and Germany and liecoming thor- 
oughly familiar with lx)th languages, so that 
he was able to read, write and speak each. 
The following two years were spent at Em- 
erson Institute, in Washington. D. C, pre- 
paring for college, and then entering Cor- 
nell University, he was graduatetl in 
the class of 1881. He was one of the 
editors of the Ct-»rnell Daily Sun, one 
of the first college dailies issued, and 
was one of the directors of the Cornell 



"HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



46 1 



na\'y. After leaving college he en- 
tered the law school of the National Uni- 
versit}- at Washington, D. C, and was grad- 
uated there in 1883 with tlie degree of 
LL. B. While a student there ]\Ir. Miller 
was en-.ployed in the patent office as a mem- 
ber of the examining corps. 

In 1884 he went to Chicago, where he 
was admitted to practice before the supreme 
court of Illinois and the United States cir- 
cuit and district courts. He has always 
made a specialty of patent law and has 
been more particularly interested in the 
mechanical side of the business, in which 
he has had long and special train- 
ing. A\'hile in Chicago in 1893 he 
served as judge of awards at the World's 
Columbian Exposition in the division of 
transportation. He built up a good practice 
in that city along the lines of his specialty, 
numbering amoaig his clients the Pulhnan 
Palace Car Coinpany, Armour & Company 
and the National Biscuit Company. 

Air. IMiller remained in Chicago until 
1900, when he came to Springfield, Ohio, 
and associated himself with Harry A. Toul- 
min, a prominent patent attorney of this 
city. For the last fifteen years Mr. Miller's 
principal business has been that of an ex- 
pert witness on patent cases and in that ca- 
pacity- he is constantl}- called on in important 
patent causes in all parts of tlie country. 
In 1889 and 1890 he was secretary and dis- 
bursing offiter for the Sioux commission, 
composed of ex-Governor Charles Foster, 
General George Crook and Major William 
Warner, of Kansas City, and assisted in 
negotiating the purchase of several million 
acres of land from the Sioux Indians in Da- 
k(jta. Mr. Miller has always been a Repul>- 
lican. while his father was one of the found- 
ers of the party, and while in Chicago he' 



was active in city affairs. In the spring of 
1900 he was president of the congressional 
steering committee foa- James R. Mann and 
was a delegate tO' the congressioiual conven- 
tion that nominated him for congress. So- 
cially he is a miemiber of the Lagonda Club, 
of Springfield. 

In March, 1902, Mr. Miller was united 
in n:arriage to Mrs. Augusta G. Feeney, of 
Springfield, a daughter of John Conklin, an 
old resident and prominent 'business man of 
this city. They have a pleasant residence 
at 271. North Fountain avenue. 



AUGUST STELZER. 

Augiist Stelzer, a cigar manufacturer,- 
doing business at No. 47 West Main street, 
has Ijeai identified with the trade interests 
of Springfield since 1886. He was born in 
Piqua, Miami county, Ohio^, Pebrtiary 8, 
1859, and was educated in the Gennan 
parochial school and in the Piqua high 
school until he was sixteen years ijf age. 
His father, Reinhart Stelzer, was born in 
Germany, was a cooper by trade and fol- 
lowed that occupation until his death, 
which occurred in Piqua in his fifty-eighth 
year. He had long been a resident of Miami 
township. His wife, who bore the maiden 
name of Barbara Sboepf, was also born in 
Germany, and died in Piqua, Ohio, when 
about fifty-six years oi age. In their family 
were sever children, five sons and two 
daughters, all of whom are yet living. 

August Stelzer of this reA-iew acquired 
his education in the sdiools before mentioned 
and then began to learn the business of 
manufacturing cigars in Piqua, following 
that trade there continuouslv until 1886, 



462 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



^villl the excepton of one year whicli he 
spent in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He then 
<:anie to Sprmg-iield and entered into busi- 
ness on his own account in partnership witli 
Mr. Kloeb. Tliis connection was maintained 
for a Httle more than a year. Since that 
time Mr. Stelzer has been alone in business. 
He began operations on a \'er\- small scale, 
but graduall}' his trade has increased until 
he now employs fifteen hands in the manu- 
facturing of his g<x>ds. He is doing a whole- 
sale business in Springfield and adjacent 
cities. In 1895 he removed to his present 
location, where he is now engaged in the 
mtmutacture of the Stelzer. a ten-cent cigar. 
while Xn, 47. Union Roy, Club and Beauty 
are his leaders in the five-cent goods. 

In 1887, in Piqua, Ohio. Mr. Stelzer was 
united in marriage to Miss Emjna Franz, 
who was born in that city in 1865 and was 
there educated. They now have five chil- 
dren : Walter .\. ; Edward J. and Marie E., 
who are twins; Leonard G. ; and Paul C. 
All were born in this city and the family 
circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of 
death. The parents hold membership in St. 
Raphael's church and in politics Mr. Stel- 
zer is a Democrat where questions of state 
and national importance are involved, but at 
local elections he votes indqiendently of party 
ties. He is a member of the Benevolent ami 
Protective Order of Elks and of the Oliio 
division of the United Con:m:ei-cial Travel- 
ers. He is likewise connected with the 
Knights of Columbus. Since 1895 he has 
reside<;l at No. 60 East Columbia street, 
where he has provided a good home f(.'r his 
family. In all matters pertaining to the city 
and the welfare of its people he has taken a 
deq> interest and gives his support. lie 
has never sought official hont)rs. but has i^een 
content to devote !iis time and attention to 



his business affairs, which he has capably 
man?.ged so that he has gaineil considerable 
j'uccess. 



JAMES T. EICIIELBARGER. 

The farming interests of Clark county 
are well represented by James Todd Eichel- 
barger, whose richly cultivated fields and 
well improved farm in Green township indi- 
cate him to be one of the progressive ami 
hitelligent agriculturists of his coirmunity. 
That he has always li\ed in this locality is a 
proof that Clark count v is kindly in her 
treatment of her sons and that she offers 
them g-ood opiK)rtunities for acquring wealth. 

He was born April .29, 1847. in the 
house which is yet his home, his parents lac- 
ing Michael and Margaret Ann (Todd) 
Eichelbarger. His father was born in Wash- 
ington count). Marj-land, September 3. 
1815, and he spent his boyhood days upon 
the farm, acquiring a fair coanmon-schiK>l 
education. In Maryland he leamed the car- 
l)enter's trade and when alxjut twenty-one 
years of age he came to Clark county. Ohio. 
Later, however, he returned to the state of 
his nativity, but again came to the west, 
attracted by the opjKyrtunities of this section 
of Ohii). He was married on the 27th of 
May. 1841. to Margaret Ann Todd, whose 
birth occurred in Green township, Xovem- 
lier 21, 1819. He afterward followed I he 
trades of a carpenter and millwright and on 
the 14th of Deceml>er, 1844, 'le purchased 
a snail tract of land of about five acres, 
on which he built a imusc and bam, which 
still stand upon the farm Ijelonging to our 
subject. There he n.ade his home through- 
out his remaining days, and he added to 
iiis original purchase until he had forty-four 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



463- 



acies (jf land. He was never an office seek- 
er antl was independent in his political aflilia- 
tions. His time was largely given tO' his 
business affairs and toi the enjoyment of 
hon:e life and he therefore sought nO' notorie- 
ty in political lines. In the family were 
fom- children : Frances E., who! was Ixirn 
October 13. 1842, and became the wife oif 
Isaac Tuttle: ^largaret Ann, \\\vj< was burn 
July 28, 1845, and, is ihe wife o>i jerry ]\I. 
Paschall, their home being at 166 EucHd ave- 
nue, in Springfield, Ohio'; James T.. of tliis 
review ; and John William, whoi was born 
January 2^. 1853, and died December 22. 
1890. The father's death occurred January 
7, 1867. 

Under the parental i-oof Mr. Eichelbarg- 
er of this re\'iew spent the days of his boy- 
hood and youth and in early life he worixecl 
at the carpenter's trade with his father. Dm- 
ing his school years he pursued his education 
in the institutions of learning- near his hon.e. 
He was married December 26, 1872, in 
Green toAvnsliip. to Aliss Mary Eliza Na\e, 
who was born in that township January 22, 
1853, a daughter of Jacob and Mary ( Kna- 
ble) Xave. Her father was born in Green 
township August 20, 181 1, and died March 
16, 1865. Four children graced the mar- 
riage of our subject and his wife: John, 
Ixvrn in Green township November 24, 1874 : 
Nina,, born February 27, 18S2; Claude, who 
was born December 29. 1884, ^"'1 Ji^'' 
March 21, 1887; and Byron, born August 
29, 1890. 

For se\-eral _\'ears Mr. Eichelliarger 
owned a portable sawmill, which he operated 
in different parts of the county, and after 
abandoning that line of work he turned his 
attention to farn ing. In 1885 1^^' purclrr-ed 
forty-four acres of land where he now li\es 
and has since extended the lioundaries of 



his farm until it comprises fifty acres of rich 
land. He voted for Grant in 1868 and is 
aiT independent Republican in politics but 
has ne\-er been an oflice seeker. 



ADAM B. PARKER. 



Adam B. Parker is a retired contractor, 
making his home in Springfield. He was 
born .April 22, 1846, in Highland county, 
Ohio, near Rainsboro, his parents being 
Samuel and Mary (Kinzer) Parker. On 
ihe paternal side he comes of English an- 
cestry and in the maternal line is of Hol- 
land lineage. His father was also born in 
Highland county and his parents were Jon- 
athan and Margaret (Crawford) Parker. 
The grandfather was a son of Sir Henry 
Parker, who came from England to America 
in company with two brothers anil settled 
in Virginia. The city of Parkersburg, that 
Slate, was named in his honor. Sir Henry 
and his two brothers were in the Revolu- 
tionary war and his brothers died of yellow 
icxev. All three were laid to rest in tlie 
cemetery in Parkersburg. Jonathan Parker 
became one of the pioneer settlers of High- 
land county, Ohio, and was actively con- 
nected with the work of improvement and 
development wdien this was a frontier re- 
gion. He made his home in this state until 
called to his final rest ar.d was well known 
as a progressive agriculturist. Samuel 
Parker spent his entire life in Highland 
county and was known as a successful farm- 
er there. He died August 22, 1863, while 
his wife passed away January 12, 1861, the- 
remains of both being interred in Highland 
county. They were the parents of seven 
children : William Henry, a resident of 
Inwa; Adam B. ; Mrs. Martha Pennington,. 



464 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of California; John, deceased; Mrs. Rebec- 
ca Cowgill, who is living in Highland coun- 
ty; Qiarlotte, the wife of John Barkley, of 
Springfield ; and Joseph. 

Adam B. Parker pursued his education 
in the district schools near his boyhood home 
and assisted his father in the work of the 
farm until 1863, when he could no longer 
content himself to follow the plow when 
his country was in danger, and enlisted for 
service in the Union army, being enrolled 
at Hillsboro as a member of Company A, 
Second Heavy Artillery. He then went to 
the front and served until the close of the 
war, receiving an honorable discharge at 
Xa-;liville, Tennessee. He was with Sher- 
man's army during the Atlanta compaign, 
and throughout his military service was al- 
ways frjund at his post of duty as a faith- 
ful defender of tlie old flag and the cause 
it represented. 

Aftor his return from the army Mr. 
Parker resumed farming, which he followed 
for ten years, when on account of ill health 
he removed to Springfield, in 1875. and en- 
tered upon his business career in this city 
as a contractor and builder. He was thus 
identified witli the improvement of Spring- 
field until i8or, when he retired tn private 
life, oxce])t thai he is now known as a poul- 
tr_\- fancier, ha\ing some fine breeds of poul- 
try. He is largely, however, enjoying a 
well merited rest, but to a man of his ener- 
getic nature, to vihom indolence and idle- 
ness are utterly foreign, it would be impos- 
sible to put aside business cares entirely. 

On the 10th of September, 1868, Mr. 
Parker was united in marriage to Miss 
Lydia A. Burgess, a native of Highland 
county. Ohio, and a lady of English descent. 
They have seven children: Walter Frank- 
lin, who married Helen Sholts and resides 



in Cleveland, Ohio; Beverly B., who married 
ISliss Fedder, and is living in Springfield, 
his first wife, Alary Grady, having died in 
February, 189S; Charles, .\rthur. Adam 
Cl}(Ie and Robert C, all at home. The fam- 
il\- reside at Xo. 83 South Greenmount 
avenue. 

In his political views Mr. Parker is a 
Republican, firm in his advocacy of the prin- 
ciples of the organization. He once served 
as assessor of the sixth ward, but otherwise 
has held no office, nor has he desired po- 
litical preferment. He and his wife hold 
membership in the Friends' church at Sel- 
ma. He has been a successful man, wheth- 
er following farming, contracting or the 
poultry business. He has realized that per- 
severance and energy are two very import- 
ant conditions of prosperity and upon that 
foundation he has reared the superstructure 
of his success. He has always been found 
faitliful in friendship, loyal in citizenship 
rviul true to the various duties of life which 
have ci>nie to him as the years have passed. 



JAMES B. NORTH. 

James B. Xorth is a retired merchant 
of Sprhigfield, now living at Xo. J49 South 
Limestone street. He has been a resident 
of this city since 1873 and from that time 
has been regarded as a valued addition to 
the ranks of the business men here. He be- 
i-ings to that class of representative Ameri- 
can citizens who, while promoting individ; 
ual success, also advance general prosper- 
ity and contribute to the general gootl. 

Mr. Xorth is one of Ohio's native sons, 
his birth having occurred in the city of Cin- 
cinnati on the 7th of June, 1853. He is a 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



465 



K(in of Patrick Xortli, who was 1joni in 
v;ounty West ^Nleath, Ireland, in 1816. The 
jjaternal grandfatlier was James North, who 
had four children : Patrick K. ; James, who 
died in Selma, Ohio, in 1887; and two 
daughters. Mary, the elder, was married 
in Cincinnati, and there died. The other 
daughter was married and renioN'ed to 
Bridge])ort, Connecticut, where her death 
occurred. The father of these children died 
in. 1S63 at the age of seventy-nine years, 
while living in Selma. All of the family 
came to this country, leaving no relatives 
in Ireland, and they remained in close touch 
with each other until death separated them. 
\\'hen they arrived in Oliio they found the 
township in which they took up their ahode 
alim ist an unbroken wilderness. They called 
it the "Bush" because the timber grew so 
densely. 

The father of our subject was educated 
in the pay schools of his native country and 
came to America in 1842. remaining a resi- 
dent of Bridgeport, Connecticut until 1848. 
He was there married in July, 1852, to 
Ann Mangan, who was born in the town of 
Cooksboro in county West Aleath, Ireland, 
in 1820. Patrick North followed various 
occupations, devoting his last years to farm- 
ing in Madison township, having removed 
to this county in the spring of 1854. Pie 
was a hard working man, but never accu- 
mulated any property. He was well read 
and commanded the respect and confidence 
of liis neighbors i .id friends. He died Sep- 
tember 3, 1861. After the death of her 
husband the widow reared her children, ed- 
ucating them in the public schools of Sel- 
ma. In the family were five bons and one 
daughter, who were born in Clark count}-, 
while the subject of this review was born 
in Cincinnati. Two of the sons died in 



earh- childhood. Those still living are 
James B. ; Owen E., who is now living in 
Harmony township; John Henry, who is 
engaged in the grocery business at 2 1 2 East 
Pleasant street in Springfield ; Mary A., the 
wife of Charles Armbruster, of Urbana, 
Ohio ; and Joseph S., a clerk in Springfield. 
It was in the year 1878 that the mother came 
with Joseph and Mary A. to Springfield, 
where she died in 1882. She was very de- 
voted to her children and insisted that they 
should have good educational advantages in 
order to be well fitted for life's practical 
duties. She and the others of the family 
were identified with the Catholic church, 
and the father of our subject was a Dem- 
ccrat in his political afliliations. At the 
time of the Civil war, however, he was a 
Union sympathizer and conducted a station 
on the famous underground railroad. 

James B. North, of this review, ' re- 
ceived a common school education, attend- 
ing school during the winter months, while 
in the summer he worked on the farm. He 
also clerked for a year in a general store 
in Selma, and then came to Springfield, 
where he was employed as a salesman for 
several years. He was employed in various 
groceries until 1876, when he fomied a 
partnership with James A. Myers, now a 
member ni the Robbins & Myers Company. 
This connection was maintained for six 
months when Mr. North sold his interest to 
his partner and in 1877 entered the employ 
of B. F. Hunt & Company, grocers. One of 
his fellow clerks there was C. C. Funk and 
in October, 1877, they joined A. P. Trout 
m organizing the firm of C. C. Funk & 
Company, which for some time did the lead- 
ing grocery business in Springfield. In 
1880 ]\Ir. Trout retired from the firm and 
in October. 1893, Mr. North disixjsetl of his 



466 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



interest, but the firm carried on the enter- 
prise until the following year. When Mr. 
North sold out he went upon the road as a 
salesman for an oil company, but was en- 
gaged in that line for only five months. On 
the i^t of March, 1884, he embarked in the 
groceiy business for himself, locating on 
Fountain avenue near High street, and was 
I'.uis engaged in the conduct of a large and 
profitable trade until the ist of March, 1896, 
when on account of ill health he retired and 
since that time he has been engaged in the 
leai estate business and his well directed ef- 
forts have brought to him splendid success. 
He invested in city real estate when it sold 
at a low figure and with the increase of the 
city's poinilation his property has largely 
increased in value and returns to him an 
excellent income, so that he is now- enabled 
to live a retired life. In i960 he served as 
decennial appraiser of ward No. 5 and in 
1 90 1 he was appointed as a member of the 
decennial board of revision. He performed 
his duties capably and faithfully, thus ad- 
vancing the interests of the city and at all 
rimes he has been known as a public-spirited 
and progressive man, ever in faxor of any 
movement or measure that woulil advance 
tlie welfare of Springfield. 

On the 1st of October, 1878, in this city, 
Mr. .X'orth was united in marriage to Miss 
Bridget McDonald, who was born in Spring- 
field township in May. 1853. and is a daugh- 
ter of John McDonald, who was a farmer, 
but is now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
North have been born three children : Anna 
Maria, born December 19, 1881. is a "grad- 
uate of St. Raphael's school: Catherine, 
Ixirn .\pril J9, 1S85. is a student in tlie 
in the same school : Margaret Helen, born 
December 21, 1886, is also in school. 

Mr. North and his familv are communi- 



cants of St. Raphael's church and he is a 
member of the church committee. His po- 
litical views are in accord with the Repub- 
lican party and its principles, and he always 
gives to its men and measures his support, 
but he has never been a politician in the 
sense of office seeking, preferring to give 
his time and energies to his business affairs, 
in which he has met with signal success. 
He is a man of strong purpose, determined 
in his e.xecution of all plans that he makes 
and at all times his honesty in trade transac- 
tions has been above question. He thus de- 
serves mention among the representative 
men of Springfield and with pleasure we 
present his record to our readers. 



JAMES HENRY DALIE. 

James Henry Dalie, who was born in 
Devonshire. England, December 22. 1843. 
is a son of George Dalie, whose birth oc- 
curred in Devonshire, England, in 181 5. 
The paternal grandparents died in Lock- 
pfjrt. New York, at an advanced age. 
George Dalie. the father of our subject, 
learned the carpenter's trade and w as a ship- 
builder in luigland. About 185J he came 
with the family to America, settling in Lock- 
port, New York, where he followed car- 
pentering. There he resided until 1855, 
when he came to Clark county, Ohio, having 
a favorable business opening here. His 
death occurred in the city of Springfield in 
1897. I-or maiiy years he has been prom- 
inently known as an extensive contractor 
and among others which he built was the 
Dretney tanyard on Main street, one of the 
old landmarks of the city. For thirty-five 
years he lived at No. 67 North Spring 




J. H. DALIE 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



469 



street, where his death occurred. His wife, 
who hore the maiden name of Ehzaljeth 
Croft, was born in Devonshire, England, in 
1820, and now resides at the old home place. 
Tn their family were nine children, of whom 
two daughters were born in New York;, and 
one in Springfield, while the others were na- 
tives of England. Mary A. became the wife 
of James Henry, and died in Chicago, Illi- 
nois, in 1900. Alice is the widow of Jo- 
seph Ayers and is living in Cleveland, Ohio. 
James H. is the next yoitnger. Marie be- 
came the wife of Harry Rhoderick, of 
Springfield, and died in this city. Rose is 
the widow of William Sibert, who makes 
her. home in Cleveland. John G. is living 
retired in Spring-field. Emma is t4ie de- 
ceased wife of Charles Aldrich. Matilda is 
the wife of Joseph Holmes, a lake captain 
living -in Cleveland. Cynthia is the wife of 
John P. Allen, of Springfield. The chil- 
dren were educated in the public schools of 
this city and the youngest daughter pursued 
a musical course. In politics the father took 
an active interest, first as a member of the 
Whig party and afterward as a supporter of 
the Republican party. He served as con- 
stable for more than twenty years and was 
also township trustee. He belonged to the 
old Union P'ire Company and was a mem- 
ber of the Independent Order of Red Men, 
and his wife was a member of the Episco- 
palian church. 

James H. Dalie was educated in the pub- 
lic schools of New York and after coming 
to Ohio was a student in the old school on 
East High street in Springfield. At the age 
of seventeen he left the schoolroom and be- 
gan working at his trade of carpentering, 
which he partly learned under Robert John- 
son. In October, 1862, however, he en- 
li.sted as a musician of the Second Brigade, 



Third Di\-ision, Sixth Army Corps, at Gen- 
eral Keifer's headquarters. The regimental 
bands were discharged and the brigade 
bands were organied at that time. ilr. 
Dalie served as a'musician until the close of 
the war. He was present at the time of 
Lee"s surrender and took part in the grand 
review at \\'ashington. As their corps ar- 
rived late it was reviewed by itself. 

Tn July, 1865, Air. Dalie received an 
honorable discharge in the capital city of 
the nation and at once returned home. Here 
he began work for Nimrod Myers, a con- 
tractor, under whom he completed his trade 
and \\orked as a journeyman. He was 
afterward made foreman and continued in 
the empli ly of that gentleman altogether for 
sixteen years. In 1881, having mastered the 
trade in all of its branches, he began con- 
tracting and building on his own account, 
starting out on a small scale but gradually 
working his way to the front as one of the 
leading builders of this city. He has secured 
and executed the contracts for the erection 
of the Ross-Mitchell building on East High 
street ; the annex to the high school ; the 
Central building ; the new Zimmerman build- 
ing at the corner of Main and Limestone 
streets; the Zimmerman Library building 
of the college and also built the Hamma 
Divinity Hall and re-built it after the fire. 
He has erected twenty-seven residences on 
the north side and has built the Palace Hotel 
and many other fine structures of the south 
side. He erected the present hospital on 
East Alain street and now employs on an 
average of twelve men who are masons and 
carpenters. His business has become of an 
Important character by reasoii of the kind 
of contracts awarded him, and throughout 
business circles he is known as one whose 
word is as good as his bund and whose 



470 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



reliability is above question. Aside from 
his other business interests he is a stock- 
holder in the Citizens' National Bank, a 
director in the Springfield Metallic Casket 
Comi>an}. a stockholder in the Springfield 
Building & Loan Association. Hie erected 
his present home at Xo. 410 South Fountain 
avenue in 1887 and he also owns other prop- 
erty which he rents. 

On the 27th of May. 1871. in Springfield, 
Mr. Dalie was married to Arabelle Aldrich, 
who was born on East High street in this 
city, .\pril 20, 1847, and is a daughter of 
Azro .Mdrich, who is of Welsh descent and 
was born and reared in Vermont. For a 
time he lived in Masachusetts and while 
still single he came to Springfield and was 
here married to Sarah W'issinger. who was 
of German ancestry. He was twenty-one 
years of age when he removed to this city 
and his death occurred here in 1887, at the 
age of seventy-three. For a time he was 
em])loyed in the llax mills and afterward 
carried on a butcher business for a quarter 
of a century. His wife died in 1890 at the 
age of sixty-nine, her birth having occurred 
in Virginia, in 182 1. In their family were 
nine children : William, who died in in- 
fancy: Liicinda, who was the wife of Chris- 
topher Dowling and died in Xenia; Mi- 
ner\a. who died in infancy: Arabelle, the 
wife of our subject; Charles, who is living 
in .\kron, Ohio; Elizabeth, who died in in- 
fancy: Ella, the wife of Andrew Shanks, of 
Springfield; George, of Cleveland, Ohio; 
and Ivflle, who died in infancy. 

Mr. Dalie votes with the Republican 
parly, but has never been an asiiiranl for 
office although he has been active in i)oliti- 
cal affairs and has frequently been a delegate 
to county, city, judicial and state conven- 
tions. In 1890 he was elected on the Re- 



publican ticket to the office of county com-- 
missioner. He has been a member of the 
city central committee for three years, was 
re-elected for three succeeding years and 
afterward served for .another period of nine 
months to fill out an unexpired term. He 
was made president of the board at different 
times during the six and three-quarter years 
of his incumbency. He has been solicited 
to accept other o.fficial positions but has de- 
clined such lionors. Mrs. Dalie belongs to 
the Third Presbyterian church, and he is a 
member of the Red Star Lodge, K. I'., and 
of the Uniformed Rank, Xo. 44. He like- 
wise belongs to Logan Castle Knights of 
the Golden Eagle, has filled all of its offices, 
and is a member of the Benevolent & Pro- 
tective Order of Elks. He holds membership 
relations with the L'nion Veteran Union, 
in which he is serving on the board of trus- 
tees, and is a member of the Springfield 
Gun Clul). H}is prominence in political cir- 
cles is widely recognized and arises from 
earnest devotion to the general good and not 
from a desire for the rewards of office in re- 
turn for party fealty. His business life has 
been creditable and his success has been 
worthily won, placing him among the ranks 
of well-to-do citizens of Clark countv. 



JOHX H. MOORMAX. 

John H. Moorman, a proprietor of a 
meat market and a dealer in live stock at 
South Charleston, was born near James- 
town, Greene county, Ohio, June 24, 1844, 
and is the son of Thomas C. and Martha 
( Rangham) Moorman. He was reared upon 
a farm two miles east of Jamestown and re- 
ceivetl a common school education. When 
the Kivby riot took place he joined the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



"Squirrel Hunters." a company organized 
to guaril Cincinnati and was thus on duty 
for aliout two weeks. He also took part in 
the chase after Morgan, and in 1864 he 
olTered his services to the government as a 
private but was rejected on account of age 
and physical disability. Wishing, however, 
to aid his country he went to the front as 
a wagon master, hauling supplies from 
Camp Nelson, Kentucky, to Halls Gap and 
thence to Tennessee. He was taken ill with 
typhoid fever at Camp Nelson and when he 
had partially recovered he took a train of 
twenty-five teams to Halls Gap, wdiere he 
suffered a relapse and was then sent home. 
It \vas supposed that he would never re- 
cover, because his health was in such a pre- 
carious condition at the time, and before he 
did recover the war had ended. He had 
been very active in raising funds and troops 
from the first in order to prevent the draft. 
He had also acted as drill sergeant of a 
home company from the beginning of the 
war and did much gratuitious labor for his 
country during the critical period of the 
Civil war. Enabled to resume luisiness he 
began to handle li\-e stock and thus entered 
upon an active connection with trade tran- 
sactions in this locality. 

On the 17th of September, 1868, Mr. 
^loorman was united in marriage at South 
Charleston to Miss Sarah J. Clemans, who 
was born and reared in Madison township, 
a daughter of \\'illiam and Catherine 
(Ladd) Clemans. He made his home in 
Madison township until 1870 and-, with the 
exception qI the year 1875, when he was 
engaged in general merchandizing in Cedar- 
ville, he has since resided in South Charles- 
ton. His wife died while in Cedarville, on 
the 17th of September, 1875 — the seventh 
anniversarv of their marriage. Thev had 



two children, who grew to maturity, and 
one who died at the age of nine months. 
Those living are; Lillie May, who was 
married September 8, 1901, to ^NlcClure 
Shough in South Charleston; and W. B., 
who in 1895 establishel a meat market, 
which he conducted until 1898, when he en- 
listed in Company A, of the Second Engi- 
neer Regiment, Fourth Battalion, for serv- 
ice in the Spanish- American war. He was 
on duty both in the United States and Cuba. 
After the death of his first wife Mr. Moor- 
man was again married on Christmas Day, 
of 1880, the lady of his choice being Miss 
Catherine Clemans, a sister of his first wife. 
In his political affiliations Mir. Moor- 
man is a Republican, having cast his first 
presidential vote for Grant in 1868. He 
had to make the trip from New York in 
order to cast his ballot, but he has always 
been so stanch a Republican that he has 
made many trips home in order that he 
might vote. His father was an orthodoxed 
Friend or Quaker, and a strong anti-slavery 
man, his home being a station on the fa- 
mous underground railroad. Mr. iloor- 
man. of this review, was frequently sent to 
conduct runaway slaves to the next station 
on this railroad. He thus early became a 
lover of liberty and was therefore active in 
support of the Union at the time of the Civil 
war. He long served as a member of the 
school board in South Charleston, but de- 
clined to continue in that position for any 
greater length of time. For fifteen years 
he was a member of the village council and 
then retired fron^ that office on his own ac- 
count. Since he was first married he has 
been a member of the IMethodist Episcopal 
church and has served as one of its trustees, 
has also been a worker in the Sunday-school 
and has put forth 6very eft'nrt in his power 



472 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to aflvance the cause of Christianity. His 
entire hfe has been actuated by Christian 
principles and thus in his business relations 
he is founil to be reliable and tnistworthy, 
while in social life he is known for his ster- 
ling traits of character, which in every land 
and in every clime command respect. 

Wilbur B. Moorman, his only son, was 
born in South Charleston, June 13, 1872, 
and has always lived in this place with the 
e.xception of the year 1875, which was spent 
with the family in Cedarville, and a period 
of hve years, spent with his grandmother, 
Catherine Clemans. He acquired a good ed- 
ucation in the schools of South Charleston, 
and was also a student for two and one-half 
years in the Ohio Wesleyan University, at 
Delaware, Ohio. He then entered upon his 
business career and in 1895 established a 
meat market, which he conducted successful- 
ly until the 20th of June, 1898, when he en- 
listed in Company A of the Second Regiment 
of the United States Engineers. He was 
sent to Fort Sheridan, where the regiment 
was drilled and equipped, after which they 
spent two months at Montauk, going thence 
to Savannah, where they remained in camp 
for three weeks. The regiment was then or- 
dered to Cuba, and landetl at the city of Ha- 
vana under the con-mand of Captain Geary. 
Tire ctm-pany w as stationed in the vicinity of 
Havana and remained there until early in 
the year 1899, when it was mustered out in 
Cuba. Mr. Moorman was never in the hos- 
pital and was never under fire, his duty be- 
ing of a different character. In December, 
1898. he was detailed as a mounted courier 
for Maior-General Greene, then military 
governor of Havana, and at the close of his 
military life he received an honorable dis- 
charge and returned to his home in South 
Qiarleston, where he is now living. 



OWEX E. NORTH. 

Owen E. North was born January i, 
1855, in ^ladison township, Clark county, 
and is a son of Patrick North, who is men- 
tioned on another page of this work. His 
entire life has been passed in this county, 
e.xcept one year, 1877, spent in Iowa and 
Nebraska, and he is now numbered among 
its representative agriculturists. He was ed- 
ucated in the district schools of Selma and 
was reared to manhood upon a farm in 
]\Iadison township. His father was a man 
of strict principles, always fair and just. He 
died when his son Owen was only seven 
years of age, and the latter then went to Hve 
with his uncle, James McCormick, living in 
Xenia, but is now deceased. Mt. North at- 
tended school in Xenia and later returned 
to Selma, where he worked on a farm. In 
1S79 he went with the family to Spring- 
field, where lie embarked in the grocery bus- 
iness first as a clerk, while later he estab- 
lished a store of his own, becoming a gro- 
cer}- merchant in i8S,l.' In the new enter- 
prise he prospered, soon securing a large 
and lucrative patronage. He continued bus- 
iness successfully until 1894. He was as- 
sociated for some time with his brother as 
a partner in his store on Pleasant street. In 
1894, however, he disposed of his business 
interests and removed to a farm which he 
had purchased. He has improved this prop- 
erty, making it very valuable antl attractive, 
and he is now successfully engaged in gen- 
eral farming, everything about his place 
indicating the careful supervision of the 
progressive and practical owner. H^is place 
is located on section 27, Harmony township, 
near Brooks Station. 

Mr. North was married in Springfield 
in 1883 to Miss Catherine Glenn, who was 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



473 



born in Warren county. Ohio, upon a farm, 
in 1857, and \vhen ten years of age removed 
to Spring-field, pursuing her education in the 
public schools of that city and in St. Raph- 
ael's school. ]\Ir. and Mrs. North now have 
four children: Paul C, born in 1885; Ed- 
ward E., born in 1888; Clare, born in 1891 ; 
and James Glenn, born in 1892. The eldest 
son was educated in St. Raphael's school, of 
Springfield, and in the district schools. 

In his political \-iews Mr. North is a Dem- 
ocrat. He served as assessor of the sixth 
ward of the city in 1890 and he has been a 
delegate to the cit\- and coimty conventions, 
acting as a delegate to the county convention 
in 1901. For four years he served as super- 
visor of district No. 14 and has always been 
found true and loyal to any public trust re- 
posed in him. He belongs to St. Raphael's 
church, and for six years he was a member 
of the committee of St. Joseph's church, 
while residing on Pleasant street in Spring- 
field. In his youth the country around 
Selma was mostly timlierland. He has seen 
this cleared away and the tract developed 
into a splendid agricultural district. He has 
always taken a deep interest in everything 
pertaining to the general welfare and is a 
citizen of value who, in the faithful per- 
formance of each day's duties, so lives as to 
characterize him as a man of worth in his 
neighborhood and community. 



ANDREW N. BROOKS. 

Andrew N. Brooks is a representative 
of a pioneer family of Clark county, of Eng- 
lish lineage. He li\es on section 27, Har- 
mony township, where he follows agricul- 
tural pursuits. His Iiirth occurred in this 



township June 7. 1835. a son of Harvey 
Brooks, who was born in New York and 
was a well educated man for his day, \\3.y- 
ing pursued a college course. At an early 
period in the development of this portion of 
the state he came to Ohio and purchased 
government land, which he cleared and 
transformed into a good farm. He was one 
of the first school teachers in this part of 
of Clark county, conducting a subscription 
school. He acquired one hundred and sixty 
acres of land and through his farming in- 
terests was able to provide comfortably for 
his family. He died in the prime of life 
in the year 1841 and was buried in the Good- 
fellow cemetery. His wife, who bore the 
maiden name of Margaret Hammond, was 
born in Vermont in 1800 and died on the 
old homestead at the age of seventy-six 
years. After the death of her first husband 
she became the wife of William Troxell. 
who is also deceased. By her first marriage 
there were eight children, all of whom were 
born on the old family homestead here and 
with the exception of our subject all are 
now deceased. Four of the number died 
between the ages of nine and twenty-one 
years. Nathan was married and had four 
children, one of whom is yet living, but 
the father died at the age of thirt}--five 
years, upon his farm in this county. Har- 
vey Brooks, the father of our subject, waa 
actively identified with public affairs in Har- 
mony township and was one of the leading 
and influential residents of this part of the 
county. His political support was given the 
Whig paTty and both he and his wife were 
members of the Christian church. 

In the district schools Andrew N. 
Brooks pursued his education, but his ad- 
vantages in that direction were very lim- 
ited. At the age of eight years he went 



474 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



among strangers, working as a farm hand 
for four dollars per month. He afterward 
inherited some land from his father's es- 
tate and when about nineteen years of age 
began business on his own account as a 
stock raiser, preparing stock for the market. 
As his financial resources increased he add- 
ed to his property from time to time until 
he now has two hundred acres of valuable 
farm land. In early life he began buying 
and shipping stock to Buffalo and Pitts- 
burg and for twenty-two years he carried 
on an extensive business in that line, mak- 
ing purchases in adjoining counties. He 
also conducted his farm work vith the aid 
of hired hands. In 1876 he formed a part- 
nership wtih James Hamilton, of London. 
Ohio, who was an extensive grain merchant, 
and at that time Afr. Brooks rented his 
farm and removed to Springfield, making 
that city his headquarters, while Mr. Hamil- 
ton remained in London. They conducted 
a mammoth business, having stations at 
twelve different towns along the Big Four 
and Little Miami Railroads. Their busi- 
ness was conducted on a wholesale commis- 
sion basis and they handled thousands of 
carloads of grain, making shipments to east- 
ern points. They also built the elevator at 
New Carlisle and for twenty years Mr. 
Brooks remained in the grain trade. At the 
end of that time he suffered a stroke of 
paralysis and was forced to give up business, 
after which he returned to the home farm, 
having erected there a good residence. He 
is now practically living retired, merely su- 
printending his farm interests., allhough he 
continued in the stock business until 1902. 
When only seventeen years of age he was put 
in charge of a large drove of cattle which 
was being sent across the mountains to Lan- 
caster. Pennsvhania. and from that earlv 



age down to the present he has ever been 
known as a reliable and trustworthy busi- 
ness man, always faithful to every duty and 
managing his own affairs with enterprise 
and determination, which have resulted in 
bringing to him excellent results and splen- 
did success. 

On the 8th of February, 1855, 'Sir. 
Brooks was united in marriage to Miss 
Mary A. Foreman, a daughter of Harvey 
Foreman, of Harmony township. She was 
born in this township in 1837, attended 
school with ]\Ir. Brooks and afterward gave 
him her hand in marriage. She became the 
mother of seven children and died in 1886. 
her death ])roving a great loss to her family. 
Of the children all are yet living with the 
exception of Harvey, who was the eldest 
son and died at Brown Station, west of 
Springfield, where he was conducting a grain 
elevator. He was then thirty years of age. 
Dora is the wife of John Stephenson, of 
Harmony. Iw win mi she has two sons and 
two daughters. Frank A., who is engaged 
in the grain trade in Yellow Springs, is 
married and has one daughter. Twing \\'.. 
a grain merchant of Fnon, is married and 
has a son and a daughter. Milton, who is 
an engineer on the railroad and lives at Chil- 
Hcothe, Ohio, has two daughters. Charles, 
of Springfield, has one .son. Andrew. Fan- 
ny is the wife of Charles White, i>f Humer. 
Illinois. In 1890 Mr. Brooks was again 
married, his second union being with Mary 
McKittrick. of Jackson, Ohio, who was 
born in London, England, and came to this 
state when but six years of age, the fam- 
ily settling in Jackson. Her father was a 
farmer by occupation. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Brooks are members 
of the Baptist church and are highly es- 
teemed people of the community. He has 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



always l)een generous in support of cliurcli 
work and a liberal contributor to many 
aiterprises instituted for tlie ijulilic good. 
In politics he is a Repul_)lican and served 
as a school director for many years, 
while for several }'ears he was su])cr\is(>r 
of district No. 14. While in the city he 
would ne\-er accept office, althnugh many 
official preferments were offered to him. He 
belongs to Clark Lodge, F. & A. M.. of 
Springfield; Springfield Chapter, R. A. M. ; 
Springfield Council, R. & S. M. ; and Pales- 
tine Commandery. He is likewise a mem- 
l)er of Springfield Lodge, I. O. O. F., has 
filled all of its ofiices and is the only living 
charter member of Vienna Lodge, which 
he joined when twenty-one years of age. 
He is a man .who by broad reading has kept 
well informed on all cjuestions of the day 
political or otherwise and as a citizen he 
has manifested a public-spirited interest in 
e\erything pertaining to the general good. 
Starting out in life at the early age of eight 
years and since then entirel\- dependent upon 
his own resources he has worked his way 
steadily upward and certainly deserves great 
credit and commendation for what he has 
accomplished, for he stands to-day among 
the prosperous farmers of Clark county and 
is one of the most reliable and honored men 
within the borders of Harmony township. 



TOHX G. XAVE. 



John G. Xave is now numbered among 
the energetic and successful farmers of 
Clark count}' and is a veteran of the Civil 
war. He was born on the farm now owned 
by John P. Garlough. in Green township, 
his natal dav being June 10, 18^8. His fa- 



ther, Jacob Nave, was born in the same 
township on the farm which is now the prop- 
erty of Martin Shope, on the banks of the 
Little Miami river, August 22, 181 1, and 
his parents were Jacob^and Catherine (Gar- 
Icjiigh) Nave. About rSo/, when a single 
man, the grandfather took up his abode in 
Clark county. The Garloughs removed 
^laryland to Ohio about the same time and 
became residents of Green township. x\mid 
the wild scenes of frontier life Jacob Nave, 
Jr., was reared and throughout his business 
career he carried on farming. After arriv- 
ing at years of maturity he married Mary 
Knable and unto them were bo!i-n eleven 
children, of wdiom our subject is the eldest. 
The others are as follows : Mrs. Catherine 
Shobe li\es in Green township. ^Nlrs. Mar- 
garet Williams is a resident of Madison 
township. Jacob H, was a soldier of Com- 
pany F, Forty-four Ohio Lifantry. and the 
Eighth Cavalry, joining the army in 1861. 
He was wounded at Beverly, West \Trginia, 
anil died in camp, after which his remains 
were lirought home and interred in Gar- 
lough cemetery. Enoch H. is living near 
his brother John. William O., residing in 
Tremont, married Miss Emma Bare, by 
whom he has four children. Thomas, a 
resident of Springfield, w^edded Miss Sarah 
A. La}-bourn and has two children. Flar- 
riet is the wife of Greene P. Ramy and lives 
ii> Plattsburg, Ohio. Eliza is tiie wife of 
James Eichelbarger. Ezra L. married Sai- 
lie Hatfield, by whom ne has two children. 
Their home is in Pitchin. Ervin Elroy, 
who is a carpenter of Pitchin , wedded El- 
len Littler and they have five children. The 
father of this family died at the age of fifty- 
four years, in 1865. The mother is still 
living at the advanced age of eighty-six. 
Upon the home farm John G. Nave, of 



476 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



this review, spent the days of his youth ami 
in the (Hstrict scliools near hy he pursued 
his ecUication. He was married August 8. 
1861. and afterward followed farming un- 
til 1864. when he joined the Ohio National 
Guard and in Alay of that year was hius- 
tered into the United States service as a 
member of Company D, One Hundred and 
Forty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He 
was sent to West Virginia and was at the 
front four months, having enlisted, how- 
ever, for one hundred days. During his 
srevice he became ill and many years had 
passed before he fully regained his health. 
For a few years he rented a farm and in 
1 868 he purchased a place, upon which he 
had been living. He now has one hundred 
and fifty-three acres of good land and his 
well developed fields indicate his careful su- 
pervision. 

In 1 861 Mr. Xave was joined in wed- 
lock to Miss Margaret E. Gram, who was 
born in Green township and is a daughter 
of Jacob and Catherine (W'eller) Gram. 
They now have five children: Minni« P.. 
born in Green township May 16. 1862. is 
the wife of William Todd, of Springfield 
township, and they have six children. Al- 
pharetta O., born in Madison township Oc- 
tober \(), 1863, is the wife of ^\'ylie How- 
ett. by whom she has two children, and the}- 
reside upon her father's farm. Justinus T.. 
born on the home farm September 3, 1865, 
married Jennie Jones, by whom he has two 
children, and their home 'is on a farm of 
fifty acres. Jacob Pearl, born Xo\ember 
23, 1867, married Aurelia Garlough, by 
whom he has two children, and their home 
is in Green township. John Qiarles Fre- 
mont, born October 6, 1870, married Jennie 
B. Littler and with their six children they 
reside in Green township. Mrs. Xave's fa- 



ther, Jacob Gram, was born in Lancaster 
county, Pennsylvania, spent the days of his 
minority there and when a young. man came 
to Clark county, where he married Catherine 
^^'eller, a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth 
(Steffie) ^^'eIler. the former a native of 
Maryland and the latter of Virginia. Her 
father remo\ed to \'irginia and from that 
state came to Oiiio in 1830, settling on the 
U'eller farm in 1836. Tlie father of Mrs. 
Xave passed away in 1870. at the age of 
about sixty years, his birth having occurred 
in 181 1. His wife died in 1884. at the age 
of sixty-five years. 

On attaining his majority Mr. Xave be- 
came a supporter of the Republican party 
and continued to affiliate with that jwlitical 
organization until 1880, when he became a 
Prohibitionist. For two years he served as 
township trustee and for twelve years was 
a member of the boanl of education. Both 
he and his wife belong to the Free \\"\\\ Bap- 
tist church, in which he served as suj^erin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school for twelve 
years. He takes an active interest in churcli 
work and does all in his power to promote 
the general good along all lines of substan- 
tial advancement. 



JOHX H. MULHOLLAXl). 

A leading and influential citizen, whose 
efforts have been a potent factor in shaping 
the commercial history of Springfield in re- 
cent years, John H. Mulholland is widely 
known as a representative of the jewelry 
trade of this city. He comes of ah old and 
honored family and from 1822 the name 
has been a prominent one in connection 
with mercantile interests here, where its rep- 
resentatives have conducted affairs in such 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



A77 



close hamidiiy with the true ethics of coir- 
mercial hte that the most malevolent could 
utter no Avord of detraction. From tlie time 
of the establishment of the business eighty 
years ago the name Mulholland has ever 
been above the store, which has been carried 
on continuously and which is now the prop- 
erty of tlie subject of this review. 

John H. Mulhollanil was born in Spring- 
field February 2, 1836, and is a son of 
George G. ^Mulholland. The paternal grand- 
father, \\'illiam ^ilulhoHand, was a native of 
Scotland and pursued his education in that 
countr>-. He prepared for the practice of 
medicine, winning the degree of i\I. D. For 
a time he resided in Stewartstown, in Coun- 
ty Tyrone, li'eland. where he practiced for 
a number of years, rir until the time of his 
emigration to .America in 1816. He crossed 
the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, for steam 
navigation was not known at that time, and 
at length arrived in New York city. He 
was married in Scotland to a lady of 
Scotch4rish lineage and after landing in 
this country they proceeded to Wheeling, 
West Virginia, where Dr. Mulholland en- 
gaged in the practice of medicine for a time. 
His death occurred in that city. 

In his family were seven children and 
George Mulholland was the youngest of the 
four sons. He was born in County Tyrone, 
Ireland, in 1809, and was therefore a little 
lad of seven summers when the family 
crossed the briny deep to the new world. Flis 
edlucational privileges were somewhat lim- 
ited as he attended school for only a few 
years, but reading, study and experience 
continually broadened his knowledge until 
he became well informed, conversant with 
all modern topics. In his youth he began 
learning the watchmaker's trade with a firm 
in \Mieeling, West \'irginia, serving a se\en 



years' apprenticeship, diu'ing which time he 
became familiar with the business in all of 
its departments, and became an expert work- 
man. He also learned the business of manu- 
facturing silverware at a time when the pro- 
cess was carried on by hand work. In the 
fall of 1822 George Mulholland removed to 
Ohio, settling in Springfield, where he 
established the first jewelry store of the city 
and continuously since the family name has 
ap)3eared on the signboard above the store. 
It has become a synon}-m for honesty and 
fair dealing in the trade circles of Spring- 
field and o\-er the commercial record of the 
store there falls no shadow of wrong or sus- 
picion of evil. His first establishment was 
lijcated about where the clothing store of 
J. ]\I. Knote now stands (in East Main street. 
A small frame building occupied the site 
at that time. Later ^^Ir. Mulholland re- 
moved his store to various buildings and for 
a time was opposite the Slurry House. When 
he began business here he was but a young 
man with limited capital, but he constantly 
increased his stock to meet the growing de- 
mands of his trade anid )-ear by year his bus- 
iness grew until it had assumed extensive 
proportions and his annual sales brought to 
him a very gratifying and satisfactory in- 
come. 

^Ir. ^lulholland also became an active 
factor in the public life of Springfield, rec- 
ognized as a man of intluence and promi- 
nence. He was a supporter of the \Miig 
party, labored earnestly for its success and 
was the man to establish a lyceum in Spring- 
field. He also helped organize the first fire 
department here, was chosen its secretary 
and held that office for a number of years. 
He would never c<;insent to accept political 
ofiice, although often solicited to do so, }-et 
as a citizen he ne\"er wa\-ered in the perform- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ance of any duty which could be executed 
in a private capacity. He co-operated in 
many movements and measures for tlie ui>- 
building and improvement of Spring^eld 
along, material, intellectual and social lines, 
and he left the impress of his individuality 
upon the growing town. 

Mr. ilulholland was united in marriage 
to Miss ilary Spinning Hunt, a native of 
this city and a daughter of Judge John 
Hunt, who was one of the associate judges 
of the county for many years. He was a 
native of Xew Jersey and was of English 
descent. In the east he studied law and at 
an early day in the history of this locality he 
took up his abode in Springfield. When he 
arrived here the old Jeremiah \\'ar(ler flour- 
ing mill had been built at Lagonda and Judge 
Hunt took charge of that, continuing its 
operation for a number of years. He after- 
ward conducted one of the very earliest ho- 
tels of Springfield. He remained in charge 
for a number of years and was a genial and 
popular host. On selling that property he 
removed to Enon. where he spent his re- 
maining days as proprietor of the only ho- 
tel there. An associate judge of the county 
he aided in shaping the early judicial history 
and he was widely known for his fairness 
and impartiality in rendering decisions. He 
married Sarah Eoster. a native of Xew Jer- 
sey, in which state the wedding was cele- 
brated. 

Unto Mr. and ^^Irs. Mulholland six chil- 
dren were burn, but only two are living: 
John H.. the eldest, who is his father's suc- 
cessor in business : and \\'illiam, the young- 
est, who resides in Montana. The others 
were: Xancy. the deceased wife of Willis 
Whitehurst : George, who died in childhood ; 
Fannie E.. who has also passed away; and 
Mrs. Sarah Aukcy. deceased. The parents 



were members of the Eirst Presbyterian 
church of Springfield and took a deep and 
abiding interest in its w(jrk, contributing 
generously to its support and aiiling in 
all possible ways in its growth and in 
the extension of its influence. Mr. ^Nlul- 
holland died in August, 1849, ^"'' ^^'^^ 
buried in P'ernclifif cemetery. After his 
death his \\idow asumed the management of 
the store which he had founded and concUict- 
cd until her oldest son was capable of tak- 
ing charge. She passed away when sixty- 
five years of age and was then interred liy 
the side of her husband. 

John H. Mulholland, whose name intro- 
duces this review, was educated in the pub- 
lic schools of Springfield, in the academy 
iiere and in Wittenberg College, where he 
remained as a student for two years. At the 
age of seventeen he began to learn the w atch- 
maker's trade, going first to Columbus, 
where he entered the cmpli>y of William 
Savage, with wlmm he remained im- two 
years. He afterward spent a similar period 
in the service of Henry Xunnemaker. of 
South Bend, Indiana, who had previously 
learned the trade of George Mulholland, the 
father of our sujbect. In 1856, returning 
to Springfield, he assumed the management 
of the store, which he has since conducted 
with excellent success. It has long and easi- 
ly maintained the foremost position among 
the jewelry establishment of the city. Mr. 
Mulholland carries a large and complete as- 
sortment of everything in this line, includ- 
ing a full line of musical instruments. 

On the 6th of Xovember, 1856, was cel- 
ebrated the marriage of John H. Mulhol- 
land ami Miss Mary J. Grant, a daughter of 
William Grant. Their union has been 
blessed with six children : Emma, who is 
at home ; George G., a watchmaker by trade. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



now located in Memphis, Tennessee; Car- 
rie, deceased ; Charles E., who is a watch- 
maker of Los Angeles, California; Nellie 
'M._, the wife of Dr. Noah Myers, of this 
city, by whom she has three children, Rob- 
ert, Mildred and Mary; William M., wh(.i 
is his father's assistant in business. 

Politically Mr. ^MulhoUand is a Repub- 
lican and keeps well informed on the issues 
of the da}', but has never been active in po- 
litical work. He is well known in Masonic 
circles, belonging to Clark Lodge and to 
Springlield Clwpter, R. A. M. He also 
holds membership in Springfield Lodge, L 
O. O. F.. in which he is a past grand and 
his name is also on the membership roll of 
the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He be- 
longs to the First Presbyterian church, in 
which he was an elder for ten years. Hon- 
ored and respected by all there is no nian 
w'ho occupies a more enviable position in 
commercial and financial circles in Spring- 
field than does John H. MulhoUand. It is 
true that he entered upon a business already 
established, but in enlarging and controlling 
such an enterprise many a man of less res- 
olute spirit would have failed. Our subject, 
however, has carried on his work with de- 
termination, keeping in touch with the pro- 
gressive spirit of the times and his life his- 
tory proves that succes is not a matter of 
genius or of inheritance, but of skillfully 
directed laljor and sound lousiness judgment. 



JOSEPH HLXKLE. 

The subject of this review is one of the 
representative farmers and highly respect- 
ed citizens of Springfield township, where 
his entire life has been passed, his birth oc- 



curring there July 20, i860. His father, 
Joseph Hinkle, was born in Lancaster coun- 
ty, Ohio. In 1833 he came to Clark county 
with his parents, John and Rebecca Hinkle, 
who settled in Springfield township and in 
the midst of the forest developed and im- 
proved a farm, on which they continued to 
make their home throughout the remainder 
of their lives. \\'hen called to their final 
rest their remains were interred in the Hin- 
kle burying ground. They were the parents 
of ten children, namely : John ; Samuel ; 
Joseph; Henry; William, who died young; 
Mar}-, who wedded Henry Graham ; Ann, 
who married Peter Markley ; Elizabeth, who 
married W^esley Stillman ; Sarah, who be- 
came the wife of Michael W^ay ; and Rebec- 
ca, who wedded Edward Highwood. 

The father of our subject passed the 
days of his boyhood and youth upon the 
home farm, remaining with his parents un- 
til he was married. The lady of his choice 
was Miss Margaret Jane Ault, a native of 
Clark county and a daughter of Adam 
Ault, who was one of the early pioneers of 
the county. After his marriage M'r. Kin- 
kle began farming on his own account and 
throughout his active business career con- 
tinued to follow that pursuit with most ex- 
cellent success, becoming one of the sub- 
stantial, as well as one of the most highly 
esteemed citizens of his community. He 
died about twenty-five years ago, and his 
wife passed away in August, 1902. Unto 
them were born thirteen children, as fol- 
lows: Adam, who died young; Maria, the 
deceased wife of Austin Blessing; Rebecca, 
now the widow of John M. Stewart and a 
resident of Springfield ; George and John, 
I.Kith deceased ; Henry, who makes his home 
in Springfield township ; Mary, wife of 
James W. Foreman, of Springfiekl ; Anna, 



48o 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



wife of George Otstot, of Springfield town- 
ship; Amanda, wife of George Oates, who 
is hving in the city of Springfield ; Marga- 
ret, deceased : Ida, who irakes her hon-.e with 
her brother James : Joseph, of this review ; 
and James, a resident of Springfield town- 
ship. 

Mr. Hinkle. of this review, spent the 
first twenty-three years of his life in his 
parents' home, nothing of any importance 
occurring to vary the routine of farm work 
except that he attended the district schools 
of the neighborhood as opportunity per- 
mitted. He was married on the 27th of 
December, 1883, to Miss Mary E. Pierson, 
who was also born in Springfield township. 
Her parents, John and Sarah (Brunley) 
Pierson, were both natives of Yorkshire, 
England, where their marriage was cele- 
brated, and on their emigration to America 
they settled in Clark county, Ohio, where 
they continued to make their home until 
called to the world beyond. Of their nine 
children four are still living, namely: Mrs. 
Eliza Sultzbaugh, of Springfield; James, 
who is living on the old homestead in 
Springfield township; Mary E., wife of our 
subject: and Martha, wife of William Sny- 
der, of the city of Springfield. The only 
child born to our subject and his wife is 
Clarence W'., but they also have an adopted 
daughter, Marie. 

Mr. and Mrs. Hinkle began their domes- 
tic life upon the farm which they still oc- 
cupy, it being the property of her father. 
Our subject rented the place until Mr. Pier- 
son's death, when it became the property of 
his wife. He has made many improvements 
thereon, including the erection of a fine mod- 
em residence and good barn, and the neat 
and thrifty appearance of the farm indi- 
cates his careful supervision and well di- 



rected labors. He is a progressive and prac- 
tical farmer and has attained a fair degree 
of success. His political support is always 
gi\en the men and measures of the Repub- 
lican party and he takes a commendable in- 
terest in public affairs. 



SAMUEL THEODORE LUSE. 

Among Green township's honored and 
respected nati\e sons is numbered Samuel 
Theodore Luse, who was born upon the 
farm and within the walls of his present 
home, January 25. 1858. He is a son of 
Thomas and Xancy Funston Luse. The fa- 
ther was born probably in Pennsylvania and 
came to Ohio when a boy, with his parents. 
Justice and Mary Luse. Justice Luse set- 
tied upon a farm now owned b}' \\'illiam 
Luse, on the outskirts of Clifton, in Green 
township. Here he cleared and improved 
a farm and spent the remaining days of his 
life, honored and respected by all who knew 
him. He was a pioneer settler of his dis- 
trict, and his efforts were brought to bear 
upon the wild and uncultivated land, thus 
early laying the foundation for future de- 
velopment and improvement, which has re- 
sulted in the present prosperity of the great 
commonwealth of Ohio. 

His son, Thomas Luse. the father of our 
subject, was early trained to the work of the 
farm and spent his boyhood and youth in 
his native county. He had no start in life 
save the limited education which was to be 
obtained in the then primitive frontier dis- 
trict, but he possessed sterling qualities of 
character, and, early realizing that from la- 
bor come all desirable benefits, he perse- 
vered, prospering as the years passed by and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lie liecanie tlie owner of t\YO hundred and 
twenty-five acres Dt valualjle land, the most 
(if which he purchased, having acquired the 
means through his own untiring efforts. He 
was honored, too, with the respect and con- 
fidence of his fellow citizens. In his politi- 
cal \-iews he was a Republican and for sev- 
eral years he ser\'ed as township clerk and 
treasurer of Green township, fulfilling his 
duties of office capably and to the satisfac- 
tion of all concerned. He was almost eighty- 
one years of age at the time of his death, 
which occurred on the 28th of April, 1880, 
while his estimable wife was called to her 
final rest in 1890. They were both highly 
respected citizens of their community and 
were the parents nf the following named 
chikh-en : Alary is the widow of Richard 
Bean, residing in Springfield, and is the 
m.other of five children ; Justice Henry re- 
sided in ]\Iadison county, Ohio, w'here he 
carried on farming, but died leaving three 
children to mourn his loss ; Keziah, now de- 
ceased, became the wife of Samuel An- 
drews and resided in Trebeins, Greene coun- 
ty, Ohio; Lavinia is the widow of Henry 
C. Kiler, and resides in Greene county, near 
Clifton; John F. died in Green township, 
Clark county, soon after his marriage; Cal- 
vin, a hotel keeper residing in Clifton, has 
five children : Amelia died in early woman- 
hood; Emma resides in Clifton; Anna, the 
v.'ife of James Swaby. resides on a part of 
the old homestead and has three children. 
Both parents were laid to rest in Clifton 
cemetery. 

Samuel Theodore Luse spent the days 
of his boyhood and youth upon the home 
farm, enjoying the pleasures of the boys of 
his period, receiving the advantages of a 
ciinimon school education, which was sup- 
plemented l)y attendance at liigh school in 



Clifton. His father died when he was nine- 
teen years of age, and he remained at home 
with his mother, assisting in the conduct of 
the farm until his marriage^ which import- 
ant event in his life took place on the nth 
of April, 1889, the lady oi his choice being 
Aliss Harriet Swaby, of Green township. 
She was born in Wisbeck, Cambridgeshire, 
England, October 3. 1870, and is a daugh- 
ter of Henry and Mary Ann (Wool) Swa- 
by, both of whom are still living in Green 
township. She received the advantages of 
a good common school education. Unto 
Mr. and Mrs. Luse have been born three 
children : Ernest Douglas, born on the 
home farm. May 20, 1890; Egbert Theo- 
dore, born Alarch 17, 1892; and Kenneth, 
born March 25, 1896. 

After his marriage Air. Luse took his 
bride to the home farm. He purchased 
one hundred and thirty acres of the home 
farm from his father's estate and this he has 
cultivated and improved, adding thereto 
from time to time as occasion offered, and 
his well tilled fields yield to him golden 
harvests in return for the care and labor 
bestowed upon them'. 

Mr. Luse is a stalwart Republican, un- 
faltering in his allegiance to the principles 
of the party. He cast his first presidential 
ballot in 1880 for James A. Garfield. He 
has been a member of the board of educa- 
tion of Clifton, taking a deep interest in ed- 
ucational work, knowing well how import- 
ant a bearing it has upon the growth and 
prosperity of any community. In agricul- 
tural matters he is also an advanced theorist 
and a practical demonstrator of the im- 
proved methods of the day. He has served 
as a member of the board of agriculture of 
Clark county for ten years, of which or- 
ganization he is a valued member, his npin- 



482 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ions carrying weight with the members of 
the board, and in tliis capacity he has done 
much toward tlie improvement in agricul- 
tural de\elopment of Clark county, by which 
it has become one of the leading counties 
of the Buckeye state. An earnest and con- 
sistent member of the Presbyterian church, 
he is also trustee of the same and finds time 
to devote to the good cause of extending 
Christian influence in his community, where 
all alike respect him for his (jualities of 
heart and mind. 



1-RAXK P. TORREXCE. 

The recognition of business possibilities 
and the utilization of his opportunities have 
l)een the elements upon which Mr. Torrence 
has based his success — a success so marked 
as to attract the attention and admiration 
of those who know aught of his career and 
to make the history of his life a matter of 
interest to his many friends. Tliere is al- 
ways something inspiring in the story of a 
career wherein advancement has resulted 
from individual effort well directed, and 
therefore an account of what Mr. Tor- 
rence has accomplished may ser\e as an ex- 
ample and an impetus to others. He is 
now line of the prosperous brokers of 
Springlield, but at the outset of his career 
he had no capital. 

A native of Jamestown, Ohio, he was 
born June ii, 1855, a son of Dr. J. I\I. and 
Mary (Curry) Torrence. The father was 
also born in Greene county, this state, the 
grandfather, Robert Torrence, having lo- 
cated there in the early pioneer days. He 
came to Ohio from Pennsylvania, but the 
familv is of Scotch-Irish ancestrv. After 



bis removal westward Robert Torrence 
served as a soldier in the war of 181 2. Set- 
tling near Xenia, he there owned a large 
tract of land, much of which came into the 
possession of his son. Dr. J. ~Sl. Torrence. 
The latter pursued his collegiate course of 
study in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was 
graduated with the degree of Isl. D. and be- 
came a practitioner of the regular school of 
medicine. He located for practice in James- 
town and subsequently removed to Xenia, 
where he became a prosperous as well as em- 
inent representative of the profession. He 
married Miss Mary Curry, of Jamestown, 
a daughter of William Curry, who was of 
Scotch lineage. During the Civil war, in 
order to prevent a general draft in Greene 
county, the Doctor and three other gentle- 
men guaranteed a large sum of money to 
the government and through this means he 
lest almost his entire possessions. He was 
later made regimental surgeon of the Sev- 
erity-fourth Ohio \'olunteer Infantry and 
with that command went to the front. The 
close of the war found him with his health 
broken and his fortune nearly ruined, but 
he again took up the practice of medicine in 
Xenia. After a few years, however, his 
death occurred there and he was buried with 
the honors of the Masonic fraternity and of 
the Grand Army of the Rqjublic. His wife 
had previously passed away. The Dcxrtor 
made a great sacrifice for his country, his 
liealth and his property both going to sus- 
tain the Union cause. 

Frank P. Torrence, of this review, pur- 
sued his education in the public schools of 
Xenia and in the seminary there. When 
about fifteen years of age he left home to 
make his own way in the world and was 
variously employed. Eventually he became 
the advertising and route agent for a num- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



483 



ber of large theatrical companies, but after 
his marriage he gave up that business and 
entered commercial life as a traveling sales- 
man for a St. Louis tobacco house. Later 
he became connected with an extensive ci- 
gar house of Detroit, Michigan, which he 
represented for two years, and during the 
last }-ear of that time — 1890 — he removed 
to Springfield. Not being content, how- 
ever, to remain in the employ of others, he 
then went into the brokerage business for 
himself and from that time has achieved a 
very gratifying and creditable degree of 
success. For eight years he has continued 
in the business as one of its leading repre- 
sentatives in Springfield. He has also ex- 
tended the scope and extent of his business 
labors and activity and at one time was con- 
nected with the Victor Rubber Tire Com- 
pany, serving as its vice president until he 
disposed of his interest in that concern. He 
is now the vice president of the Citizens" 
Heating & Power Company and also one of 
its directors. 

Mr. Torrence was united in marriage to 
Miss Laura Baldridge, of Urbana, Ohio, the 
wedding taking place October 9, 1877. The 
lady is a daughter of Dr. A. H. Baldridge, 
who is one of the founders of the medical 
college of Cincinnati. They now have one 
child, Gertrude Mabel, the wife of William 
Payton ]\IcCulloch, of Springfield. 

Mr. Torrence belongs to the Benevolent 
and Protective Order of Elks, to Ingomar 
Lodge, K. of P., and is also a charter mem- 
ber of the United Commercial Travelers, 
the Commercial Club of Springfield, and 
with the Columbia Republican Club, the last 
named indicating his political affiliations. 
He ov.-ns a block of modern houses on 
W'oodlawn avenue, which he erected in ad- 
dition to Ills lieautiful home at Xo. 343 



North Fountain avenue. He is a represent- 
ati\-e of our best type of American manhood. 
By perseverance, determination and honor- 
able effort he has overthrown the obstacles 
which barred his path to success and reached 
the goal of prosperity. His life being one 
of continuous activity, he has been accorded 
due recognition of labor and to-da}- he is 
numbered among the substantial and prom- 
inent citizens of Springfield. 



\VILLL\M SHA^^■D. 

\\'i!liam Shawd, an experimental and 
general machinist of Springfield, carrying 
on a shop here, has been a resident of 
this city since May, 1886. He was born in 
Franklin county, Ohio, near Reynoldsburg, 
on the 15th of February, 1857, and is a son 
of Samuel Shawd. The father was born 
in Switzerland in 181 2 and pursued his ed- 
ucation in that land and came to America 
about 1845. Here he followed farming un- 
til his death, which occurred in 1859. His 
wife, who bore the maiden name of Annie 
Rostover, was born in Switzerland in 181 5 
and departed this life at Kenton, Hardin 
county, Ohio, in November, 1897. In the 
family were nine children, of whom three 
died in early life. Those living are Samuel, 
John and Fred, who are employed in a ma- 
chine shop in Kenton, Ohio ; Jacob, a farmer 
of Iowa ; Emma, the wife of S. F. Kennedy, 
also of Kenton, Ohio; and William, who is 
proprietor of the Shawd machine works, of 
Springfield. Three of the sons, Samuel, 
Jacob and John, were born in Switzerland. 
The parents were memljers of the German 
Reformed church and the political faith of 
the family is Republican, all of the sons sup- 



484 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



porting tliat party with the exception of 
P'red, who is a Democrat. The children 
were all educated in the district schools of 
Franklin and Hardin counties, receiving 
good mental training. Jacob was a soldier 
in the Civil war, serving for two years in 
a regiment of Ohio infantry. 

William Shawd. having received a com- 
mon sclionl education, attending school 
through the winter months, while in the 
summer he worked upon the farm, entered 
upon his active business career at the age of 
seventeen years, by securing employment in 
a sawmill, where he remained for four years, 
being steadily advanced as he mastered the 
business. He then entered the employ of 
the Champion Iron Company at Kenton as 
an apprentice. He began at the bottom, 
steadily working his way upward, master- 
ing the various branches of the business un- 
til he was made general foreman, his con- 
nection with the works continuing from 
1S79 ""til 1886. In the latter year he came 
to Springfield and accepted the position of 
general foreman with the Rodgers Iron 
Company, then known as the Rodgers Iron 
Fence Company. His connection with that 
house was maintained until 1896, when he 
was given the position of foreman in the 
Springfield Architectural Iron Works. 
After two years, however, he embarked in 
business for himself, purchasing the plant 
of J- S- Ellis, i-.'e began in general repair 
work and as he found opportunity he added 
other branches of machine work including 
the building of gas engines and experimental 
work in machine building. He also con- 
ducts a general repairing establishment. In 
the various shops in which he has been em- 
ployed he has acc|uired a thorough knowl- 
edge of all branches of machine work and 
lij'.s built up a hicrative business, giving 



his personal supervision to the work whicli 
goes into his shop. He is well known to the 
leading ])usiness men and manufacturers 
of this cit\- and en jo\s the confidence and es- 
teem of all with whom he has been asso- 
ciated. 

^Iv. Shawd was married in Kenton, 
Ohio, ilay 4, 1881, to Miss Ella Gary, who 
was born in Kenton in 1859 and is a daugh- 
ter of John H. Gary, who was one of the 
early pioneers of Hardin county, where for 
many years he owned and operatetl a saw 
and grist mill. In his family were ten chil- 
dren : William, uf Kenton; Enos, who is 
engaged in the sawmill business at Kenton; 
George, of New Hampshire; Hhrris, a farm- 
er of Hardin county; Edward, who is the 
proprietor of a sawmill in West Virginia; 
Louis, of Xew Hampshire; Amanda, the 
wife of W. H. H. Wagner, a farmer of 
Hardin county; Ella, the wife of William 
Shawd ; Hattie, the deceased wife of Henry 
Schrader; and Asa, who was killed in ser- 
vice in the Civil war while acting as captain 
of a company of Ohio Infantry. The moth- 
er of these children died in 1886. Unto 
Mr. and Mrs. Shawd have been born lour 
children: Grace Fay, who was born July 
21, 1885, and is a graduate of the Spring- 
field high school of the class of 1902; Ar- 
nold, who was born in 1887 and in Septem- 
ber, 1902, became a high school student; 
.Vrchie B., born January 13, 1890; and Clif- 
ford, born in April, 1899. 

In politics Mr. Shawd is an earnest Re- 
publican, taking an active interest and in- 
fluential part in the work of the party. For 
five years he has been a member of the 
county central committee in precinct A of 
the second ward and for two years in pre- 
cinct A of the third war<l, and since 1888 
he has served as a delegate to the county 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



485 



conventions and has several times been a 
delegate to congressional conventions. His 
daughter and his oldest son are members of 
the Second Presbyterian church and he has 
been a liberal contributor to church work. 
He belongs to Amicitia Lodge, No. 79, I. 
O. O. F., and filled all of its offices. He is 
also a member of Mad River Encampment, 
No. 16, at Springfield, and is a charter mem- 
ber of the Columbia Republican Club of this 
city. He resides at No. 166 West North 
street in the third ward and he and his 
family have many friends in the community. 
As the architect of his own fortunes he has 
builded wisely and well and is now in con- 
trol of a large and profitable business. 



WILLIAM S. GLADFELTER. 

Prominent among the energetic, farsee- 
ing and successful business men of Ohio is 
the subject of this sketch. Flis life history 
niost happily illustrates what may be at- 
tained by faithful and contiinied effort in 
carrying out an honest purpose. Integrity 
activity and energy have been the crowning 
points of his success and his connection with 
various business enterprises and industries 
have been a decided advantage to this sec- 
tion of Ohio, promoting it material welfare 
in no uncertain manner. 

Mr. Gladfelter is a native of York coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, born upon a farm near 
Little York, March 10, 1841, but since 1868 
he has made his home in Springfield. His 
father, John P. Gladfelter, wdio was a con- 
tractor and builder, was also a native of 
York county, Pennsylvania, and with his 
parents removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, 
but afterward returned to his native coun- 



t_\" and there engaged in contracting and 
building. He married Louise Smith and 
died near the old home in York county, at the 
age of fifty-two years, while his wife passed 
away at the age of sevaity-two. They were 
the parents of thirteen children, of whom 
fi\e are yet living: William S., of this re- 
view; George, also of Springfield; Sophia, 
w ho resides upon the old homestead and is 
the wife of William Schriever ; Matilda, the 
\\ife oi Emanuel Richcreek of Y'ork coun- 
t}- Pennsylvania; and Lydia Stambaugh of 
York county. 

William S. Gladfelter of this review pur- 
sued his early education in the district 
schools,- which he attended during the win- 
ter months, while he worked upon the home 
farm in the summer seasons. He was for 
two winters a student in the academy at 
York, Pennsylvania, walking to and from 
that place, a distance of six miles. When 
quite a young lad he began earning his own 
livelihood, working as a farm hand and he 
also worked with his father for a season as a 
carpenter. In the year 1862 he came to 
Ohio' making his ^\•ay to Columbus and in 
the vicinity of that city he spent the first 
}ear as a ifarm hand. He w^as then em- 
ployed in a warehouse as shipping clerk and 
in 1864 he went to Decatur, Illinois, where 
he worked for a large agricultural firm. Re- 
turning to Columbus, he was for a short 
time employed in that city and in the year 
i86d came to Clark count}-, being employed 
as a farm hand here for a short time. He 
next aided in building a bridge in the park 
in Springfield, after which he returned to 
the farm and remained there for another 
year, but in 18C8 he took up his permanent 
abode in this city, accepting a position as 
salesman for W. W. Diehl with whom he 
remained for five years. His close applica- 



486 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tion, his economy and his industry won him 
some capital and on tiie expiration of that 
period he began business on his own ac- 
count, establishing a flour and feed store in" 
1873. He conducted that business with 
creditable success until 1878. In the mean- 
time he had begun contracting and had 
erected several houses. He had also pur- 
chased property, building thereon a number 
of houses in the vacant lots which he had 
acquired. In 1878 he disposed of his store 
in order to give his entire time and atten- 
tion to contracting and building. He inher- 
ited unusual mechanical ability and has uc- 
cessfully carried on operations in this line. 
In fifteen years of this time he constructed 
on an average of fifty houses annually and 
during the remainder of the time has liuilt 
as many as forty houses each year. Dur- 
the busy season he formerly employed 
twenty-five workmen and he is always faith- 
ful and prompt in the execution of contracts, 
li\ing fully up to the letter and to the spirit. 
He has given his personal attention to the 
business and is one of the best known and 
most reliable contractors of the city .With 
interest he has watched the improvanent of 
Springfield and has assisted materially in its 
substantial growth ; has built some business 
blocks here and has always maintained a 
creditable position as a representative of the 
great department of industry with which he 
was connected. He was his own architect, 
making out plans and specifications. The 
work comes to him unsought, his conscien- 
tious labor being his best advertisement, 
^h". Gladfelter is now practically living re- 
tired, although to some extent he yet super- 
intends his son's building interests. 

In May, 1869, in this city, was celebrated 
the marriage of Mr. Gladfelter and Miss 
Anna Lankenan, who was born in Spring- 



field in 1844 a daughter of John D. Lanke- 
nan who was a shoemaker and died of chol- 
era in 1849. L'nto our subject and his wife 
has been born one son, Charles Frederick, 
whose birth occurred in July, 1872. He is a 
graduate of the public schools of Springfield 
and completed a course in Wittenberg Col- 
lege by graduation in the class of 1894. He 
afterward worked with his father until June, 
1897, when he went to Chicago where he 
was employed as bookkeeper and auditor 
for an electric traction company, with 
\\hich he was connected for five years, occu- 
pying a most responsible position, 'but he is 
low located at Washington. D. C, as assis- 
tant manager of an electric traction com- 
pany. He was married in this city to Em- 
ma 'i'own, formerly a successful teacher in 
the public schools and they now have one 
daughter Katherine Eleanor, who was 
named for both of her grandmothers and is 
now seven years of age. Mr. Gladfelter 
also has an adopted son, Ryburn Barton 
Gladfelter, who is his nephew and he became 
a member of our subject's household upon 
his mother's death, when he was four 
months old. He has taken up his father's 
business, and has now relieved his father 
of the care and responsibility and manage- 
ment of his extensive business interests. 

He is a membei" of the Second English 
Lutheran church, has served as one of its of- 
ficers and in his political views is a stalwart 
Prohibitionist. He has resided at his pres- 
ent kxation since 1869' and in 1892 built the 
residence now occupied iby himself and wife. 
He has made an untarnished record and un- 
spotted reputation as a business man, and in 
all places and under all circumstances he is 
loyal to truth, honor and right, justly valu- 
ing his own self-respect as infinitely more 
preferable than wealth, fame and p. xitiim 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



487 



In those finer traits of character which com- 
bine tofonn tliat which we term friendship, 
which endear and attacli man tO' man in 
bonds which nothing but the stain of dis- 
honor can se\-er, which triumph and shine 
brightest in the hour of adversity, — in tliose 
qualities he is royally endowed. 



JOSEPH GARRARD. 

Joseph Garrard is a retired farmer of 
South Charleston owning a valuable tract of 
land on the dividing line of Greene and 
Madison counties, in Stoke township of the 
latter county. There he has two hundred 
and thirty acres which is well improved and 
returns to him a good annual income. Mr. 
Garrard is a native of Madison county, his 
birth having occurred in Union 'township, 
November 15, 1842. his parents being Ste- 
phen and Nancy (Davis) Garrard. 

He was reared upon a 'farm, acquired 
a fair common school education and when 
nineteen years of age he offered his services 
to the country to aid in the suppression of 
the rebellion in the south. It was in INlay. 
1862, that he enlisted in the Union army, 
becoming a member of Company F. Forty- 
fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was 
sent to Camp Chase and after two weeks 
was ordered to the front being first under 
fire at Richmond. Kentucky, early in July 
of that year. He afterward went with the 
army to the Ohio river. He was in thirty- 
one pitched battles besides many skirmishes, 
these including engagements at Dutton Hill, 
Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Lovejoy Sta- 
tion the siege of Atlanta and others. After 
going about fiftv miles with Sherman on his 



march to the sea, his regiment was ordered 
back and returned to Nashville under Gen- 
eral Thomas. Mr. Garrard then partici- 
pated in the battles of Pulaski, Tennessee, 
Franklin, the siege O'f Nashville and the bat- 
tle of Philadelphia, Tennessee, where the 
Union troops were forced back to Knoxville. 
They were there besieged and nearly starved 
suffering 'almost untold hardships. Mr. 
Garrard was wounded at that place, being 
shot through the left leg. He did not go to 
the hospital but had the wound bound up 
where he was and remained with the regi- 
ment, which at that time was mounted. He 
followed Morgan on the raid through Indi- 
ana and Ohio, and was always found at his 
post of duty. He was ne\-er captured and 
was in the hospital fi. r only twenty-four 
hours. A brave soldier bo>", he was fearless 
and faithful in his defense of the old flag 
and the cause it represented and made for 
himself a most creditable military record. 
In June, 1865, he was honorably discharged 
and mustered out, after which he returned 
ti. his old home in Ohio. 

JMr. Garrard then began working by the 
month in Clark county, following that pur- 
suit for several years. He was married in 
Springfield on the 22d of October, 1872, 
to Aliss Amanda M. Hill, whose birdi oc- 
curred in this county and who was a daugh- 
ter of C. C. and Delilah (Briggs) Hill. She 
acciuired a fair comm.on-school education and 
was reared on a farm in South Charleston. 
The young couple removed to Henry coun- 
tv, Misouri, where ]\Ir. Garrard purchased 
land and made his home for ten years. He 
then returned to Clark connty, Ohio, and 
for several years lived upon a farm belong- 
ing to his father-in-law. In 1896 he pur- 
chased one hundred and eighty -seven acres 
of good land in Fayette count}-. Ohio, which 



4S.i 



THE BIUGKAFHICAL RECORD. 



he made his home for a year after which he 
spent a few montlis in Springfiel J and then 
Ijought one iiundred and seventy-five acres 
near South Charleston. On selling that 
tract he bought the farm which he now owns 
in Madison county. On the various pur- 
chases and sales which he has made he has 
realized quite handsomely and from his in- 
vestments he has thus acquired a good in- 
come. 

The home of yiv. and Mrs Garrard has 
been blessed with two children: John How- 
ard, who is now engaged in the livery busi- 
ness in Springfield, married Ida Sprague. 
Anna is still with her parent?. While in 
the army .Mr. Garrard cast his first presi- 
dential vote for Abraham Lincoln and has 
always been a Republican, lie is identified 
with the JNIethodist Episcopal church as one 
of its active and earnest workers and his 
v.ife served as superintendent of the Sun- 
day-school while they were living in Madi- 
son township, Clark county. They have a 
pleasant home in South Charleston and 
many friends e.xtend to them the highest re- 
gard. 

It will be interesting in this connection 
to note something of the family history of 
Mrs. Garrard. Her father, Calderwood 
Covington Hill, was born in Culpeper coun- 
ty, \'irginia, November 13, 1814, and was 
a son of Robert and Margaret (Harvey) 
Hill, who were natives of \'irginia, whence 
tliey removed to Pickaway county, Ohio, 
when their son Calderwood was about four 
}ears of age. They spent four years in that 
county and then came to Clark county, 
where the grandfather died at the age of 
thirty-eight years. At the time of his mar- 
riage the father of Mrs. Garrardi owned 
land four miles from South Charleston, 
where he cleared and improved a farm. 



making his home thereon through a long 
period. During the last si.x years of his 
life he was a resident of South Charlestoh. 
He married Delilah Eriggs, a daughter of 
JosqMi and ]Mary Briggs, who were early 
settlers of Ohio, probably coming to this 
state from Virginia. iSIrs. Hill was born 
October 11, 1818, and died August 20, 1894, 
at her home in South Charleston. Mr. Hill 
afterward made his home with his daughter, 
!Mrs. Garrard, until his death, which oc- 
curred February 9, 1896. He was the own- 
er of three hundred and ten acres of good 
land and was well known as an honorable 
and progressive farmer. In politics he was 
a Republican and for many years he served 
as trustee of his township. An active and 
influential member of the ^Methodist Episco- 
pal church, he served as one of its class lead- 
ers and was largely instrumental in the 
building of Williams chapel near his farm. 



HEXRY WICKHAM. 

The rapid development of all material 
resources during the closing years of the 
nineteenth century and the opening years 
of the twentieth century, has lirought busi- 
ness enterprises up from the day of small 
things to gigantic proportions where thou- 
sands of dollars take the place of hundreds 
and where men are required to handle ex- 
tensive interests as successfully as did their 
grandfathers the small business enterprises 
of fifty or seventy-five years ago. The more 
thorough training of the schools and the 
more rigorous preparation demanded for 
business life have all well qualified the men 
of the present day for the work which awaits 
them, and the enterprises arc controlled by 




HENRY WICKHAM. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



those wlio not only successfully continue a 
business but also enlarge it. increasing- its 
scope and its usefulness. Henry \Mckham 
has been an important factor in carrying on 
what has become a leading industry of 
Springfield, being a member of the firm of 
W'ickham, Chapman & Compan}-, manu- 
facturers of piano plates for grand and up- 
right pianos. Their foundry has been en- 
larged until the plant now covers seven 
acres, furnishing- employment to several hun- 
dren workmen. 

!Mr. Wickham was born in Xew York 
city in 1854, and on the paternal side he 
comes of English ancestry, while in the ma- 
ternal line he is of Irish lineage. He was an 
only child and pursued his education in De 
La Salle Institute of his native city. He has 
been identified with manufacturing interests 
since 1876, in which year he became con- 
nected with the St. John's Sewing Machine 
Company of Springfield, Ohio. He was in 
the japanning and ornamenting department, 
ha\-ing forty workmen under his control. 
He also lived in Brooklyn for a time and on 
the 1st of September, 1889, he returned to 
Springfield, where he established the piano 
plate manufacturing business, which he had 
formerly conducted in Brooklyn. The com- 
pany was incorporated in that year, John 
Chapman, of Newark, Xew Jersey, becom- 
ing a partner. The plant was removed to 
Springfield because of the facilities of this 
city as a distributing point. Eight acres of 
land were purchased and the various build- 
ings erected according to special designs 
fitting them for the uses of the company. 
They manufacture piano plates and piano 
hardware, including action brackets, pedal 
feet, pedal guards, bearing bars, organ pedal 
frames and other accessories to^ the line. 
The liusiness has steadilv grown and the 



plant has been enlarged in order to aftV^rd 
facilities to meet the demands of the trade. 
Each department is thoroughly ec|uipped 
with the latest improved devices and ma- 
chinery for carrying on the work and the 
plant now covers about seven acres, while 
the number of workmen employed reaches 
four hundred. These are experienced foun- 
drymen and polishers, together with other 
men well f|ualified for executing work in the 
various departments. Shipments are made 
to all points of the United States and Can- 
ada, and a very high grade of plates and 
also piano hardware is manufactured. Mr. 
Wickham and Mr. Chapman give their per- 
sonal supervision to their constantly increas- 
ing business. The business relation between 
them has been a most harmonious one and 
the efforts and labors of one fully supple- 
ment and round out the work of the other, 
so that the firm is a strong one. They have 
labored earnestly and continuously for the 
success of their enterprise, which has become 
an important industry of the city and the 
largest of its kind in the world. 

On the 15th of October, 1878, Mr. 
\\'ickham was united in marriage in Spring- 
field to Miss Theresa Murphy, who was 
born in West Jefiferson, Ohio, and is a 
daughter of John Murphy. They now have 
five children: Grace, who was born in 
Springfield and is a graduate of the Cedar 
Gro\-e Academy at Cincinnati, Ohio; Edna, 
who was born in Brooklyn and is a student 
in Notre Dame Academy of South Bend, 
Indiana ; Frank, a native of Brooklyn ; and 
John and Henry, who were born in Spring- 
field. Mrs. Wickham was educated in St. 
Raphael's School of this city and the family 
are communicants of the St. Raphael's 
church. Their home is at the corner of 
Burnett road and Harrison street, where 



492 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. W'ickham has impruved a fine property 
and now has an elegant country residence. 
He has watched witli interest the material 
growth and improvement of the city and has 
co-operated in many movements for the 
general good. He votes with the Repub- 
lican party and belongs to the Knights of 
Columbus of Springfield. His life is a type 
of the utilitarian and progressive spirit of 
the age ^vhen maximum results are accom- 
plished by minimum effort, business having 
l)een so systematized and all forces so util- 
ized that the rapidity of growth and increase 
of business seems almost phenomenal. 



lOHX C. MILLER. 

It is an important public duty to honor 
aiKl ijerpetuate as far as is possible the n.em- 
ory of an en:inent citizen, one whn. by his 
blameless and honorable life and distin- 
guished career reflected credit not only upon 
the city but also upon the state and upon 
t!ie ])rofession which he represented. John 
C. ".Miller was long a distinguished member 
of the Gark county bar. A man of irre- 
prcxichable private life, his example is indeed 
well wortny or en.ulation. The memory of 
his uprigin career should serve a.s an in- 
spfralion to those who Icnew him. .V well 
known jurist of Illinois said : "In the .\mer- 
ican state the great and good lawyer must al- 
ways be prominent, for he is one of the 
Torces that n:ove and control society. Pub- 
lic confidence has generally Ijeen peposcd in 
the legal jirofession and it has CAer been a 
defender of popular rights, the champion of 
freedom regulated l>y law. the firm suj^ixirt 
of g(j<>d government. Xo jjolitical prefer- 
ment, no n-cre place can add to' the pc wcr 



or increase the honor which belongs to the 
pure and educated lawyer." Judge Miller 
was one honored by and an honor to the legal 
fraternity of Ohio. He stood prominent 
amoihg the representative members of the 
bar of tlie state and he attained to his posi- 
tion through marked ability. 

Springfield may be proud to number him 
among her native sons. He was born in 
thi;^ city when it was but a village, his natal 
day being April 13. 1834. He came of an 
ancestry honorable and distinguished. In 
the maternal line he was a lineal descendant 
of Sir Charles Hedges, an English states- 
men of the seventeenth century and a n:en'.- 
!iei of the cabinet of Queen Anne, the last 
reigning sovereign of the house cxf Stuart. 
In America the Miller family has figured 
prominently in public affairs establishing 
the history of the nation. The great-great- 
grandparents of the Judge were Robert and 
Elizabeth Miller, who. in 173S. left their 
hoare in ."^d aland and sailed to the new 
world, taking up their residence in Prince 
(ieorge county. Maryland. Da\ id .Miller. 
the great-grandfather of the Judge, became 
a soldier of the Colonial army during tl'C 
Revolutionary war and in 1778 gave up his 
life as a ransom for the liberty of the peo- 
ple. His srn. Robert Miller, the gi'and- 
father of our sulijcct. was- born in Prir.ce 
George count}', Maryland, in I7(>7, and at 
the age of alx)Ut thirty years becam.e a resi- 
dent of Kentucky, making his way into that 
slate when the work of progress and ini- 
pro\-cment had scarcely been begun there, 
and ere its admission to the L'nion. During 
liie ji-in'ncy of the family to the new home 
in the western wilds Reuben Miller, the 
father of the Judge, was born, his birth oc- 
curring in Fayette county. Painsylvania, 
January 19. 1797. At that time the emi- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



493 



grant coiT.pany were constructing keel boats 
to carry theni down the ^Momongahela and 
Ohio rivers to^ their destination — tlie town 
of Limestone, Kentiick}-, now known as 
Alaysville, Kentucky. Robert Miller took up 
his ahode in Fleming- county, that state, and 
became a prosperous landowner and sla\e- 
holder. He was also accounted one of the 
prominent and influential residents of his 
community. His was an irreproachable life 
in c<jnsistent harmony with his professions 
as a member of the ^Methodist Episcopal 
churcli. whicli he joined at an early age. In 
1809, Ihriiugh the appointment of Bishop 
Asijury. he became a licensed locaJ preacher 
and his strong, logical and convincing ut- 
terances made him a power in his denomi- 
nation. He was a man cd' remarkable orig- 
inality of thought and his diction was concise 
and forcible. His senrons were famous for 
gra]3hic descriptions and illustrations and 
his words seldom failed to arouse his hear- 
ers in a way that left a deep impress upon 
their lives. With a keen sense of justice, 
it became apparent to him that the system 
of slave holidng was wrong, and acting upon 
his conviction, in 181 2, he liberated all oi his 
bondsmai and with his family removed to 
Champaign county, Ohio, settling upon a 
large tract of land on Pretty Prairie, which 
is now within the limits oi Clark county. 

Riei'ben I'diller, the father of the Judge, 
was reared upon the old homestead farm 
here and accpiired his education in the schools 
of this portion of the state. He also bore 
his part in caring for the home farm and 
in controlling the property, giving his fa- 
ther the benefit of his assistance until he 
reached his majority. About this time Reu- 
Ijen ;\'Iiller was united in marriage to Miss 
Mary Hedges, a nati\-e of Berkeley- county, 
West Virginia, and thev became the parents 



of seven children : Mrs. Caroline H. Harris, 
who resided near Monticello, Illinois, but is 
now deceased; D. B., who was a physician 
of Covington, Kentucky, but has also' passed 
away ; ^Irs. Elizabeth N. Ogden, of Keo- 
kuk, Iowa, also deceased; Robert Tabb, wdio 
died in Springfield just as he was entering 
upon what appearetl to be a very successful 
business career; John C, the subject of this 
sketch; Joseph N., a rear admiral of the 
United States navy, who is now li\'ing- re- 
tired; and Henry R., who is now a pron.i- 
nen.t citizen of Keokuk, Iowa. In order to 
pro-vide for his family, Reuben Miller, the 
father of our subject, engaged in teaching 
school and in surveying land. In 1826 he 
received the appointment of surveyor of 
Clark county and acted in that capacity for 
nine years in a most creditable m.anner. On 
the expiration of that period he was elected 
county auditor and his fidelity to duty and 
the confidence reposed in him is indicated 
jjy the fact that for eighteen consecutive 
years he filled that position. He inherited 
his father's talent for speaking and his zeal 
tor religion, and during all the years of his 
public service he also acted as a local minis- 
ter of the Alethodist Episcopal cliurch and 
filled \-ario-us pulpits of central Ohio on Sab- 
Lath days in the absence of the regular pas- 
tor. His public utterances were earnest, 
thoughtful, logical, and carried weight wher- 
ever he was heard. As a writer, too. he 
ix3ssessed n:ore than ordinary ability and 
was a most, entertaining conversationalist, 
being noted for his wit and humo-r. These 
characteristics have been found in many 
members of the Miller fan-ily and represen- 
tati\es of the name have therefore been of 
more than local prominence and importance 
as well as infiuence. 

In taking up the personal history of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Judge John C. IMiller we present to our 
readers the life record of one of the distin- 
guished sons of Clark county. His early 
education was supplemented by study in the 
Ohio Conference High School of Spring- 
field, at which time the Rev. Solomon How- 
ard was principal — a ma.n of great learning. 
who afterward became president of the Ohio 
University of Athens. Judge Miller com- 
pleted his course by graduation when only 
fifteen vears of age and after leaving school 
he entered a printing office where he learned 
the trade. When he !iad mastered it he 
became anxious to ])repare for professional 
life and at the age of eighteen he entered 
upon the study of law under the direction of 
the Hon. Samuel Shellabarger, who in later 
years l>ecan:e ver\- i)rominent, both in the 
profession and on the floor of congress, 
where he represented his district for several 
terms and was one of the most prominent at- 
torneys in the fair.ous Hayes-Tilden contest. 
In April, 1855, after a thorough preparation, 
Mr. Miller was admitted to the Ixir of Ohio 
and a feu years later began practice in 
Spring^ield. He entered upon his chosen 
work at a bar which numl>ered many distin- 
guisheii members, but his ability, close ap- 
plication and indefatigable efiforts soon won 
recognation and he gained a ver\' desirable 
reputation for a young man — a reputation 
that increased as the years went by, gaining 
bin distinction as a leading jurist of the 
state. In public afTairs he was prominent 
and honored. In .\pril, 1861, he was chosen 
mayor of Springfield b}- a very flattering 
majority and when the Civil war broke out, 
less than a month later, he immediately be- 
cam.e identified with all of the measures for 
the promotion of recruiting, for relief to st.>l- 
diers' families, and for everything that could 
pertain to the Union cause in defending its 



v.elfare. He was chairn:an of the citizens' 
military committee of Clark county, and he 
afterward served as a private in the One 
Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment of 
Ohio Infantry, in the company of Captain 
Bnshncll, who was later governor of Ohio. 
In the fall oi 1801 he was elected prosecut- 
ing attorne}- of Clark county and was sever- 
al tin:es realected to that office. In 1869 
he was chosen city solicitor of Springfield 
and was retained in that pasition 1>\- contin- 
ued re-dections until 1876. when he re- 
signed Ut accept the i^ffice of pri>l)ate judge, 
to which he had lieen elected in the ])revious 
October. Fonr times he was chosen for 
that position and before the close of his fifth 
term he was elected one of the judges of 
the court of common i)!eas of the second ju- 
dicial district, at the general election in the 
fall of 1890. Taking his place upon the 
bench of that court, he there served until 
his death in 1900. A n.an of unimpeachalile 
character, of natural intellectual endow- 
ments, with a thorough understanding of the 
law. patience, imbanity and industry, he tot>k 
to the bench the \ery highest cjualificatioms 
for this responsible office of the state gov- 
ernm.ent, and his record as a judge was in 
harmony with his reaird as a man and a 
lawyer — distinguished by unswerving integ- 
rity and a masterful gi"asp of every i)roblein 
which presented itself for solution. He bad 
a thorough and comprehensive knowledge 
of the published decisions of cotirts, but he 
was not a case lawyer. His own decisions 
were founded upon principles of law :uid 
attu-acted the attention of the profession 
throughout the state. Possessed of a keen, 
incisive intellect, the controlling points of 
a case were quickly perceived by him and 
his strong, thoroughly trained and logical 
mind enabled him to present bis conclusions 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



495 



tersely and concisely and in a manner to 
carry conviction. In the exercise of these 
high judicial qualifications Judge Miller was 
entirely impartial and independent, and yet 
always courteous and considerate. 

On the 4th of October, i860, was cele- 
brated the n:arriage oi John C. Miller and 
Miss Marianna T. Hoglen, a daughter of 
James R. Hoglen, oi Da^s'ton, now deceased. 
They became the parents of twoi children : 
Robert J., who married Miss Freda Bretney, 
oif Lebanon, Kentucky, and has a son, Rob- 
ert Wickliffe; and Eleanor C, the wife of 
Louis E. Xiles, of New York city. The 
Judge's interest centered in his family and 
he considered no personal sacrifice on his 
behalf too great if it would promote the 
welfare and happiness o'f his wife and chil- 
dren. 

He was a member of Clark Lodge, No. 
loi, F. & A. M., and Palestine Commandery, 
No. 33, K. T. He also beloaiged to tlie Li- 
depaidait Order of Odd Fellows, the Jun- 
ior Order of United American Mechanics, 
and Mitchell Post, No. 45, G. A. R'. In 
the line of his profession he w-as connected 
with the coimty and state bar associations 
and he was regarded as a valued representa- 
tive of each social, political or professional 
organization with which he was connected. 
While he was inflexible in support of every- 
thing which he considered to be right and of 
political principles which he aidorsed, it can 
tmly 'be said that Judge Miller was never 
an ofifice seeker, but that political preferment 
came toi him in recognition of his marked 
ability and superior merit. A contempoirary 
biographer has said of him : "The irre- 
proachability of his private life contributed 
to fix and maintain his place in public es- 
teem and his great popularity was due to his 
recognized ability and n:agnetic persoaiality." 



He voted Vvith the RepulDlican party, and his 
religious faith was that uf the Methodist 
church, in which he long held membership. 
He was never narrow, however, Ixit was 
fuund as the friend of all deserving people 
irrespective oi creed or belief. When death 
claimed ihim the different societies with 
which ihe was connected attended his funeral 
in a body. Deep indeed was the regret felt 
throughout the contmunity. It is said of 
an eminent man of old, that he has done 
things worthy to be written ; that he has 
wiritten things worthy to- be read ; and by his 
life has contributed to the welfare of the 
repubilic and the happiness of mankind. This 
eulogy can well be pronounced upon Judge 
Miller and the many who looked up to him 
and respected " him realized as fully as did 
his social friends that a true n:an had 
fallen. 



REAR ADMIRAL JOSEPH N. .MILLER. 

Upon the pages of history Rear Adm.iral 
Joseph N. Miller has engraven his name. 
With a laudable ambition for advancement, 
with devotion to his countrj-'s good, with 
n:arked merit and ability arising from- thor- 
oughness, close application and aiterprising 
industry, he attained to high rank in the na- 
vy and when his years of ser\'ice had reached 
the number which merits retirement his name 
was placed upon the list of those from whom 
no longer active aid is recjuired. 

Admira;! Miller was born in Springfield, 
Ohio, Noveniber 22, 1836, and is a son of 
Reuben Miller, who was long a prominent 
office holder and influential citizen of Clark 
count)-, identified with the development of 
this portion of the state from its pioneer 
times. In earlv life Admiral Aliller becam.e 



496 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



imbued with a desire to become a member of 
his coimtry's navy and after passing the 
requiretl examination he was appointed an 
acting midsliipman at tlie na\al acadanv at 
AnnapoHs, on the ist of October, 1851. in 
February, 1852, he was advanced one year 
and was graduated with third rank in his 
class in June, 1854. In the meantime he 
liad made two cruises in practice on the ship 
Preble, in 1852-53. From the 1st of Sep- 
tenil>er. 1854, until the 20th of September, 
1856, he served on board the United State? 
flag ship Independence, in the Pacific squad- 
ron, and on the 22d of November, of the 
latter year, he ])assed his final examination 
and was warranted as a past midshipman in 
the navy. Frcmi the 20th of February, 1857, 
imtil October 26, 1858, he was assistant in 
the department of ethics and English studies 
in the naval academy, and <in the 22(1 of 
in the na\-_\-. From tlic jd of Xoven.bcr. 
January, 1858, he was warranted as master 
1858, until Sqjtenber 24/ i860. Admiral 
^Miller served on board the United States 
ship Preble on the Paraguay expedition and 
in the Home Squadron, and assisted in the 
capture of the steamers General Miramon 
and Marquis de la Habana, cfif \'era Cruz, 
Mexico, on March 6, i860. He was com- 
missioned as a lieutenant of the na\y Febru- 
ary 19. i860, and was assistant in the depart- 
ment of ethics and English studies at the 
na\al academy from October of that year 
until the breaking out of the Rebellion in 
April. 1861. At that time he was detached 
and ordered to the brig Perry, which was 
being fitted out in New York, and wliich 
was employed on the blockade and captured 
the privateer Savannah^ ofif the coast of 
Charleston on the y] of June. 1861, this 
Ijeing the first privateer captured during the 
war. In Xovember. t86i. Admiral Miller 



was transferred to the United States steam- 
er Cambridge, as executive officer, and was 
in the action when the Cumberland and Con- 
gress were destroyed by the Merrimac, on 
the 1 2th of March, 1862. In May of that 
year he was transferred to the practice ship 
John .\dams, and in Augaist was detached 
on application for active service. He was 
commissioned as a lieutenant commander of 
the navy July 16. 1862, and from Septem- 
ber following until June. 1863, he served on 
board the ironclad Passaic as executive of- 
ficer, and was present at the naval attack 
on Fort McAllister, March 3. 1863, and the 
attack on Fort Sumter , April 7, 1863. In 
June of the same year he was apiwinted to 
duty with .\dmiral Gregory in Xew York, 
superintending the construction of ironclads, 
and in September, 1S63. he was ordered as 
executive officer of the United States steam- 
er Sacran^cnlo. from which, in .\o\ember. he 
was transferred to the ironclad Sangamon, 
in\ the blockade ofif Charleston. In April. 
1864. he became commander of the ironclad 
Xahant. and in May he was detached from 
that ship and granted a sick leave. When he 
had recovered his health, in the following 
August, he was ordered to the ironclad 
steamer Monadnock, and was present in 
both attacks on Fort Fisher, tne first on the 
24th and 25th of Deceml)er. 1864. and the 
second on the 13th. 14th and 15th of Janu- 
ary. 1865. In February, of the latter year, 
he- was detached from the Monadncxk and 
ordered to the naval academy as head of the 
department of seamanship and commanded 
the practice ship Marion during the summer 
cruise of 1865. From that ship he was de- 
tached on the 30th of September, 1865, and 
assigned to duty at the naval academy as 
head of the department of ethics and English 
studies, and in September, 186-. he was or- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



497 



flered to the United States steamer Powhat- 
tan, belonging to the South Pacific Squad- 
ron. There he served in the Pacific waters 
and in the Gulf of Mexico until Januan,- 5, 
1S70, when he was detached and placed on 
leave of absence. He was commissioned as 
commander in the na\-v of the United States 
January 2-,^ 1870, and in February of that 
year was ordered to duty at the New York 
na\-y yard, whence in April he was ordered 
to the South Pacific Squadron as chief of 
stafl-'. In February, 1871, he was assigned 
to the command of the United States steam- 
er Ossipee, in addition to his duties as chief 
of staff. In December, 1872, he was de- 
tached from that \-essel and placed on wait- 
ing orders. In January, 1873, the order 
came which made him executi\'e officer of 
the naval station at Xew London. In Feb- 
ruary he was transferred to the hydro- 
grai)hic (jitice at Washington a$ assistant hy- 
drographer. In Xovember he was ordered 
to command the ironclad Ajax, which joined 
the fleet at Key West, assembled in anticipa- 
tion of trouble with Spain. In June, 1874, 
he was detached from the Ajax and again 
assigned as assistant hydrographer, and in 
.\ugust, 1875, he was ordered to the com- 
nand of the United States steair.er Tusca- 
rora, which ran a line of deep sea soundings 
from the Sandwich to the Fiji islands and 
Australia. In September, 1876, he was de- 
tached from the Tuscarcra and placed on 
leave. After enjoying a brief rest, in the 
month of December of the same }'ear he 
was ordered as assistant to the chief of liu- 
reau of yards and docks, and in ^larch fol- 
lowing he was detached from that service 
and ordered as inspector of the Eleventh 
lightouse district, which embraced Lakes 
Huron, IMichigan and Superior. On the 
1st of October, 1880, he was detached from 



light house duty and ordered on special duty 
in the navy department at Washington, D. 
C. Commander Miller was promoted to the 
captaincy in 188 1, and since then has been 
in command of the recruiting ship \\'abash ; 
command of the flagship Tennessee; mem- 
ber of the Jeanette court of inquiry; cap- 
tain of the navy yard at New York; com- 
mander of the United States ship Chicago, 
flagship of the squadron of evolution ; in 
command of the training ship Vermont ; and 
was commandant of the Boston navy yard 
from August, 1894, until 1897. Being at 
the head of the list of his grade, he was 
promoted to the rear admiralty on the re- 
tirement of Rear Admiral Walker in March, 

1897. With General Miles he represented 
the L'nited States at die Queen's Diamoud 
Jubilee. Later he was in command of the 
Pacfic Squadron at Honolulu and raised the 
United States flag on the annexation of the 
Hawaiian islands. 

Admiral Miller has been twice married, 
his first wife being a daughter of Captain 
Joseph Comstock, captain of one of the ves- 
sels of the Cunard line. She died about a 
year after their marriage, and several years 
later he married Aliss Helen Wills, a prom- 
ment Baltimore lad}-. They had one child, 
a beautiful daughter, w hose death occurred 
in England during the jubilee festivities. 
She was buried in the ^\'oolsey necropolis 
near London. 

The .\dmiral was retired in October, 

1898, and now makes his home in Xev.' 
^'ork cit\-. The student who reads betweeji 
the lines will reco'gnize qualities in him with- 
out which there is no. advancement in naval 
ser\ice. From the time when, as an active 
midshipman, he went tc» Annapolis, he was 
found faithful to duty, discharging every 
task assigned to him with dispatch and ac- 



498 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



curacy. He mastered the science of naval 
warfare in all its departmaits and in its 
practice he was found equally proficient. 
Tlius he gained advancement from one posi- 
lion to another and iniportant trusts were 
rqjosed in him, with the result that the coun- 
try has been benefited by his efforts in her 
behalf. He saw active warfare during the 
civil strife, and through many years has 
occupied prominent positions in guarding 
the interests of the nation and instructing 
tliose who have arisen to take the place of 
others who have at one time been members 
of the navy. Such a career is worthy the 
gratitude and recognition of the nation and 
Admiral Miller is honored by those who are 
at all familiar with his career. 



PAUL A. STALEY. 

Among Ohio's honored native sons and 
Springfield's representative citizens stands 
Mr. Staley, who by the exercise of his na- 
tive abilities and those acquired through 
diligent effort has secured a foremost place 
at the bar. He comes of a family noted 
for strong intellectuality and mental force, 
and, though deprived of many of the ad- 
vantages which have aided in their life 
work some of the most eminent jurists of 
our country, he has made the most of his 
opportunities, overcoming the dilificulties 
and t>l)stacles in his path, steadily working 
his way upward until lie has left the 
ranks of the many and gained a jjlace 
among the honored and successful few. His 
energies ha\-e not been dissipated over a 
wide field, but have been concentrated in a 
particular line, and thus he has become 
known as one of the most able patent law- 



yers of the nation. In the courts of the 
country have been tried criminal cases 
which have attracted widespread attention, 
but no more absorbing interest has been 
elicited than Jjy patent cases which ha\e 
invoh-ed the claims to inventions of the ut- 
most imjiortance. These claims involve 
immense financial interests, and the trial of 
such cases has come to be regarded as a 
special department of law. The successful 
patent lawyer must ix)ssess not only a broad 
and thorough knowledge of authorities, able 
power as an advocate and a keen, compre- 
hensive mind that quickly and surely mas- 
ters the situation, but must also have con- 
siderable scientific knowledge and mechan- 
ical ingenuity, for in this field of practice 
many complications are involved, which de- 
mand the e.xefcise of peculiar talents and a 
knowledge to be gained from peculiar ex- 
perience. 

Paul A. Staley was born in Mechanics- 
burg, Chamixiign county, Ohio, May i, 
1859, and comes of a family of German 
lineage. His parents were Stephen and 
Emma (Rathbun) Staley. His paternal 
and maternal grandparents lived to reach 
advanced ages, and his maternal grandfa- 
ther was a stanch abolitionist, his home be- 
ing a station on the famous underground 
railroad. The paternal grandfather of our 
subject was a very wealthy man and owned 
nearly all of the land uiwn which Mechan- 
icsburg is located. The Rathbuns were also 
well-to-do and they were of English an- 
cestry. 

Stephen Staley is still a resident of 
Champaign county. He was educated in 
the public schools there and both he and 
his wife were successful teachers for sev- 
eral years. By trade, however, he is a mill- 
er. He is now sixty-nine years of age, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



499 



while his wife has reached the age of sixty- 
live }eais. They were the parents of 'four 
children: William C, who is traffic man- 
ager of the Western Grocery Company, in 
Chicago, Illinois ; Paul A., of this review ; 
Elizabeth, the wife of M. A. Saxteder, of 
Chicago; and Florence, the wife of Joseph 
E. Wing, oi Mechanicsburg. The chil- 
dren were educated in the public schools and 
for a time the eldest son attended college. 
The father was identified with various man- 
ufacturing interests in Champaign county, 
but is now living a retired li'fe. He is a 
well read man, having gained a broad 
knowledge concerning sciences as well as 
general literature, and. his comprehensive 
learning has made him authority upon many 
subjects. He is well preserved, although 
he has led a very active life and both he 
and his wife enjoy the high regard of a 
large circle of friends. 

Paul ,V. Staley spent his boyhood days 
under the parental roof and in early life 
worked in the machine shops of Mechanics- 
burg, thoroughly mastering the business, 
for which he has special adaptability. He 
inherits his father's splendid mechanical 
talents, while from his mother's people he 
receives excellent business ability. He be- 
came a mechanical engineer and in 1878 
he removed to Springfield, where he was 
identified \\\xh the Whiteley Manufacturing- 
Company as a mechanical draughtsman. 
He also became interested in patent busi- 
ness and in 1880 he went tO' Chicago' where 
he took up the study of law and was like- 
wise there engaged in preparing mechani- 
cal plans and specifications, being employed 
at a lucrative salary. He remained there 
until 1884, when he returned to Spring- 
field. He had been admitted tO' the bar of 
Chicago the previous year and on returning 



to Ohio he opened an office in this city. He 
did some expert work in the legal depart- 
ments of patent law and he followed a suc- 
cessful business which rapidly increased un- 
til now he is at the head of a very exten- 
sive practice, his patronage coming from 
a 'broad district. While in Chicago he was 
associated with such well known attorneys 
as George P. Barton and the firm of Harri- 
son & Hare, being at the head of their solic- 
iting department for some time. It was 
while there that he decided that he would 
beco'me a specialist in the line of patent law, 
his natural aibility for mechanical pursuits 
largely adding to his proficiency in this di- 
rection. Steadily he has built up a good pat- 
ronage and has been very successful. In 
1900 he admitted B. Bo\Vman to a partner- 
ship and they are now engaged in general 
practice as well as in patent law, but our 
subject devotes the greater part of his at- 
tention to the latter. The intricate and 
scientific points of jurisprudence claim his 
interest and tO' patent law he has been giv- 
ing close attention, standing in the front 
rank among those who are connected with 
this department. The business of the firm 
is all do'ue in the United States courts and 
their patronage is drawn from all parts of 
the country. 

M'r. Staley was married in Leaven- 
worth, Kansas, in 1889, to Jamesonia Dick- 
son, who was bo>rn in 1864 and died in 
1900. They had two children, Ruth and 
Kate. In his political \-iew s Mr. Staley is 
a Republican and he belongs to Lagonda 
Club. He was a member of the board of 
trade for some time but is not now associ- 
ated with that organization. His best 
thought and tireless energy ha\-e been given 
to his profession, and as a lawyer he is 
noted for his care, skill and faithfulness to 



500 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



his clients. He devotes himself almost ex- 
clusively to his calling and while his com- 
prehensive and well trained mind and large 
experiaice and knowledge of men fit him 
for doing any work needed, it is as a patent 
law}er that he is most conspicuous. 



ERASMUS JOXKS KITCHEN. 

Erasmus Jones Kitchen, who follows 
farming and stock-raising in Green town- 
ship, where he has about six hundred and 
fifteen acres of land, all in one body, was 
born August ii, 1836, on the farm which 
is yet his home, his parents being Ab- 
raham and Matilda (Jones) Kitchen. His 
paternal grandfather was Stephen Kitch- 
en, who was born in Gettysburg, Penn- 
sylvania, about 1785, and on coming 
to Ohio about 1818 settled in Clark 
county. He was the seventh in order of 
■birth in a family L>f nine children, whose fa- 
ther was Richard Kitchen, a native of Eng- 
land, who came to the United States about 
1750 and located in Gettysburg, Pennsyl- 
\ania. Richard Kitchen married Margaret 
Voorhees, who was the grandniDthcr of 
Senator Voorhees. 

On the old homestead our subject's boy- 
hood tlays were passed in a manner not un- 
like most lads of the period. The temple of 
learning in which he acquired his education 
was one of the district schools of the coun- 
ty and he received ample training in farm 
labor by assisting his father in the work of 
the fields. \Mien about twenty-one years 
of age he began earning his own livelihood, 
although he still remained at home. He did 
not leave the county until 1861, when 
prompted by a patriotic spirit he offered his 



services to the government, enlisting as a 
member of Company F, Forty-fourth Ohio 
\'olunteer Infantry, while subsequently he 
became a member of Company M, Eighth 
Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. With his com- 
mand he was sent to aid in the capture of 
Floyd, at Cotton Mountain, in ^^'est Vir- 
ginia. He was also at Lewisburg and with 
his regiment was driven back to the Ohio 
river, fighting all along the way. He par- 
ticipated in the engagements of Button Hill, 
Cumberland Gap, the siege of Knoxville and 
the battle of Bristol, near the line of \'ir- 
ginia and Tennessee. In January, 1864, he 
returned home on furlough, having pre- 
viously veteranized. After spending thirty 
days in this locality he again went to the 
south, becoming a member of the Eighth 
Ohio Cavalry, with which he took part in 
the battles of Lynchburg and Liberty. At 
the time the regiment was captured he man- 
aged to make his escajje by staying in his 
bunk until daylight. He then went out to 
give himself up, but as there seemed to be 
no one looking for him he walked off and 
eventually made his way to the Union lines, 
although for a day and a night he lay out 
in the snow on the mountains and suffered 
greatly from cold and hunger, three days 
having passed ere he reached the Union 
trcKjps. In 1865 he received an honorable 
discharge, and with a creditable military 
record he returned to his home. 

On the 12th of October, 1865. Mr. 
Kitchen was married to Miss Lavina M. 
Hatfield, a daughter of James and Mar- 
garet (Kitchen) Hatfield. After his re- 
turn from the war he had purchased eighty 
acres of the land upon which he is now 
living and on which he and his sons made 
excellent improvements in keeping with tlie 
progressive spirit of the times. To his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



501 



fartn he has added as opportunity has of- 
fered and to-day he is the owner of a valu- 
able tract. The home of Mr. and Airs. 
Kitchen was blessed with six children : Jo- 
seph L., who is living with his father; Ab- 
raham, who died at the age of twenty-two 
years; James, at home; Stephen, who mar- 
ried Josie Alice Stewart ; Erasmus J. ; and 
Wayne, who died at the age of ten years. 
Mr. Kitchen lost his first wife and after- 
ward wedded Miss Sarah AI. Bate, of 
Frankfurt, Indiana, with whom he became 
acquainted while she was visiting in Ohio. 
She is the daughter of Josiah and Hannah 
Bate. 

Mr. Kitchen belongs to the Free Will 
Baptist church and was reared in the faith 
of that denomination. He is a charter mem- 
ber of Mitchell Post, G. A. R., and has at- 
tended several national reunions. He also 
visited the World's Fair in 1893, viewing 
with interest the indications of the 
world's progress, as shown in the many 
exhibits there. In politics he has long 
been a Republican, and sa\e that he 
has served as a memlber of the school 
board for several years, he has always re- 
fused to accept public office. He was a loyal 
soldier of his country in the hour of her 
peril and is to-day as true to his duties of 
citizenship as he was when he wore the na- 
tion's blue uniform. 



lOHX P. XO'RTH. 



John P. Xorth, who is engaged in the 
grocery business at Xo. 210 East Pleasant 
street, in Springfield, was born in Selma, 
Ohio, February 26, 1856, and was the third 
soiij O'f Patrick and Ann North, both of 



whom are now deceased, the father having 
died in 1861. The subject of this review 
oljtained his education ii: the public schooils 
of his native town and was reared tO' man- 
hood upon the honre farm in Aladison toiwn- 
ship. In 1879, when twent}--three }-ears of 
age, he came to Springfield and secured em- 
plo}'ment in the new Champion works, 
where he remained until June, 1880, when 
he left that shop and became a salesman in 
the store owned hy his brother. O. E. X'orth. 
The following year he purchased his inter- 
est in the business and in 1889 he became 
the sole proprietor. In April, 1890, he re- 
moved to his present location at Xoi. 210 
East Pleasant street. He handles a general 
line of groceries and provisions and now has 
a libera] patronage, which has been won by 
reason of his honorable business methods, 
his earnest desire to please his patrons and 
his fair dealing. 

In May, 1888, was celebrated the mar- 
riage of John P. X^orth and Miss Mary Con- 
nor, who was l30im in Springfield in 1865. 
Her father, Daniel Connor, was a railroad 
man and by trade was a 1jrick-n:older. For 
o\-er fifty years he was a resident of Spring- 
field, Ohio, and his death occurred here in 
the year 1901. In his faniily were but two 
daughters: Alar}-, the wife of our subject; 
and Catherine. At the time of his marriage 
Air. North purchased his present home, 
which has been blessed by the presence of 
three children: Charles C. Ijorn in 1889; 
John D., bom in 1896; and Elizabeth A., 
born in 1899. 

Both Air. and Airs. Xorth are members 
of St. Joseph's church and he has served as 
a member of the of St. Joseph's church and 
he has ser\-ed as a meml>er of the church 
board. In his political affiliations he is a 
Democrat and has ser\-ed as a tlelegate to 



S02 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



city and county conventions. He belongs to 
the National Union and to the Springfield 
Grocery Association. Entering upon his 
business career with a small capital of only 
a few hundred dollars, he has attained very 
creditable and desirable success. He has 
not only secured a good patronage in the 
grocer)' line but has made judicious in\est- 
nients in real estate in the city, and is to- 
day a well-to-do and reliable resident of 
Springfield. 



CAPTAIN JOHN S. FOSTER. 

The patricit who fought and suttered 
that the L'nion might be preserved, that 
this country, now recognized as one of the 
greatest among the nations, might continue 
to be great, increasing in strength and pow- 
er in the future as it has done in the past, 
is entitled to praise and honor not only in 
his OAvn generation but in succeeding gen- 
erations who are entering into the heritage 
made secure to them by the heroism of the 
brave soldier boys who wore the blue. 
Eoyal American citizens never weary of 
hearing the praises of the brave defenders 
of the Union, and though much has been 
said and written in commendation of thein 
the debt of gratitude which this country 
owes them can never be fully paid. Captain 
Foster won distinction upon the field of 
battle and well does he deserve mention 
among the rq^resentatives of Clark county, 
who in the hour of the country's peril went 
to the defense of the Union. 

The Captain is a well known resident 
of Springfield and this portion of the state. 
His 'birth occurred upon a farm near Wil- 
liamsburg, Clermont county, on the i6th of 
June, \%22, his parents being Thomas and 



Sarah (Raper) Foster. The father, who 
was born in what is now Berkeley county. 
West Virginia, ^vhen but a boj- remcn-ed 
from the Old Dominion to the rieighbor- 
hood of Williamsburg, Ohio, in company 
with his parents and there the grandfather 
left the family, going to Mason county, 
Kentucky, with the expectation of settling 
there but was killed by the Indians and was 
robbed of all the money which he had taken 
with him to buy land. His widow, who 
bore the maiden name of Miss Twigg, was 
thus left in destitute circumstances, but as 
best she could she provided for her family, 
making sacrifices for them that only a 
mother can and will. There were four 
sons, Isaac, Israel, Thomas and John, all 
of whom became residents of Ohio. Israel 
was the father of Bishop R. S. Foster, a 
noted divine of the Methodist Epi.scopal 
clnu-ch. 

Thomas Foster, the father of our sub- 
ject, was reared to manhood near Williams- 
burg, and during the war of 1812 he served 
as a lieutenant under Captain Bosler. After 
the cessation of hostilities he returned home 
and began farming in the primitive man- 
ner of the times, enduring all of the hard- 
ships and trials of frontier life; but he la- 
bored persistently and energetically and in 
course of time acquired considerable land 
and was regarded as one of the wealthy 
property owners of his time. A man of 
strong convictions, fearless in defense of 
what he believed to be right, he was the 
first resident of his county to cut and har- 
\cst without furnishing whiskey for the 
men employed in the harvest field. He be- 
lieved this course to be right and therefore 
nothing could swerve him from his pur- 
pose. He married Sarah Raper, a daugh- 
ter of T.eiinard Kapcr. wlni wa- an English 




J. S. FOSTER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



505 



school teacher and as a young man came to 
this country, settHng at Columbia, Ohio, 
liear Cincinnati. Through a long- period he 
followed educational work, being largely 
engaged in teaching in Clermont county, 
where he made his home. It was in that 
count}' that his daughter Sarah was born, 
reared and educated. Her brother, Will- 
iam H. Raper, became a pioneer Methodist 
Episcopal preacher, and it is in his honor 
that Raper chapel of Dayton is named. 
Unto Thomas and Sarah (Raper) Foster 
were born eight children: Elizabeth, who 
was the wife of George Duckwall ; Mary 
Ann, the wife of Samuel A. Pegg; Eleanor, 
who was the wife of Henry Weaver; Jo- 
seph, who married Susan Ricker ; Margaret, 
the wife' of Elb-ridge G. Ricker ; Sarah, who 
follow-ed teaching throughout her entire 
life; John S., of this review'; and Mahala, 
who is now the wife of Benjamin Penn. 
The parents ol this family were lifelong 
members of the Alethodist Episcopal church, 
who labored earnestly and untiringly in be- 
half of Christian advancement. The fa- 
ther was a \N'hig and a Republican, and he 
died in his eighty-sixth year, having long- 
survived his first wife, wdio passed away 
at the age of fifty-seven years. For his 
second wife he married Elizabeth, widow of 
John Kain, of Williamsburg, and she passed 
away about fifteen years before his deatli. 
Captain Foster, wdiose name introduces 
this record, was reared upon the home farm 
near Williamsburg, obtaining a good com- 
mon-school education and then spent one 
year as a student in a college at Granville, 
Ohio. After his return home he accepted 
a position as a salesman in the general store 
of Israel Foster, the father of Bishop Fos- 
ter, in Kentucky, where he remained for 
tw'O years, acquiring considerable knowl- 

26 



edge of mercantile methods during that 
period. He then embarked in business on 
his own account, purchasing a stock of 
goods and establishing a store in Fayette- 
ville, Brown county, Ohio, where he carried 
on business for four years and then sold 
out. In 1849 lis married Margaret C. 
Thompson, a daughter of Edward Thomp- 
son, a prominent miller of Georgetown, and 
tlie yotmg couple began their domestic life 
in that place, wdiere Captain Foster em- 
barked in business in partnership with his 
Ijrother-in-law, under the firm style of Fos- 
ter & Thompson. He was also connected 
with the building of the first plank road 
in the county, extending from Georgetown 
to Higginsport, on the Ohio' river, Mr. 
Foster serving as treasurer of the company 
which constructed this road. When he had 
devoted fo'Ur years to merchandising in 
Georgetown he then sold out and bought a 
farm two miles from the city, taking up his 
abode thereon. 

Captain Foster has always been a man- of 
influence because he holds practical views, 
is progressive and is widely known for his 
unsw-erving loyalty and patriotism. These 
cjualities led to his election in the fall of 
1854 as an independent candidate for sher- 
iff of BroAvn county, Ohio. He endorsed 
tlie Whig party, but as that party was in 
the minority it did not put up a ticket and 
Captain Foster's friends solicited him to 
make an independent race. This he did 
and was elected to the office by a majority 
of eleven hundred and five over Mr. Young, 
who was nominated 'for re-election by the 
Democratic party, which usually had a 
strong majority. When he had served for 
two years he was re-nonnnated, but that 
was the presidential year and party lines 
being more tightly drawn, he was beaten 



5o6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in the race, although he ran six hundred 
votes ahead of his ticket. On retiring from 
the office of sheriff lie sold his farm and 
removed to Keokuk, Iowa, where he con- 
ducted a prosperous business as a real es- 
tate dealer for some time, but during the 
linancial panic which involved the entire 
countr}- in 1857, his fortune was lost and 
he found himself sixty-two hundred dollars 
in debt. He then returned to Cincinnati, 
Ohio, and took a position as auctioneer in 
a sales stable, with which he was connected 
also in the buj-ing and selling of horses. 
At the end of twenty-three months he had 
made enough to clear off all indebtedness 
in Iowa, and was conducting a prosperous 
business when the war broke out. He then 
engaged in purchasing horses and selling 
them to the United States goxernment for 
military use. 

On the 9th of July, 18O1, a cavalry com- 
pany, which had been recruited by Captain 
Mclntyre, was to ibe mustered in at George- 
town, and Captain Foster went to that place 
to buy horses for the government. Captain 
Mclnt\re, however, declined going to the 
front and the company then met in the 
courthouse to elect a captain. The choice 
fell on Mr. Foster, who was given e\ery 
vote, and he decided to accept the position, 
so settling up his business he went to Camp 
Chase, near Columbus, as commander of 
what was called the Fourth Independent 
Ohio Cavalry Company. In the following- 
August he was ordered with the company to 
St. Louis to report for duty to General 
Fremont and there acted as provost guard 
for the city tmtil the campaign through 
^lissouri, to Springfield, that state, was in- 
augurated. Leaving St. Louis, Captain 
Foster then acted as one of the body guard 
for General McKinstrv and was thus en- 



gaged until after the capture of Spring- 
field, in the meantime reporting to Gen- 
eral Pope. He next returned to Syracuse, 
Missouri, where a post had been established, 
and there he acted as commander of the 
post, which was also used as a shipping 
IK)int for a number of weeks. After Gen- 
eral PoiJe succeeded General Fremont, Cap- 
tain Foster and his company acted as body 
guard to the former during the campaign 
through Missouri. Subsequently our sub- 
ject was ordered to Sedalia, ^lissouri, 
and from Booneville went on the cam- 
paign with ]\Iajor Hubbard to look up 
Poindexter. On the 1st of January, 
1862, they attacked the enemy at Sil- 
ver Creek and Major Hubbard, being ill, 
asked Captain Foster to take command. 
With two hundred and eighty men he made 
the attack on I'oindexter, who was there en- 
camped with nine hundred men, succeeded 
in defeating him, and captured his camp 
with one hundred and five tents, one hun- 
dred and sixty horses and twenty wagons 
and teams, and killing and wounding more 
men than were in his entire command. Cap- 
tain Foster himself was wounded in the 
left arm, but he only lost twenty-seven men 
in killed and woimded in his entire com- 
mand. Later he was granted a leave of 
absence that he might return home and 
care for his wound, but after his recovery 
at the end of sixty days he returned to the 
south, finding his company at St. Louis 
serving as body guard to General Hallock, 
in which capacity they acted until ordered 
to Pittsburg Landing. Captain Foster con- 
tinued as commander of the three com- 
panies acting as body guard to General Hal- 
lock during the siege of Corinth, and later 
he reported to General Logan at Jackson- 
ville. Tennessee. The Eleventh Illinois 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



507 



Cavalry was on duty in the conimaiKl of 
^lajor Ingersoll, and as Captain Foster had 
the reputation of being an excellent dis- 
ciplinarian, he was told to go into camp 
near the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, which 
was composed of badly disciplined troops. 
Major Ingersoll was then put under arrest, 
that Captain Foster might take command 
of and discipline his regiment, and there 
he remained in command, also doing a great 
amount of scouting in that region with the 
Eleventh Illinois Cavalry as well as his own 
company. At the battle of Britton's Lane 
he was under CoJonel Ellis of the Thirty- 
first Illinois Volunteer Infantn,-, and acted 
a.^ aide-de-camp to Colonel Ellis, who had 
all told less than five hundred men. Tliey 
v>ere attacked by General Jackson with nine 
thousand cavalry, who captured their ar- 
tillery and teams, but not their ammuni- 
tion, in the first raid. Colonel Ellis and 
Captain Foster took a good position and 
w ithstood their rq>eated attacks until finally 
the}' defeated them, recaptured the wagon 
train and brought it back to camp, also con- 
tinuing the fighting until the Confederate 
troops left the field, the Union troops hold- 
ing the position until re-inforced after the 
enemy had retired. The next day they re- 
turned to camp at Jackson and the Captain 
remained in command of his company and 
of the Eleventh Illinois until the organiza- 
tion of the Army of the Tennessee, when 
he reported with his men to General Mc- 
Pherson to act as his body guard. He was 
with him in this capacity during all of his 
marches around Vicksburg and participated 
in all the battles of that neighborhood. As 
there was but a small number of cavalry 
troops, he was much of the time in command 
of the advance guard and had the honor of 
escorting General Grant at the clr)se of the 



siege of Vicksburg to General Pemberton's 
headquarters, where the Confederate com- 
mander surrendered on the 3d of July. On 
th 5th of July the Union troops took pos- 
session of the city, Sergeant Dugan, of 
Captain Foster's company, climbing the 
courthouse steeple and tying there the Uni- 
ted States flag with his fober knot. 

After the capture of \'icksburg Cap- 
tain Foster was detailed as a member of 
the court martial that sat in the courthouse 
under General Belknap and held military 
court in thajt city for six months. At the 
inauguration of the movement known as 
the march to the sea, from Chattanoga, he 
resumed command of his company, acting 
in General Logan's body guard, and 
marched from Hunts\-ille, Alabama, to 
Chattanooga, preparatory to continuing on 
across the country to the seaport. From 
Chattanooga he acted as escort to General 
McPherson, participating in all the battles 
up to the time of the expiration of his term 
of service, in front of Atlanta. There on 
command of General Sherman, July 12, 
1864, he shipped his command from Big 
Shanty to Cincinnati, Ohio, to be mustered 
out of service July 20, 1864. During his 
three years' military duty Captain Foster 
was in thirty-one battles and skirmishes and 
the reports show that during the three years 
his company took part in no engagement 
in which he did not command them. 

After being discharged in Cincinnati, 
Captain Foster was sent to Springfield, IMis- 
souri, by the government as an appraiser 
and inspector of horses, .remaining there 
for about three months or until Price's 
army dro\-e them out, when he returned to 
St. Louis and occupied the same position 
for a number of months. He next returned 
tf; Cincinnati and became connected with a 



50» 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORU. 



firm that was buying horses and mules, 
wiiich were sold to the government and de- 
livered at Lexington, Kentucky. At Lex- 
ington the government inspector was dis- 
charged for misdemeanor and Captain Fos- 
ter w as appointed as inspector of horses and 
feed, holding that position in the quarter- 
master's department until the close of the 
war. When hostilities had ceased the quar- 
termaster had on hand five thousand horses 
and mules and entered into a contract with 
Captain Foster to sell the stock, for which 
he was to receive three per cent, of the pro 
ceeds. He succeeded in making the sale in 
eleven days, his commission amounting to 
fifty-four hundred dollars. While that sale 
was in progress the quartermaster of North 
Carolina, having in charge all of the stock, 
wagons and other property belonging to the 
army when the war closed, asked Captain 
Foster to name a price for which he would 
go to Greensboro, the army headquarters, 
and take charge of the sale of all govern- 
ment property there. Captain Foster de- 
cided to do this for two per cent, of the 
proceeds and at Greensboro he found sev- 
enteen thousand horses and mules, beside 
the wagons, harness and army equipments, 
all of which he sold. He divided the stock 
and at different parts of the state conducted 
sales, requiring five months to close out all 
the supplies, and for this work he received 
eighty-five hundred dollars. While there 
he formed a partnership with Mr. Day, ;>. 
brother of the quartermaster, Colonel Day, 
and leased a cotton plantation of five hun- 
dreil acres near Goklsboro, North Carolina, 
I Ml which they raised a crrip of cotton. This 
pioduct was shipped to New York, where 
it sold for from sixty to seventy-five cents 
per pound, but a part of the crop was lost 
on account of wet weather, so that alto- 



gether the investment did not prove profit- 
able. Thus closed an active, important and 
honorable service in connection with the 
government as a brave soldier and trusted 
agent, and certainly the military career of 
Captain Foster is worthy of the highest 
commendation, for not only on the field of 
battle did he display loyalty and bravery, 
as well as marked valor, but in positions of 
public trust he was always found faithful to 
the duties assigned him. 

Returning to the quiet walks of civil 
life. Captain Foster entered into a partner- 
ship in the sale of horses in Cincinnati, 
occupying the same stable which he had left 
at the time of his enlistment. He purchased 
his father's old home in Clermont county 
and resided thereon, carrying on farming 
for two years, but not feeling satisfied with 
his condition there, he sold the property 
and devoted his entire time and attention 
to dealing in horses and cattle in Cincin- 
nati until his removal to Washington Court 
House, where he continued in the sartie 
business. After a few years he removed to 
Greenville, where he carried on business 
and there he admitted his youngest child, 
John K. Foster, to a partnership in 1885. 
Since that time they have been associated 
under the firm name of J. S. Foster & Son. 
In 1892 they came to Springfield, continu- 
ing the old business, and in addition carry- 
ing on a li\ery and coach business. During 
the last three years the firm has built two 
f)f the finest livery barns in the city, both 
large brick structures. T\ie last one erect- 
ed is a four-story building with pressed 
brick front and is probably the finest barn 
in this section of the state. He is a man 
of e.xcellent business ability, of sound judg- 
ment and keen discrimination, and he has 
the force of character which enables him 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



509 



to carry forward to successful completion 
whatever he undertakes. 

Unto Captain and Mrs. Foster were born 
six children, all of whom reached years of 
maturity, but Edward T. died at Washing- 
ton Court House, Ohio*, in 1874. Susan 
T. is now the wife of W. H. Dial, of Wash- 
ington Court House. Sarah Belle is the 
wife of B. H. Smith, of the same place. 
Kate V. became the wife of Hamlin Smith, 
of Washington Court House, and died leav- 
ing a daughter Bertha, who after the death 
of her father was reared and educated by 
our subject. She is now the wife of Clyde 
!Minor, o>f Springfield. Mary V., who for 
a number of years was engaged in teaching, 
is now a resident of Greenville, Ohio. John 
K., as stated, is associated with, his father 
in. business. The wife and mother passed 
away August 2, 1898. She had been a 
life-long member of the Methodist Epis- 
ci>pal church and her labors were effective 
and earnest in the cause of Christianity. 
Her traits of character were also such as 
\\(in for her the love and confidence of those 
with whom she was associated, and her loss 
throughout the community was therefore 
tleeply deplored. 

In politics Captain Foster is a stanch 
Republican, but has never been an aspirant 
for office and has setved in no pohtical po- 
sitions save that of sheriff. In 1850 he 
was made a Mason in Georgetown Lodge, 
Xo. 39, F. & A. M., and is now a member 
of Clark Lodge of Springfield. About 1875 
he joined John Bell Post, G. A. R., of 
Washington Court Honse, and has since 
been a member of various posts in the dif- 
ferent towns in which he has lived, holding 
membership at the present time with Mitch- 
ell Post, No. 45, G. A. R.. of Springfield. 
For many years he served as a delegate to 



state and national encampments. Captain 
Foster has been a lifelong memher oif the 
Methodist Episcopal church and it is a no- 
ticeable and praiseworthy fact that since 
the close of the war the Captain has lived 
in nine different places and in each town 
he has been chosen as a member of the 
official board of the Methodist church. He 
is now a trustee of the Central Methodist 
Episcopal church of Springfield. His relig- 
ion is not a matter of Sunday worship, but 
of every day living, being manifested con- 
tinually in his honorable dealing with his 
fellow men. His daily life commands re- 
spect and is indeed worthy of emulation, 
and his career as a soldier, a business man, 
a citizen and a Christian is one which re- 
flects credit upon the locality with which 
he is connected. 



GEORGE DEAN TURNER. 

George Dean Turner is a well known 
representative of industrial interests in 
Springfield, although he has been a resident 
of the city only since April, 1897. He is 
now occupying the responsible position of 
superintendent for the Wickham, Chap- 
man & Company Manufacturing Company. 
He was born in Moline, Illinois November 
18, 1855, 3. son of George W. and Abbie J. 
(Clark) Turner, both of whom are still liv- 
ing. In September, 1902, they celebrated 
their golden wedding. The former is now 
seventy-five years of age, and the latter sev- 
enty-six years of age. For a number of 
years they resided in \\'isconsin, thence re- 
moved to Chicago, Illinois, and in 1900 
came to Springfield, where they are now- 
living in a pleasant home on Hubert ave- 



S'o 



^HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



nue. The tatlier is a minister of the Sec- 
ond Adventist chiirdi and in early life he 
was a molder, having- learned that trade 
while a resident of Syracuse, Xew York, 
where iiis early years were passed. On the 
maternal side the family came from Massa- 
chusetts and the great-grandmother in that 
state lived to the very advanced age of one . 
hunded and four years. Unto ^Ir. and ^Irs. 
Turner were born five children, two of whom 
died in infancy, while Delos was accidental- 
1\ killed in 1879, at the age of sixteen years. 
Alice is now the wife of Dr. C. E. ^^liller, 
of Cadillac, Michigan. 

George Dean Turner, the only survi\ing 
son of the family, pursued his education in 
Eau Claire county, Wisconsin. He re- 
mained in that county until sixteen years of 
age. when, in March. 1872, he went to Chi- 
cago, Illinois, and there entered upon an 
apprenticeship to the iron molder"s trade. 
In the spring of 1876, having mastered his 
trade he began work in the press rooms of 
the Chicago Times, where he occupied the 
position of foreman. He was also for two 
and one-half years employed in the mailing 
department of that paper and later he spent 
a year in California. In April, 1879, he re- 
turned to the foundry business, securing 
a position as a journeyman molder, in which 
capacity he served until 1886. He then es- 
tablished the Garden City Foundry, which 
he operated for eleven years and later he 
incorporated the business. Under his di- 
rection the \olume of trade steadily grew 
until it had reached extensive proportions. 
He held the offices of president, vice-pres- 
ident and general superintendent. The 
business was conducted under the style of 
Turner, Dickinson & Company, but the 
third memljer of the firm sold out and Mr. 
Turner conducted the business for a time or 



until he disjwsed of the plant to the Wick- 
ham. Chapman & Company Manufacturing 
Con-pany, remaining with them as general 
manager. The entire plant was shipped to 
Springfield, Ohio, in April, 1897, and Mr. 
Turner has since been superintendent of 
the work here. 

On the 27th of .March, 1879, -^ir. Turner 
was married in Chicago to ^Nliss Clara Z^l. 
Doud. They now have three children. 
Zelma May, v,ho was born in 1880, is a 
graduate of the high school of Austin, Illi- 
nois, and has been a teacher in the kinder- 
garten in Springfield. Ira Delos died at the 
age of fourteen years. Abagail, born July 
9, 1893, is now in school. The parents 
hold membership in the Second Adventist 
church of which Mr. Turner is one of the 
trustees. 

Since age gave him the right of franchise 
lie has been identified with the Republican 
parly, has served as a delegate to county 
conventions and was an alternate delegate 
to the Ohio State Convention in 1901. In 
the same year he was appointed a member 
of the county executive committee and he 
was elected a member of the city council 
from the sixth ward. He is chairman of 
the city improvement committee and a mem- 
i)cr of the committee on finance, streets and 
highways, auditing and tlaims. He faithful- 
ly serves the interests of his constituents 
and is a public-spirited official, who has 
put forth every effort in his power to ad- 
vance the welfare of Springfield. He be- 
longs to Ben Hur Lodge, F. & A. :M., of 
Chicago, and to the Chevaliers, an insurance 
order. In the line of his business he has 
attainetl success and prominence and now 
has under his superivision three hundred 
and fifty men. He is a member of the 
Commercial Club and of the Columbian 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Republican Club, and is thus well known in 
business, social and fraternal circles in this 
city. His manner is genial and affable, 
his disposition friendly, and although he has 
resided in Springfield for a comparatively 
brief period he has lorn.ed a w ide acquamt- 
ance and is well liked in the-citv. 



WILLIA^I H. LUSE. 

He who tills the soil adds much to the 
prosperity of his community, for it has ev- 
erywhere been demonstrated that the agri- 
cultural interests of any state and country 
are the very bone and sinew 'from which is 
nurtured the body of that state or country, 
therefore the life of the same depends upon 
the success of the agriculturist. \\'illiam 
Luse comes of a family who have long been 
devoted to agricultural pursuits, and who 
have been honored pioneer settlers of Clark 
county, taking an important part in the up- 
Iniilding and improvement which has here 
taken place within the past centur}-, and 
leaving a stainless and respected name to 
their descendants. 

He was born October 15, 1846, in the 
house which is yet his home, having been 
built by his grandfather, Justice Luse. He 
is a son of John and Martha Luse. Justice 
Luse, the grandfather, was the first of the 
Luse family to come to Clark county, Ohio, 
his arrival here being about the year 1804. 
His family consisted of his wife, Mary Luse, 
and his hve children, \\'illiam, Betsey, Thom- 
as, Jiihn and Xancy, the last two being small 
children at the time, ^^'illiam, the eldest 
son, followed farming in Clark county, 
where he owned one hundred acres of land, 
which he cleared, improved and cultivated. 



His death occurred in September, 1845, 
leaving a wife and one child, Josephus Will- 
iam. Betsey became the wife of Benjamin 
Rowan, lived in Madison township, Clark 
county, and died, leaving six children. 
Thomas was the father of Samuel Theodore 
Luse, whose sketch appears upon another 
page of this work. Nancy, the fifth and 
youngest child of Justice Luse, married Ja- 
cob Garlough and became the mother of six 
children, but is now deceased. 

John Luse, the fourth member of the 
family of Justice and Mary Luse, was born 
in 1799 and was therefore but five years of 
age when brought by his paraits to Clark 
county, Ohio. Here he was reared to man- 
hood and became a wealthy and influential 
farmer and stock-raiser, dealing extensive- 
ly in good graded stock and owning and 
operating a large farm of six hundred and 
twenty-five acres of land in Clark county. 
He was married in Green township, Clark 
count)-, first to Miss Mary Hume, and one 
child was the oft'spring of this marriage, 
who died in infancy. Death claimed the 
young wife and the second marriage of 
Mr. Luse took place east O'f Springfield, 
the lady of his choice being Mrs. Martha 
Reed, a daughter of yiv. Bird. By diis mar- 
riage were born three children : Laura J. be- 
came the wife of Harvey Tuttle and resides 
in Licking county, Ohio. They are the par- 
ents of nine children. William H. is the 
subject of this review and the only son of 
his parents. ]\Iary C. married William 
Tuttle, who died, leaving her a widow with 
three children. John Luse was a prominent 
man of his community and took a deep in- 
terst in the growth and development of his 
county. He was a Whig in politics, and 
living to see the inauguration of the Re- 
publican party, he afterward voted fur each 



512 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of its presidential candidates until his death. 
Although lirm in his political views he was 
not a politician in the sense of office seek- 
ing, preferring to devote his time and atten- 
tion to the supervision of his extensive land- 
ed and stack-raising interests. He was ac- 
tively identified with the building of good 
roads and was a memher and the first pres- 
ident of the Turnpike Company of Clifton, 
and was also one of the first stockholders 
in the same. A member of the First Bap- 
tist church of Springfield, he served as one 
of its deacon's for thirty-five years, and in 
his community the cause of Qiristianity 
had no more earnest advocate than he. His 
upright life and sterling worth of charac- 
ter endeared him to many friends and he 
was a valued member of the social and bus- 
iness life of his township. 

His only son, William H. Luse, spent his 
boyhutxl days upon the home farm, the 
place of his birth, which had been purchased 
by his grandfather, Justice Luse. Here he 
received a common-school education, thus 
fitting him for life's practical duties. When 
he had arrived at man's estate he was mar- 
ried on the 13th of February, 1873. to JMiss 
Susan Cloud, who was torn at Yellow 
Springs, Greene county, a daughter eil J"- 
se])h Cloud. Her mother having dieil when 
sine was an infant, she never remembers to 
ha\ e seen her, nor does she know her name. 
With the exception of five years spent in 
SiMingfield. from 1878 until 1883, Mr. Luse 
and his wife have resided \.\\}o\\ the home 
place. On the death of his mother, in May, 
1901, he inherited two hundred and nine- 
teen acres of land, which he still owns and 
operates. He, like his father and. grandfa- 
ther, has a natural liking for agricultural 
pursuits, and the latest improved methods 
in farm work are taken advantage of bv him 



in the conduct of his highly cultivated farm, 
where<in are raised the cereals adapted to 
soil and climate, as well as a good grade of 
stock. The passer-by would not fail to note 
the thrifty and neat appearance of the home 
and the fields surrounding it, and would at 
once class it among the model farms of the 
rich agricultural county of Clark. 

Eight children have graced the union of 
Mr. Luse and his wife: Laura Belle is the 
wife of Samuel Pearson and resides near 
Springfield; James Clififord chose as a life 
partner Susie Wagner and they are the 
proud parents of a little daughter. Mildred; 
Martha Cloud is the wife of Clarence Xorth- 
rup and has one child, Olive; John Bird 
is living in Allegheny, Pennsylvania ; Piaul 
Grafton is employed in a wholesale drug 
house in Columbus, Ohio; William Herbert 
resides at home with his parents : Ida May 
and Arthur are also under the parental roof. 

Mr. Luse has supi^rted the Republican 
party since casting hi.s first ballot for Abra- 
ham Lincoln. In his township he has served 
on the board of education and has held oth- 
er local offices. Plis religitms faith is incli- 
cated by his membership in the Methodist 
Episcopal church, of whose official board 
be is also a member. The name of Luse is 
honored as among the pioneer settlers of the 
district and William II. Lu^e is a worthy 
representatilve of the family. 



WILLI. \M POOLE 



Williiam Poole, whose successful career 
excites the admiration of all who are ac- 
quainted with his history, has since 1895 
been engaged in contracting and building on 
his own account. .At the same time he he- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



513 



longs to that class of typical representative 
American citizens, who. while promoting 
individual prosperity, have contrilauted to 
the general welfare and improvement. He 
has always li\ed in the Mississippi valley, 
his birth having occurred in Danville, Illi- 
nois, August 26, 1863. His father, Lemuel 
Poole, was born in Clark county, Ohio, 
January 11, 1833, ''"c^ l^'S parents, Hiram 
and Elizabeth Poole, were early settlers of 
this county, where they remained until 
called to their final rest. The latter was a 
nati\e of England and by her marriage she 
became the mother of two children, the son 
being Lemuel Poole, the father of our sub- 
ject, while the daughter was Mary, who 
became Mrs. Miller, of Paulding county, 
Ohio. 

Lemuel Poole was educated in the com- 
mion schools, learned the carpenter's trade 
and also served an apprenticeship to the 
gunsmith's and locksmith's trades. He was 
reared in his native county, possessed much 
natural mechanical genius and for a number 
of years was employed as a stationery en- 
gineer. He has traveled quite extensively 
and has followed his trades in Lxliana and 
Illinois, but in 1868 returned to Clark coun- 
ty. Ohio, the place of his nativity. His wife, 
who bore the maiden name of Lucy Nason, 
was also born in this county. November 28, 
1839. Their marriage was celebrated in 
1855 and Airs. Poole died July 12, 1893. 
They were the parents of four children : 
Frank, a carpenter of this city ; Alice, the 
wife of Ed A. Rice, of Li.igan county, Ohio : 
Emma, the wife of James E. Dudley, of 
Springfield; and \\'illiam. The first two 
were born in Clark county, the third in In- 
diana and our subject in Illinois, and all re- 
ceived the advantages (jf a public-school 



education. The father was a soldier of the 
Ci\-il war. serving for three years in de- 
fense of the Union. 

William Poole, whose name introduces 
this sketch, was educated in the public 
schools and when thirteen years of age be- 
gan working at the carpenter's trade under 
Smith Dudley. For several years he was 
employed as a journeyman and then, hav- 
ing thoroughly mastered the business and 
become an expert in his line, he served as 
foreman in the employ of \-arious contract- 
ors and builders. In 1S95 he l:)egan con- 
tracting on his own account and the first 
contract awarded him was a public building 
of the city. He has erected the residences 
of William Blees and of Messrs. Warders 
and John Harshman. He also built the new 
amphitheater and casino in the park, and the 
residence of Guy Coblentz. He has worked 
faithfully at his trade and has met with suc- 
cess, having established an excellent repu- 
tation for honesty and capability. His pat- 
ronage is constantly increasing and he now 
furnishes employment to fifteen men during 
tne building season. 

In 1882, in Springfield. Air. Poole uts 
united in marriage to Miss Effie Hawken, 
a most estimable and cultured lady, who was 
was born in this city, in October, 1863, and 
is a daughter of Henry C. and Sarah ( Kin- 
dell) Hawken, who are yet living here. She 
is the eldest of three children, the others be- 
ing Mabel and Earl K., the latter the leader 
of the Cadet P)and. Airs. Poole is a graduate 
of the public schools here and is a well read 
lady, whose friendly manner and genial dis- 
position render her a fa\-orite in social cir- 
cles, the hospitality of many of the best 
homes of the city being freely extended to 
both Air. and Airs. Poole. This worthv 



514 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



young couple now have two daughters, 
Saidee 'SI. and ilyrtle Irene, both of whom 
are grathiates of the public schools and have 
taken a two years" course in high school. 

Mr. Poole is a stanch advocate of the 
Republican party, has frequently been a dele- 
gate to city and county conventions and in 
1900 he was elected a member of the city 
council for a two years' term, and has taken 
an active interest in promoting the welfare 
of his constituents and in advancing general 
improvements in Springfield. He holds 
membership with the Knights of the Golden 
Eagle, has passed all of the chairs in the 
local order, has served for twelve years as 
master of records and has been captain of 
the uniformed rank since 1892. ]\Irs. Poole 
is a meml>er of the ladies auxiliary of this 
order and she too has been honored with 
many offices and for two years has served 
as grand templar of the Grand Temple of 
Ohio. Mr. and ^Irs. Poole are interested in 
church and charitable work and are highly 
esteemed people of Springfield, whose circle 
of friends is almost coextensive with the cir- 
cle of their acquaintances. 



THOMAS S. R.WXER. 

With a ihcirough knowledge of the build- 
er's art and with a capacity for controlling 
business affairs of large scope in his line, 
Thomas S. Rayner advanced to a leading 
position among the contractors and builders 
of Springfield and his enterprise and dili- 
gence have made him a successful man. He 
was bom in this city August 14, 1852, and 
is of Engli.sh lineage. His paternal grand- 
parents, John and Sarah Rayner, were born, 
reared and married in England. The f' inn- 



er was a cabinet-maker by trade and his ex- 
cellent ability made him noted for his fine 
work. He lived to the advanced age of 
ninety-one years and was buried in Green- 
mount cemetery, while his wife passed away 
at the age of eighty-four years, both dying 
in Springfield. They had but two children, 
and the daughter IMrs. Sarah Coman, died 
in this city in 1902, at the advanced age of 
more than ninety years. 

John Rayner, their son and the father 
of our subject, was born in Yorkshire. Eng- 
land, in 1820 and was a lad of sixteen years 
when with his parents he came to America, 
the family settling at Buffalo. Xew York. 
There he became familiar with the lakes and 
with marine life and traffic, and to prevent 
his becoming a sailor the family removed to 
Springfield. Ohio, in the latter part of the 
'30s. In early manhood John Rayner 
learned the carpenter's trade and followed 
that continuously for forty years, doing a 
general contracting business. He devoted 
!iis time largely to the erection of fine resi- 
dences and many of the leading homes built 
in Springfield during his day stand as monu- 
ments to his skill and handiwork. He wjJs 
also a leading and influential member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church and was one of 
the organizers of the Center Street church 
and was also among those who colonized 
the St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal church, 
and he put forth every effort in his power to 
advance the cause of Christianity and of the 
denomination with which he was affiliated. 
He occupied various offices in the church 
and vvas a licensed exhorter but did not 
regularly engage in that branch of Chris- 
tian activity. In politics he was a Repub- 
lican where matters of state and national 
importance were involved, but at local elec- 
ti'MK lie voted independently. In early man- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



515 



hood he wedded Ann Johnson, who was 
born in Yorkshire. England, in 1821, and 
wlien a cliild came to this country with her 
uiotlier. She was the youngest of three chil- 
ch-en. tlie others being Richard and Mrs. 
Amelia Stickney. The family resided in 
Columbus, Ohio, for several years, and there 
the children were educated but all are now 
deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rayner were 
born the following named : Sarah, the 
widow of Frank Matoon, who resides at 
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Richard, who was 
a soldier of the Civil war and is a machinist 
of this city; Margaret, the wife of A. J. 
Chatfield, who conducts a steam laundry in 
Xenia, Ohio; John, who is living in Roch- 
ester, Pennsylvania; and Thomas S., of this 
I c\-ie\v. The parents were married in Spring- 
field and the children were all born, reared 
and educated here. The old home place of 
the family was built l)y the father at Xo. 
177 West High street. Both he and his 
wife died while visiting their daughter in 
Xenia. but were buried in Springfield. The 
lather passed away in 1898 and the mother's 
death occurred in December, 1901, and she 
was laid by his side in Greenmount ceme- 
tery. Both were earnest Christian people 
of the highest respectability. Generous to 
a fault, benevolent and kindly, they took a 
very active part in church work, Mr. Rayner 
being a leader in advancing the cause of his 
denomination in this community. He was 
a man of strong personality, of marked force 
of character and sterling worth, and he drew 
around him a large circle of friends, who en- 
tertained for him the highest regartl and re- 
spect. He left the impress of his individ- 
ual it_\- not only upon the material develop- 
ment of Springfield but also upon its moral 
progress and improvement, and his memory 



yet remains as a blessed benediction to all 
wdio knew him. 

Thomas S. Rayner was the third child 
and second son in his parents" family. He 
spent his early years in attending the public 
schools and at the age of fourteen he went 
into the country, where he worked upon the 
farm during the summer months, while the 
winter season was spent in attending the 
district schools. At the age of nineteen, 
however, he returned to the city and here 
followed carriage painting for one year, in 
the employ of John A. Shannon. On the ex- 
piration of that period he became an ap- 
prentice to his father at the carpenter's 
trade and worked with him for two years, 
after which he was employed by J. M. Dear- 
dorff for a time. Pie also' worked with others, 
wishing- to learn the business methods of 
other men and broaden his mind and oppor- 
tunities in business affairs. When he had 
mastered the trade he worked as a journey- 
man until 1880, when he opened a general 
jobbing shop at the west end of the city 
building on South Center street. There he 
conducted business for seven years, during 
which time he not only secured a good trade 
but also formed a wide accjuaintance among 
business men, so that his patronage steadily 
increased. He began the general contract- 
ing business on a small scale, for it was nec- 
essary to make a reputation in order to com- 
pete with men older in the btisiness 
tlian himself. Ciradually, however, his 
skill and ability b-ecame recognized, his 
field of labor was extended and he is 
now acknoiwledged to be one of the lead- 
ing contractors and builders of the city, 
emploj'ing ten men during the busy season. 
\Vhen James Johnson, Sr.. was serving as 
postmaster of Springfield. Air. Rayner was 



5 16 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



appointed a mail carrier and also held that 
position under the administration of F. M. 
Hagen and during a part of the term of of- 
fice of P. M. Cartwell, serving in that ca- 
pacity altogether for five years. He then 
returned to his trade which he has followed 
continuously since. He has erected three 
additions to the Bushnell building, also built 
the St. Tohn's Lutheran church, remodeled 
the Second Presbyterian church and has 
erected many residences including A. \\". 
Grant's home, which now adorn the city. 
He was also superintendent of construction 
of the Masonic Home during the entire time 
of its building. He has a thorough knowl- 
edge of his trade in all its departments and 
possesses natural mechanical genius, which 
has been developed through experience and 
labor until Mr. Rayner is a thorough master 
of the builder's art. 

On the 27th of October, 1882, in Spring- 
field, occurred the marriage of Mr. Rayner 
and Miss Mary A. Kizer. who was born in 
German township. Clark county, in 1863. 
Her parents died during her early girlhood 
and she was reared by an aunt. To our 
subject and his wife have been lx)rn two 
children : Xellie G., who was born in 1883 ; 
and Benjamin D., born in 1887. Both have 
received high school educations. Mr. Ray- 
ner purchased a lot and erected a pleasant 
home for his family at \o. 398 West Cedar 
street. He and his wife are members of the 
i\Iethodist Episcopal church, and he be- 
longs to Clark Lodge. Xo. 101, F. & A. M.; 
and Springfield Chapter. R. A. M. In poli- 
tics he is a Democrat and has frequently 
served as a delegate to county and state con- 
ventions and has been a member of the cen- 
tral committee. His entire life has been 
passed in Clark county and with the excep- 
ti'in of the short period devoted to farm 



work he has always lived in Springfield. 
He has a wide acquaintance in his native 
cit}- and that many who have known him 
from boxhood are numbered among his 
stanchest friends is an indication that his 
career has ever been honorable and upright, 
worthy of the regard of those with whom he 
has been associated. The success, which 
crowns persistent labor, guided by sound 
judgment is his. and Springfield now num- 
bers him among its substantial citizens. 



CHARLES O. YEAZELL. 

Death frequently removes from our 
midst those whom we can ill afford to lose, 
but the memory of a useful and upright life 
still Ijears its influence for good in the 
world. \\'idespread and deep was the regret 
that was felt when Charles O. Yeazell wa>^ 
called to his final rest for he was a young 
man of excellent attainments, strong men- 
tality and bright promise, but he left behind 
him an untarnished name and though his 
life record was but brief it reflected credit 
upon a family which has long been an hon- 
ored one in Clark county. 

^[r. Yeazell's parents were John \\'. and 
Sarah (Ferguson) Yeazell. of Xew Moore- 
field, who are represented elsewhere in this 
work. Under the parental roof the subject 
of this review spent the days of his boyhood 
and at the usual age began his education, at- 
tending the Vernon district school. When 
he had mastered the branches of learning 
there taught he entered the Urbana high 
school and was graduated on the completion 
of the regular course. For a time he was 
also a student in Delaware College and in 
Wooster College and when his literary edu- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



5'7 



cation was completed he came to Springfield, 
where he hegan preparing for a profession, 
which lie wisiied to make his life work — 
that of the law. He entered the office of 
Pringle & Johnson, well known attorneys of 
liiis city, and while pnrsuing his law studies 
he also engaged in the real estate business, 
in which he was very successful. He had 
a broad and comprehensive knowledge of 
realty vakies and this enabled him to assist 
his clients in making judicious investments 
in propert}-. He was also very courteous 
and obliging and this won him many friends 
as well as patrons. In 1893 Mr. Yeazell 
was admitted to the bar and opened an 
office in the Gotwald building, in Spring- 
held. It seemed that a bright future was 
opening for him because he had come to the 
liar thoroughly equipped for practice. He 
had largely mastered the principles of the 
science of jurisprudence, had been an earnest 
and discriminating student, possessed more- 
over business ability of a high order and 
added to this was a personality which made 
him popular and gained for him the good 
will and confidence of all with whom he 
was brought in contact. He had been a 
member of the bar for only a brief period, 
however, when his life record was termin- 
ated in death and he passed away on the 
7th of February, 1893, his remains being- 
interred in Fernclift" cemetery. 

On the 1st of, January, 1880, Mr. Yeazell 
liad married Miss Emma Miller, a native of 
Columbia, ^Missouri, and theirs was a happy 
married life. Their union was Ijlessed with 
two children : Le<:)na and Edwin N. The 
latter resides in Columbia, Missouri, where 
lie is engaged in the shoe business with his 
maternal uncle. For nine years after their 
marriage Mr. and ;Mrs. Yeazell resided with 
his parents and then removed to the city of 



S])ringfield. They had gained many friends 
here, enjoying the hospitality of a large num- 
ber of the best homes. 

Mr. "^'eazell held membership in the In- 
dependent Order of Odd Fellows of Ca- 
tawba and witli the encampment of Spring- 
field, and he belonged to the Center Metho- 
dist Episcopal church. In politics a stalwart 
Republican, he was ever active and earnest 
in support of the party and its principles, 
believing it the duty of every American citi- 
zen to stand firmly by the cause wdiich he 
thought would prove of greatest benefit to 
the nation. Having spent his entire life in 
Clark county, Mr. Yeazell was quite widely 
known. Flis business affairs, too, had been 
the means of bringing to him an extended 
acquaintance and with those with whom he 
came in contact he always left a favorable 
impression, because of his gentlemanly de- 
meanor, his unfailing courtesy and defer- 
ence for the opinions of others. He was 
known to be reliable, trustworthy and sin- 
cere and he held friendship inviolable, while 
to his family he was a devoted husband and 
father. Mrs. Yeazell now resides with her 
daughter in a fine home at No. 81 East 
Pleasant street, and she, too, has many 
friends in Springfield. 



HENRY XA^\■.MAX. 

Henry Nawman, deceased, was born in 
German township during the early period of 
Clark county's development and through 
more than sixty years was known as a lead- 
ing and representative citizen of his com- 
munity. His natal day was July 16, 1817, 
his birth occurring upon the farm which is 
still occupied by his widow. His parents 



5!8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



were Thomas and Catherine (Baker) Xaw- 
man, who were pioneer settlers of German 
township and aided in laying broad and deep 
the foundation for the present prosperity 
and progress of this portion of Ohio. Henry 
Nawman acquired a good common school 
education, pursuing his studies through the 
winter months when his services were not 
needed on the home farm. He lived in the 
usual manner of farmer lads of that period, 
taking his place as a hand in the fields at an 
early age, and thus he gained a broad and 
practical experience of farm work. 

On the 29th of March, 1855, Mr. Naw- 
man married Miss Ingebee Jane Rhonemus, 
of Clark county, who was born in Clinton 
county, Ohio, August 17, 1834, a daughter 
of William and ]\Iatilda (Clark) Rhonemus. 
Her father was born and reared in Clinton 
county, while her mother's birth oicurred in 
Virginia, where she remained until she at- 
tained to womanhood. Both were well ed- 
ucated people and successfully engaged in 
teaching in early life. After their marriage 
the father turned his attention to farming, 
while Mrs. Rhonemus continued her work as 
a teacher for a numJier of jears. Renun- 
ing to Indiana i\Ir. Rhonemus purchased 
land there, but on account of poor health he 
could not till his fields and therefore re- 
turned to Clinton county, Ohio, whence he 
afterward came to Clark county. Mrs. 
Nawman had resided in this county for about 
two years prior to her marriage. She was 
taken as a bride to the home farm upon 
which she now resides, Mr. Nawman having 
inherited about seventy acres of land here. 
His parents made their home with the young 
couple until called to their final rest. As the 
years passed, children to the number of 
twelve were added to the family. Clara is 
now the wife of Tohn Kunkle. nf Clark coun- 



ty, and they have eight children. Samuel 
G. is married and has one child. Thomas 
wedded Alice H inkle, by whom he had four 
ch.ildren, and for his second wife he chose 
]\Ir5. Mary Yerkle, ncc Baker. Louisa died 
at the age of fourteen years and six months. 
William is living in the west. Mary died 
at the age of fifteen years. Webster mar- 
ried Mrs. Elizabeth Henkle, in Donovan, and 
they have three children. Catherine became 
the wife of Charles Wty and has one child. 
;\Iatilda married Albert Greene and with 
their two children they reside in Clark coun- 
ty. Amanda is the wife of Jesse Belt, of 
Springfield, and has two children. Andrew 
married Leah Harris and they have four 
children. Henry wedded Emma Collison 
and they have two children. 

In his political views Mr. Nawman was 
a Democrat in early life, but subsequently 
became a Republican and was fearless in 
defense of his honest convictions. He was 
a man of medium height, heavy build, with 
light hair and blue eyes. Being of a 
rather reserved nature he made friends slow- 
ly, but he never lost one, and his family and 
friends knew him as a pleasant, genial gen- 
tleman, of generous disposition. He was al- 
ways willing to aid in good and worthy 
causes and the sterling traits of his manhood 
were such as are well worthy of emulation. 
}fe carried <>n farm work until his death, 
which occurred June 24, 1870. When he 
died there were twelve children in the fam- 
ily, the eldest bein'g little more than fourteen 
years of age, while the youngest was only 
three weeks old. The mother, with brave 
and resolute spirit, kept them all together 
until they were grown, giving to each a fair 
common school education. It was almost 
a herculean task and her neighbors predict- 
ed that she could not do it. but by great per- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



519 



severance and untiring labor she accom- 
plislied it and she certainly deserves the grat- 
itude and the love of her children for what 
she did for them. She is a most estimable 
lady and has furnished to the world a worthy 
example of devoted and self-sacrificing- 
motherhood. 



JOSEPH E. HEFFELEIXGER. 

The large business interests capably 
controlled and n:anaged by Josq^h E. Hef- 
felfinger indicate his business capacity and 
executive force and the financial reward of 
his labor has been adequate, placing him 
among the men of affluence in Springfield. 
His positioin is that of manager of the Union 
Central Life Insurance Company, of Cin- 
cinnati, for the central Ohio district, his 
offices being in the Bushnell building. 

Air. Heffeifinger was born in Shippens- 
burg, Pennsylvania, October 19, 1844, and 
a S041 Oif William and Margaret (Bistle) 
Heffeifinger. The father, also a native O'f 
the Keystone state, was in the county where- 
in his son's birth occurred, and by occupa- 
tion he was a farmer. Being left motherless 
when only ele\-en years of age, Joseph E. 
Heffeifinger started out to make his own 
way in the world twoi }-ears later, having 
previous to this time attended the public 
schools, where he acquired a good practical 
education. He made his way to Kenton, 
Hardin county, Ohio, wliere he had a broth- 
er living, and there he worked as a farm 
hand, at first receiving only five dollars per 
u'onth. He was thus employed when he 
attemjited to enlist soon after the breaking 
fHit of the Civil war, but was rejected, hoiw- 
e\-er, on account of light weight. At the 
time of the Morgan raid in Ohio he enlist- 



ed for six mooths and was located at Camp 
Dennison. After his company was disband- 
ed Mr. Heffeifinger accepted a position as 
sutler's clerk in the Army oi the James, 
and was later in the Army of the Po-tomac 
until the close of the war. 

Mr. Pleft^elfinger returned to Kenton, 
Ohio, in 1865, and in the spring of 1868 he 
liccame interested in the insurance business 
at West liberty, representing the Union 
Central Life Insurance Company, of Cincin- 
nati, soon after its organization. His ca- 
pability in this line was soon recoignized and 
he was promotecl to a general agency. Later, 
in 1876, he removed toi Spring-field tO' as- 
sume the management of the affairs of the 
company in central Ohio and has since con- 
tinued in that position, making thirty-four 
j^ears' service with the same company, dur- 
ing which time o\'er thirty million dollars' 
worth of business has passed through his 
hands. In point of service he is today the 
oldest general agent m the company, and it 
is needless toi say that he has the entire con- 
fidence and high regard of thei officials, as 
his long retention in the important pO'Sition. 
he now fills plainly indicates that fact. 

In 1870 Mr. Heff'elfinger was united in 
marriage to Aliss Dora McDonald at West 
Liljcrty. Ohio. Her father, ]\Iajoir James 
McDonald, was of Scotch nativity and 
prior to the Civil war was engaged in the 
wholesale dry goods business. During that 
strug-gle he served as division quartermas- 
ter in the Army of the Cumberland, and 
was also on the staffs of General Stedman 
and General Thomas. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Heffeifinger were Ijorn four children, name- 
ly : Maud, now the wife of C. J. McDiar- 
mid, an attorney at Cincinnati; Nellie E., 
who died in 1901 : Mabel J., the wife of Har- 
rv E. Bauer; and Gweiidolvn, now Mrs. 



520 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Jolm A. Bcwkwalter, of Springfield. The 
wife and mother died in 1877, and in June, 
J 879, Mr. Hcft'eltinger married her sister, 
Miss Gertrude McDonald. The family hold 
membership in the High Street Methodist 
Episcopal church and <)ccup\- quite a promi- 
nent position in social circles. Fraternally 
Mr. Heffelrtnger is a prominent IMason, be- 
longing tOi Clark Lodge, Xo. 101, F. & A. 
M. ; Springfield Chapter, Xo. 48, R. A. M. ; 
and Palestine Commander}', Xo. 33. K. T. 
He is a m.an of marked business and exe- 
cutive ability, of keen percqition and un- 
l)Ounded enterprise, his success in life being 
due entirely to his own efforts, and he de- 
.^■cr\es prominent mention among the lead- 
ing and representative citizens of this sec- 
tion of the state. 



HARRY S. MELLIXGER. 

Harry S. Mellinger, who is successfully 
carrying on fanring and stock-raising in 
Springfield township, four miles from the 
city of Springfield, was born on the home- 
stead where he yet resides in the year 1861, 
his parents being John H. and Rachel Mell- 
inger. His paternal grandfather was Jacob 
Mellinger, a native of Pennsylvania, whence 
he emigrated westward to Clark county, 
Ohio, locating on the farm which is now 
the home of our subject. In his family were 
four children : Mary who is now living in 
Springfield ; John H. ; Martha, the wife of 
Montgomery Patten, of Springfield; and 
Jacob, also of that city, who married Ella 
Wheeler and has one child, Frank. 

John H. Mellinger, the father of our 
subject, was a native of Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvania, born in 1837, and there spent 



the days of his childhood and youth. When 
about six years old he accompanied his par- 
ents on their removal to Ohio, taking up 
his abode upon a farm in Mad River town- 
ship, two miles southwest of the home of 
Harry S. Alellinger, and after his marriage 
purchased the farm on which our subject 
now resides. He wedded Mrs. Rachel 
(Line) Rosser, and unto them were born 
five children, namely; Harry S., of this 
review; Emma Rosser, the wife of David 
Heer, of Springfield, by whom she has 
one child, Harry; Alartha, the wife of Har- 
ry Hedges, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio; 
John, who is living in Springfield; and 
Annie, who married Robert Mills and had 
three children, Robert, Rachel and Ralph. 
Her death occurred on the 6th of May, 
1 90 1. The mother now resides in Spring- 
field, but the father died August 27, 1896. 
For many years he was engaged in stock 
buying and was an extensive stock shipper. 
He spent much of his time uiwn the road 
and he thus became widely known as an 
upright, honorable business man, who 
gained the confidence and respect of all with 
whom he came in contact. He never for- 
got a face nor a name and coukl always 
remember a man whom he hatl once met. 
Genial and courteous in manner, he made 
a host of warm friends wherever he went, 
and was held in the highest regard liy all 
who knew him. 

On the old homestead Harry S. Mell- 
inger was reared and the place is therefore 
endeared to him through the associations of 
his boyhood as well as of later years. It 
was his playground in youth, his training 
ground for the practical duties of life, and 
it has been the scene of his activities 
through manhood. He has always engaged 
ir raising st(X-k and in general farming on 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



this place, which comprises one hundred and 
sixty acres of good land located on the 
Fairfield pike four miles from Springfield. 

Mr. Mellinger was united in marriage 
to Miss Emma Flenner, of Hamilton coun- 
ty, Ohio, a daughter of Charles and Cora 
Flenner, who now reside in Hamilton, 
where her father was at one time engaged 
in the livery business. Our subject and his 
wife have one child, Harry Flenner, born 
June 30, 1902. 

In his political views Mr. Mellinger is 
a RqDublican and his religious faith is in- 
■dicated by his membership in the Methodist 
church. Frank and jovial, his genial na- 
ture has won him many friends. He is now 
in comfortable financial circumstances and 
io recognized as one of the enterprising- 
farmers of the community, well liked by 
all who know him. 



WILLIAM C. STEWART. 

^\'ilIiam C. Stewart, a large land owner 
now living a retired life at No. 325 South 
Limestone street in Springfield, where he is 
enjoying the fruits of long years of diligent 
labor, represents one of the old and honored 
pioneer families of Clark county. He 'was 
born on the old homestead in Green town- 
ship October 2y, 1835, and is a son of John 
T. and Ann (Elder) Stewart, in whose fam- 
ily he was the ninth in order of birth. His 
boyhood days were spent in the usual man- 
ner of farmer lads. He worked in the fields 
and meadows and attended the common 
schools. His father died when the son was 
fourteen years of age, but the latter remained 
at home with his mother until he had at- 
tained his majority. He then took posses- 



sion of the old home farm and cared for his 
mother until a short time before her death. 
In his youth he gained a practical experience 
of farm work and was thus well qualified 
to carry on agricultural pursuits on his own 
account when he had reached the age of 
manhood. He inherited one hundred and 
twenty-nine acres of land from his father's 
estate and for several years after reaching 
his majority he remained on the old home- 
stead, carrying on general farming. To his 
original tract of land he added from time to 
time as he succeeded in his operations and 
he now owns in one body over five hundred 
acres of very valuable and prriductive land 
in Green township. Clark county, and in 
Greene county. 

On the 9th of September, 1880, Mr. 
Stewart was united in marriage to Elizabeth 
Theodosia Sellers, of Cedarville township, 
Greene county, Ohio, where she was born. 
Her parents were Albert and Harriet (John- 
son) Sellers. By her marriage she has be- 
come the mother of one daughter. Hazel 
Marie, who was born in 1888 and is now 
a student in the public schools of Springfield. 
In 1895 our subject and his wife removed 
to the city, where Mr. Stewart has since lived 
a retired life. They came to Springfield in 
order to provide their daughter with better 
educational privileges and have gained many 
friends during their residence here. 

Mr. Stewart is recognized as a man of 
strong- purpose and inflexible honesty and 
has enjoyed the unqualified respect of his 
neighbors. His advice has often been sought 
on important business arising in the vicinity 
of his home. In politics he is a Republican 
rnd he cast his first vote for John C. Fre- 
mont only about twelve days after he had 
attained his majority. He is a charter mem- 
ber of Clifton Lodge, No. 669, K. of P. At 



524 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the time of the Civil war he joined what 
was known as the "Squirrel Hunters," a 
company called to protect Cincinnati from 
^Morgan's men, but was only on duty for 
ten days. For several years he was a mem- 
ber of the state militia. In 1876 he attend- 
ed the centennial celebration held in Phila- 
tlelphia. He has always been a careful and 
broad reader and is a well informed man. He 
has been interested in church work and in 
public movements for the general good, has 
followed the even tenor of his way and by 
an ujjright life has commanded the respect 
(if his friends and neighbors. 



LOUIS I-. OVER. 



Louis F. Over is a young man of keen 
foresight, strong determination and execu- 
tive ability, whose efforts in the business 
world have 'been of a nature to promote the 
general prosperity as well as his individual 
success. He is now an active factor in manu- 
facturing circles in Springlield. Ohio, being 
the secretary and treasurer f>f the Miller In- 
proved Gas Engine Compan\-. ^Ir. Over 
was Ixxn in Bellaire, Belmont county, Ohio, 
May 24, 1868, and is a son of C. H. 0\er, 
whose birth occurred in Germany about 
1842. Widi his parents the father of our 
subject came to America when a child, the 
family settling in Wheeling, West Virginia. 
The grandfather was a iranufacturer of 
shovels in Germany and both he and his wife 
spent their remaining days in Wheeling. In 
their family were seven children, of whom 
two sons and a daughter reached years of 
maturity and are still living. Frederick was 
a .«wldier of the Civil war and was incarcer- 
ated in Libby prison for eleven months. He 



responded to President Lincoln's first call 
for troops and remained in the army un- 
til the close of the war. He now resides in 
]\Iuncie, Indiana. A daughter, Louise Joy, 
is a resident of Martin's Ferry, Ohio. 

The father of aur subject received but 
limited educational privileges, but prospered 
in Inisiness and is now living in honorable re- 
tirement from labor in Muncie, Indiana. For 
a numljer' of years he was engaged in the 
manufacture of glass. After his marriage 
he came to .Ohio and established a glass fac- 
tory in Bellaire. where he continued until 
18S8, when he removed to Indiana and there 
engaged in the same line of manufacturing 
on a ver}- e.xtensive scale, carr}-ing on busi- 
ness successfully until 1900, when he dis- 
posed of his holdings and has since lived re- 
tired. He is a self-made man and deserves 
great -credit for what he has accomplished. 
At the time uf the Civil war he sei-A-ed in 
the Union army as a non-commissioned offi- 
cer of the First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. He 
has also taken an active interest in religious 
work and is a valued member of the Presby- 
terian church. Qiarleg H. Over was united 
in miirriage to Matilda Gayman, who was 
born in Wheeling in 1846. Unto them have 
been Ijorn three children, of whom two are 
li\ing, one daughter having died in early 
life. The others are : Mrs. Dr. A. K. Smith, 
of Muncie, Indiana, and Louis I-"., of this 
review. 

Louis F. Over, whose name introduces 
this record, obtained a comn:on school educa- 
tion and attended Washington and Jef- 
ferson College, at Washington, Pennsyl- 
vania, largely studying scientific branches. 
He was graduated in 1887 and then 
Ijecame connected with glass manufactur- 
ing, as iiis father's asstxriate in busi- 
ness. This relation was maintained 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



525 



until the father's retirement from active 
business life and during that period they 
built several factories in Indiana, Mr. Over 
of this review, having the n':anagement of 
the practical glass making. He remained in 
the capacity of superintendent until 1901; 
and in that year he came to- Springfield, 
where he purchased an interest in the Aliller 
Improved Gas Engine Company, of \\hich 
he has since been secretary and treasurer. 
A disastrous fire occurred in that year, in 
which their plant was destro^-ed, but tliey 
immediately rebuilt a larger and more com- 
plete plant at the comer oi Fair and Plenn 
streets. The plant is de^''o■ted exclusively to. 
the manufacture of large gas engines and 
the business is constantly increasing in vol- 
ume, importance and magnitude, having be- 
come one of the leading industries of this 
city. 

In 1890, in Muncie, Indiana, Mr. Over 
was united in marriage to Miss Adah Kirby, 
who was born in Muncie, and is a daughter 
O'f John M. Kirby, a wholesale lumber mer- 
chant of that city. In this family were four 
children, three daughters and a son. Mr. 
and Mrs. Over now have one son, Charles 
H., who was 'born in 1897, and they reside 
in a modern and attractive home at the cor- 
ner of East High street and Forest avenue. 
Mr. Over is a member of Delaware Lodge, 
F. & .\. M., of Muncie, and also belongs to 
the Benevolent & Protective O'rder of Elks, 
and to the United Commercial Travelers' As- 
sociation. He has always been identified 
with manufacturing interests, having spent 
about twenty years in glass making. He has 
a thorough understanding of the great m.e- 
chanical principles \\hich underlie the work, 
is able to superintend much of his work 
therefoi"e, and at the same time is giving his 
attention in an exclusive manner to the con- 



trol of the business management of the 
house with which he is identified. He pos- 
sesses energy, discrimination, laudable am- 
bition and perseverance, and these equalities 
prove a safe foundation upon which tOi rear 
the superstructure of business succeess. 



COLONEL GEORGE SIXTZ. 

To have fouglit for one's country, to have 
faced danger and death on the battle-field 
forms a record well worthy of perpetuation. 
He whose name introduces this record 
fought in the service O'f his country and true 
tO' the flag of the Union for almost three 
years he aided his country in her struggle 
to suppress the rebellion of the south and to 
continue the nation one and undi\'ided. 

Colonel Sintz was born in Springfield 
township, Clark county, in 1846 and is a 
son of Peter and Hester A. (Shellenbarger) 
Sintz. His paternal grandfather, Peter 
Sintz, came from Virginia to Ohio in an 
early day, locating oui a farm which is now 
the home of our subject. There he owned 
about two thousand acres of land, on which 
he erected two gristmills and two sawmills, 
and one of each is still standing. He took 
an active part in the early development and 
progress of this portion of the state and was 
a leading and influential residait oi his com- 
munity. 

Peter Sintz, Jr., the father of oru' sub- 
ject, was born and reared about a mile from 
the Colonel's homestead. After arriving at 
years of m^aturity he wedded Hester A. Shel- 
lenbarger, by whom' he had four children, 
nam.ely: George; Clark, who is living in 
Grand Rapids, Michigan; Mary E., who is 
a resident of Zion Citv, Illinois: and Mrs. 



526 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Clara Halloway, who is living in Spring- 
field, Ohio. 

The early boyhood days of Colonel Sintz 
were spent in his parents' home, but when 
onlv fifteen years of age he offered his serv- 
ices to his countn% imbued with a patriotic 
desire to aid in the preservation of the 
Union. It was in 1862 that he joined Com- 
pany A, of the Xinety-fourth Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry, with which he served until 
sixteai years of age, when he was dis- 
charged on account of ill health. The 
following year, however, he again joined 
the army, liecoiring a member of the 
Sixteenth Ohio Independent Batter}- of 
Light Artillen-. He reir.ained with 
tliat comn.and until the close of the war and 
was mustered out in 1S65. He took part in 
the battle of Tate's Ford, near Lexington, 
Kentucky, on the 8th of October, 1862, the 
day on which he was sixteen years of age. 
He organized the Springfield Light Artillery 
in 1883, this command afterward becoming 
the Fifth Battery. He commanded this bat- 
tery for fi'.e years and when it was organized 
as a regiment of artillery he was elected lieu- 
tenant colonel, serving for four years in that 
capacity. On account of ill health he then 
resigned and went to the west, where he re- 
mained for about eleven years. On the ex- 
piration of that period he returned to Ohio 
to take charge of and manage his father's, 
estate. 

Colonel .Sintz was united in marriage to 
Miss Martha E. Latimer, a daughter of John 
Latimer, who was one of the first sherilifs 
of Clark county, Ohio. Her mother's maiden 
name was Martha Brown, and her paraT^.^ 
came from the north of Ireland, locating in 
this section of Ohio. Unto the Colonel and 
his wife has been born one daughter, Aimee 
Olive. 



The Colonel was a men-.ber of Stqihens 
Post, G. A. R., of Seattle, Washington, and 
a charter member of ;Mitchell Post, of 
Springfield. In his political views he is a 
Republican and keeps well informed on the 
questions and issues of the day, but has never 
been an aspirant for office. Well known 
throughout his native county, he has a wide 
acquaintance here, and among these are many 
friends who esteem him highly for his genu- 
ine worth. His name is certainly deserving 
of a place on the roll of honor of the Civil 
war. 



GEORGE FOLLRATH. 

George Follrath deserves great credit 
for the admirable way in which he has built 
up the fire department of Springfield, and he 
is today the valued chief engineer of that or- 
ganization. He has' realized that by reason 
of the rapid growth and development of the 
city, it should have a n:etroix>litan fire sys- 
tem, one adequate to the demands of a place 
of its size, and to this end he has labored 
continuously and effectively for a number of 
years. 

Mr. Follrath is one of Ohio's native sons, 
his birth having occurred in Springfield, No- 
vember 23, 1852. His father, Henry Foll- 
rath, was lx)rn in Hesse Darmstadt, Ger- 
many, and there pursued liis education. When 
a young m.an, prior to his marriage, he came 
direct to this city and was employed in 
various lines of business. During the latter, 
years of his residence here he followed un- 
dertaking, being thus engaged at the tinie 
of his death, which occurred when he was 
si.xty-two years of age. He had married 
Anna B. Seifert, who was also a native of 
the fatherland and i- n.'w living at the ripe 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



527 



old age of eighty-twO' years. She came from 
Germany to America in 1848, and like her 
husband was educated in the common 
schools of that country. Untd Mr. and Mrs! 
Fo'llrath were born five chihlreii, one of 
whom died in infancy, \\ hile those living are ; 
George; Flora, the wife of S(|uire Riegle, 
of this city; Henn,-, who is engaged in the 
commission business on West High street; 
and William D., who' is foreman for Foil- 
rath & Company, tinners. The children were 
all provided with good educational advan- 
tages in the public schools ol Springfield. 

At the usual age George Follrath began 
his education, which he continued until he 
was thirteen years of age, when he entered 
upon an apprenticeship tO' the carriage mak- 
er's trade under the direction of the firm of 
E. i!l- J. Driscoll. He remained with that 
house for a time and then went into business 
with the H. Field ^Manufacturing Company, 
as a partner They engaged in the manufac- 
ture of buggies and carriages until the com- 
pany was finally merged intOi the Field- 
Johnson Carriage Company, the business 
being thus continued from 1875 until 1890. 
The firni was among the best known in 
this part of the state and carried on a large 
and profitable business until 1890, when the 
plant was sold. Mr. Follrath acted as fore- 
man of the paint department. He was a 
mechanic of good ability and from a humble 
position gradually worked his way upward. 
He started in business for himself on West 
JMain street in the manufacture and repair 
of carriages, and in the undertaking had 
to compete with machine-made goods. He 
succeeded in, securing a good patronage, how- 
ever, and continued the biisiness from 1890 
until the ist of September, 1895, when he 
sold out and was appointed by the board of 
police and fire commissioners as chief of the 



fire department of Springfield. In 1875 he 
had joined the paid fire department when the 
■call S3fSteiTii was in use and continued as a 
call man until 1887, when he was made as- 
sistant chief, continuing in that position un- 
til promoted to the position of chief of the 
department. Thus he gradually advanced, 
until he now stands at the head of this im- 
portant service in the city. During his re- 
lation with the fire department he has been 
engaged in fighting some \ery large and 
serious conflagrations, but he has sound 
judgn:ent, executi\'e force and is a man that 
is cooil and collected in times of danger, 
and this has enabled him to so direct the 
men and use the apparatus in a manner that 
has been most effective in quelling the fiery 
element. He has thirty-five men under his 
supervision, sevai engine stations and twen- 
ty-five horses in the department. In early 
life he had been a member of the Ro\'er vol- 
unteer fire company. Mr. Follrath h.as been 
instrumental in developing the present metro- 
politan fire system o-f Springfield and its ex- 
cellent improvements. The discipline of the 
men he has maintained at a high standard 
and the department is a credit to the city and 
its chief. In the building up of the pension 
fund Mr. Follrath has taken a very active 
part and there is now a fund of twenty-five 
thousand dollars and five men upon the pen- 
sion list. He has also instituted and built up 
three of the fire stations of the city. 

On the 1st of June, 1876, occurred 
the marriage of Mr. Follrath and ;\Iiss Kate 
Keller, who was born in Fredericksburg, 
^Maryland, and was educated in Dayton, 
where her father, John Keller, located 
with the family in her early girlhood. 
Two children have been born of this union, 
but the daughter died in infancy. Clarence 
W., born in 1879, is at home with hi^ father. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Mr. I'-QJlrath is a memljer of Clark Lodge, 
F. & A. M. ; Springfield Chapter, R. A. M. ; 
Springfield Council, R. & S. M. ; and Pales- 
tine Coniniandery, K. T. He is also a maii- 
ber of the International Association of Fire 
Engineers and Mas the vice-president for one 
year. He takes an active part in all nf it.> 
conventions and is widely known to firemen 
throughout the countr\'. Both he and his 
wife are members of St. John's German Lu- 
theran church, and to church and charitable 
woirk he is a liberal contributor, and in mat- 
ters of citizenship he is progressive and pub- 
lic-spirited. He now resides at No. 95 West 
Columbia street, where he purchased land 
and built for himself and family a pleasant 
home. Springfield acknowledges its indebt- 
edness to his efforts in her 'Mialf in pro- 
tecting the city from great losses of ])roperty 
and life through fire and his lators in this 
direction certainly make him worthy of pub- 
lic confidence and regard. 



HEXRV FOLLRATH. 

Henry Follrath has been engaged in the 
comn.ission business in Springfield for a 
longer period than any ofher man connected 
with this line of trade. He has prospered in 
his undertakings and is today ome of die men 
of aflluence in the city, respected and hon- 
ored for what he has accomplished and the 
manner in which he has gained his creditable 
position in trade circles. 

He was born in Springfield on Christ- 
mas day of 1855, a son of Hairy and Anna 
B. (Seifert) Follrath. His father was born 
in Germany in January, 1825. The grand- 
father was a fanner by occupation and un- 
der the parental roof Henry I'-ollrath, Sr., 



remained, attending school during his youth, 
and also learning the cabinet-maker's trade. 
On crossing the Atlantic to America he land- 
ed at New York and thaice made his wax- 
to Pittsburg, where he remained for a time. 
In 1849 he arrived in Springfield, where he 
was employed at his trade for a time, while 
later be began business for himself. He also 
engaged in the undertaking business and 
conducted a grocery store in Springfield. He 
was united in marriage in May, 1850, to 
Miss Mary Barbara Seifert, whose birth oc- 
curred in Germany in 1822. She came to 
America in 1846, making her way to Spring- 
field, Ohio, and here she has since lived. Sbe 
has seen the city grow from a mere liam- 
let to a thri\-ing metropolitan center of over 
forty thousand inhabitants. She was a 
daughter of Jacob and Barbara Seifert. 
Her father was a farmer in Germany and 
was also a wagon-maker. Both he and his 
wife lived and died at the old home place 
in their nati\c land, and on crossing the 
ocean Mrs. Follrath joined her brother. 
Adani Seifert, who was engaged in the hotel 
business on b'ast Main street in Springfield. 
I'nto Mr. and Mrs. Follrath were born 
fi\c children: George, who is now chief of 
the fire dqrartment, and is represented on 
another page of this work ; Flora, who is the 
wife of Squire Riegle and resides in Spring- 
field, having one daughter, Verna, who is 
now the wife of Robert Netts, of this city, 
by whom she has one child, Lucile; Henry, 
of this re\iew ; Cliarles, who died in child- 
hcK-d ; and William D., who ccMnpletes the 
family. He conducts a tinning establishment 
in Springfield, in which city he was born De- 
cem!x;r 11, i86o. He was educated in the 
schools here and leanied his trade here. He 
is now a men.ber of the firm known as the 
Furman & Follrath Company, doing busi- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



529 



nes? at No. 93 West ]\Iain street. He mar- 
rietl Miss Clara E. Shillings, a native of 
Springfield, and a, daughter of Benjamin 
and Lena Shillings, both residents of this 
city. They have one child, Benjamin. 

Henry Follrath, the father of our subject, 
erected a brick residence in Springfield, and 
also has two other homes here. He bor- 
rowed the monej' in order to gain a start in 
life, but with determined purpose he steadi- 
ly worked his way upward, achieving suc- 
cess through earnest and persevering ef- 
fort. His death occurred May 13, 1888, 
and he was laid to rest in Ferncliff cemetery. 
He was a member of the German Bene\-olent 
Society and of the St. John's Evangelical 
German church. From early life dependent 
upon his own resoinxes, all he achieved was 
the direct result of his own labo'r. and he 
\\-on not only a comfortable competence but 
also tlie confidence and good will of his 
fellow men, because his life was in .'iccord 
with honorable, manl}^ principles. 

Henry Follrath, whose name introduces 
this record, is indebted to the public schools 
of Springfield for the educational privileges 
which he enjoyed. He continued his school 
work until fifteen years of age, wdien he Ijc- 
gan to learn the trade of a painter and fol- 
lowed that piu'suit for six }ears. He after- 
ward engaged in clerking iofc ten years, 
spending six or seveii years as a clerk in a 
retail fniit store. He then began business for 
himself by opening a wholesale commission 
house on High street in 1888. He remained 
at that place for a year and then removed to 
Market street, but soon returned to High 
street, where he has since been located. His 
store extends through to North ]\Iarket 
Place, occupying two store rooms facing on 
each street. He is today the oldest commis- 
sion merchant in the business in this citv. . 



He started on a small scale, but has grad- 
ually enlarged his stock to meet the groiw- 
ing deanands of his patronage, and today 
controls an extensive trade. He is well 
known throughout this portion of Ohio' as a 
representative, successful and reliable busi- 
ness man, who maintains pleasant relations 
with his patrons and at all times is straight- 
forward in his dealings. 

On the 29th of October, 1879, Mr. Foll- 
rath was united in marriage tO' Miss Rebecca 
Circle, a native of this county and a sister 
of Airs. A. K. Halm. She is a member of 
the First Lutheran church and is a most es- 
timable lady. Mr. Follrath is identified with 
the Knights of Pythias fraternity and with 
the Knights of Khorassan and in his politi- 
cal views he is a Democrat. His life record is 
in contradistinction to^ the old adage that a 
propliet is ncrt without honor save in his own 
country, for in the city of his birth and 
among his own people Mr. Follrath has at- 
tained an en\-iable position because of his 
success. He .possesses excellent business 
qualifications, combined with the fitting sense 
of honor in all trade tranactions, and to- 
dav he is enjoying an extensive business, 
vvliich has returned to him well merited af- 
finence. 



JESS M. INIARSHALL. 

Jess M. Marshall, who is occupying the 
po'siLion of letter carrier in Springfield, was 
born near Cedarville, in Greene county, Ohio, 
September 6, 1866. and is a soai of George 
W. and Eliza J. (Todd) Marshall. The 
nother makes her home with her son Jess, 
who is the younger of her two children. The 
daughter, Minnie, is the wife of Andrew 
Fink, who resides-at No. 195 East street, in 



530 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Spring-field. In 1871 the mother and her 
children came to Clark county, settling in 
Pitchin, and the subject of this review was 
educated in the district schools. When elev- 
en years of age, however, he left the sch(X)l- 
room arid 'began working on a farm, being 
tlius employed until 1884, when he came to 
Springfield. Here he found employment in 
the East street shops as a packer. From \vf. 
early youth he had been dependent upon his 
own resources and is therefore a self-made 
man. He deserves much credit for what lie 
has done in the way of achieving a compe- 
tence. He remained in the shops for five 
years and in the meantime learned the meat 
cutting trade and worked for Mr. Fink, who 
now conducts a meat market. In 1890, how- 
ever, Mr. Marshall abandoned that line of 
business, having been appointed by P. M- 
Cartn-.ell, then postmaster at Springfield, to 
llie position of letter carrier. He has since 
acted in this capacity and saving his earn- 
ings he has placed his money in that safest 
of all investments — real estate — and is now 
the otwner of. considerable valuable land 
which is tlie visible evidence of his life of in- 
dustry. He resided on Clifton street until 
Decen ber, 1900, when he removed to his 
farm just outside of the city in Green town- 
ship. He liad purchased this property, coin- 
prising eighty-two acres, in 1896. He rents 
the land and maintains his residence upon 
the place, having there a very pleasant and 
comfortable home. 

On the 17th of September, 1890, Mr. 
Marshall was united in marriage to Georgia 
E. Shocknessy, who was born in Green tow-n- 
ship, June 10. 1868, a daughter of Michael 
Shocknessy, who resides at No. 532 Clifton 
street, Springfield, and is a. retired farmer. 
Unto our subject and his wife have been 
born three children: Florence E., born in 



189 1 ; Robert \V., born in 1893 ; and Edgar 
H., bom in 1897. They are now students 
in Hopewell school. 

In his i»litical affiliations Mr. Marshall 
IS a stalwart Republican, but has never had 
any desire to fill public office. He is con- 
nected with the civil service and by reason 
of his merit and ability is continued in the 
go\ernment ix>sition which he now occupies. 
He is a meir.ber of the National Union, an 
insurance organization, and also Ijelongs to 
the National Association of Letter Carriers. 
]Mr. Marshall has a wide acquaintance in 
Springfield and throughout the surrounding 
countr)' and his social manner and obliging- 
disposition have gained for him many warm 
friends. He deserves great credit for what 
he has accomplished in life and his success 
has come as a direct result of his own laliors. 



CH.ARLES ROUSH. 

Charles Roush, who is engaged in farm- 
ing and dairying in Green township, was 
born in Springfield township, Clark county, 
April I, 1866, his parents being J. M. and 
Catherine (Otstot) Roush. He was reared 
uix)n the farm, acquiring a common sclnwl 
education, and reniained at home until the 
time of his marriage, which imix}rtant event 
in his life occurred on the 24th of Novem- 
ber, 1896, the lady of his choice being Miss 
Elizalxrth Victoria Bosley, of Springfield. 
She was bom in Harrison county, Ohio, Au- 
gust 10, 1874, and is a daughter of James 
and Mary Ellen (Ralston) Bosley, both of 
whom are natives of the same county and are 
now living retired in Cleveland. 

After his marriage Mr. Roush ren:oved 
tc"> the farm uix>n which he i< now living. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



531 



having there ninety acres of g-ood land, 
which is attractive and well improved. He 
has placed his farm under a high state of 
cultivation, and in addition tO' general agri- 
cultural work he is engaged in dairying, 
keeping a number oi co-ws of a good grade 
for this purpose. Everything about his place 
is neat and attractive in appearance and the 
products of his dairy and of his fields find 
a ready sale on the market. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Roush has been born 
one son, Clarence Kay, born November 25, 
1897. Politically IMr. Roush is a Republi- 
can, but he is not an office seeker. He is a 
self-made mian, having acquired all that he 
possesses through his own efforts. He and 
his wife are valued residents of Green town- 
ship, taking an interest in the progress and 
welfare of their community, and enjoy the. 
regard and respect of tlieir friends and ac- 
quaintances. 

It will be interesting in this connection 
to note something of the family history of 
Mrs. Roush. James Bosley, her father, was 
born in Cross Creek township, Harrison 
county, October 8, 1841, his parents being 
Thomas and Sarah (Hilbert) Bosley, the 
former born neai" Baltimore, Mainland, 
where he grew to manhood and was married. 
In 1832 he emigrated westward to Ohio. 
The family is of English descent, the grand- 
father of Jam.es, Samuel Bosley, haA^ng been 
born in England, whence he crossed the 
briny deep to Maryland with his father, Init 
the latter afterward returned to Eng- 
land and there spent his remaining days. 
The grandfather came to Ohio, but subse- 
quently went to \\'est . Virginia, and his 
death occurred near Wheeling. He had the 
following children : Rachel, Jacob, Eliza- 
beth, Sarah, ]\Iary, Samuel and Thomas. 

Thomas Boslev died in Harrison coun- 



ty, Ohio. He was a shoemaker by trade and 
in order to provide for his family followed 
that pursuit for many years. He had ten 
children who reached' years of maturity, but 
onl}- three of the number are yet living. Amos 
is a contractor and builder residing in St. 
Louis, Missouri, while Greenbury is living 
in East St. Louis, and is also a contractor. 
The third surviving manber of the family 
is Jamies Bosley. There were twO' uncles 
O'f Mr. Bosley, Tliomas and Greenbur}^ Bos- 
ley, w^ho never married and who- owned three 
hundred and t\Aaity acres of land where 
Baltimore now stands. This they leased for 
ninety-nine years. Tliis land should now 
be in the hands of the Bosley heirs, of whom 
Mrs. Roiish is one. She was the fi^fth in a 
family of ten children, nine of whom grew to 
years of maturity, while Lucy E. died in in- 
fancy. The others are: Hilbert R., who 
is engaged in the grocery business in Day- 
ton ; Lewis Walter, a machinist of Cleveland, 
Ohio; Lawrence Scott, a fireman of Spring- 
field; Robert H., a printer of Cleveland; 
Bertha Olive, the wife of James Christo- 
]3her, of Springfield; Mac Leroy, who- is a 
machinist, of Cleveland; Sidney Baxter, who 
died at the age of twenty-three years, one 
month and three days; and Daniel Claud, 
who died at the age of sixteen years and 
four months. 



TEMPEST W. ^^TLSOX. 

Tempest ^^'. \MIson is the oldest member 
of the police force of Springfield in years of 
continuoits connection therewith. He is fa- 
miliarly known as "Temp" Wilson, and 
throughout this state he has a wide acquaint- 
ance, having gained many friends by reason 



532 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of his fidelity to duty and by liis genial man- 
ner. He was lx)m near the town of '!>'ork,. 
in York county. Pennsylvania, March 31, 
1847. ^"tl '" I'le paternal line he comes of 
English ancestry, wh.ile on the maternal side 
the line of descent can be traced back to 
German ancestors. 

Jc^hn H. Wilson, the father of our sul> 
ject, was a farmer by occupation, born, 
reared and educated in York county, Penn- 
sylvania. He n-.arried Sarah Heistand, also 
a native of the same locality, and died at 
the age of fifty-two years, and his wife 
passed away in York county, Pennsylvania, 
when about se\enty-six years of age. In 
their family were ele\en children, of whom 
three daughters and five sons are yet living, 
namely : iNIary : Mrs. Emma Hafifer ; Sarah : 
John, whoi is an engineer on the Pennsylvania 
railroad and resides in Philadelphia; Tem- 
pest W'., of this review ; Stephai, who is pro- 
prietor of a hotel at \N'rightsville, Pennsyl- 
vania; Webster, who carries on farn.ing on 
the old homestead ; and Erank, who is a fore- 
man in a cigar n.anufactory. Those who 
have passed away are: Heistand, George 
and Thomas, who died in Pennsylvania. The 
others are all living in Pennsylvania, with 
the exception of our subject. Upon the old 
home farm they were reared, while in tlie 
commt-in sch(X>ls they pursued their educa- 
tion. The father died when the children were 
small, but the widoAv kept her children to- 
gether, putting forth every effort to pro- 
vide a comfortable home for thein. 

As Ten^pest W. Wilson was one of the 
oldest of the family, he began to support 
himself at the age of sixteen years and for 
several years was employed as a fami hand. 
He afterward spent eighteen months in load- 
ing and riuming ore cars from the mines to 
the furnace^. He was foreman of a con- 



struction gang in Maryland on the new 
railway and later he came to Ohio. He had 
some relatives living in Clark county ajid in 
3870 he made his way to this locality. Here 
he worked upon a truck farm for a short 
time and then cair.e to the city, where he 
found employment as a laborer in the shops 
of the Xew Champion Company, l>eing thus 
anployed through three years. For a time he 
served in the fire department of the cit)- and 
then returned to the shops, but later again 
entered the fire departmait, Avith which 
he was connected for thirteen months. At a 
ir.eeting of the city council he was elected 
to a position on the police force February 3, 
1875, and has since- been connected with this 
department of the city service, proving a 
very eflijcient officer. For about two years he 
was city detective. At that time he met 
with an accident, being shot in an encounter 
witli a criminal, and he yet carries the bullet 
in his bo<ly. Since 1894 he has been captain 
of patrol No. i, and in all the dqjartments 
of the sen-ice with which he has l:>een con- 
nected he has pro\en an efticient officer. 

Mr. ^Vilson was married in Springfield in 
1878 to Ellen Day, who was born in (ireene 
count}-, was educated in the public schools, 
and was living in this city at the time of 
her marriage. They now ha\e six children, 
four sons and two daughters: Erank, who 
is employed in a tcx>l shop in Chicago. Illi- 
nois; Ellen, a milliner working at her trade 
in Springfield : Harold ; Paul ; Ruth ; and 
Carroll Jolm. Mrs. Wilson is a member of 
St. Raphael's Catholic church, and the chil- 
dren were educated in the parochial school 
connected with that church. 

^ir. Wilson has made his own way in the 
world from the age of sixteen years, and 
although he has met with some difticulties 
and obstacles, he has steadilv advanced, ow- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



533 



ing to his fidelity tO' duty and to^ his capabili- 
ty. He now resides at No. 56 West Co- 
luml:ia street, having purchased his home 
there in 1902. In politics he is a Democrat. 
He is a manher of Ephraim Lodge, I. O. O. 
F., and also of the Firemen's Relief Asso- 
ciation, of which he was one oif the organiz- 
ers while connected with the fire department. 
He is now the oldest man in continuous ser\- 
ice on the police force of this city, and this 
fact indicates unmistakably how faithful he 
has been to his duties as a preserver of the 
peace and of law and order. 



HER.AIAX VOCES, Sr. 

Among the men of foreign Viirth who 
ha\-e sought hon:es in America, becoming im- 
portant factors in the business life of the 
communities wit'.i which they are identified, 
is Herman \'oges. Sr.. superintendent .Tud 
general manager of the Springfield Coal & 
Ice Company. He was borne in Peine, Han- 
over, Germany, in 1844, and in his native 
country acquired a good com.mon school edu- 
cation. After putting aside his text books 
lie vas apprenticed to learn the hardware 
business, serving for four years and after 
completing his trade he continued three years 
longer in the employ o>i the same firm as a 
clerk and bookkeeper. 

The favorable reports concerning the 
new world wliich reached IMr. Voges attract- 
ed him to the United States, and with the 
desire to benefit his financial condition, he 
made his way across the Atlantic to Xew 
Yoi-k city. He did not tarry long in the 
eastern metropolis, but went directly to Cin- 
cinnati, where he found employment in a 
hardware store, acting as salesman in that 



establishment for five years. In 1870 he 
went to College Corner, near tiie Ohio and 
Indiana line, there opening a hardware store 
on his own account. The new enterprise was 
attended with a fair degree of success and 
he coaiducted it for five years, after which 
he sold out. 

In 1875 Mr. Voges came to Springfield 
and was employed 1w the Champion Bar & 
Knife Company, with which he remained for 
seven years as shipping clerk. On the ex- 
piration oi that period he entered into part- 
nership imder the firm name of Voges & 
Hedges, this relation existing until June, 
1883, when the Champion Coal & Ice Com- 
pany was organized with a capital stock of 
fifty thousand dollars, the officers being: E. 
S Kelly, president; M. M. Hedges, secre- 
tary: and H. Voges, manager. From the 
beginning to the present tin.e Mr. Voges 
has remained in the responsible position 
which he now fills. It was in May, 1888, 
that the company was reorganized and in- 
corporated with a capital stock of one hun- 
dred thoiusand dollars, with the fohowing 
nanied officers: AV. S. Wilson, president 
and treasurer; T. \V. Ludlow, secretary: 
and H. Voges, general manager. The com- 
pany deals extensively in coal, coke, and also 
handles sewer pipe and cement and is en- 
gaged in the manufacture of ice. The loca- 
tion of the ice plant is at the corner of W^ar- 
der and Water streets and the capacity is 
fifty tons daily, a fact which indicates that 
there is a large trade extended to the com- 
pany. In the coal and coke business the 
con panv also does a wholesale as well as 
retail business. In the various lines these 
commodities are handled in extensive quan- 
tities and the success of the entei-prise is due 
in no small measure to the energy, business 
sagacity-and capable control of Mr. Voges. 



534 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In 1868 was celebrated the marriage of 
Mr. Voges and Miss Ida Sattler, of Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, a well known resident of that 
place. This nnion has been blessed with 
the following children : Herman is a 
member of the firm of Voges & Perks 
Tool Company manufacturers of solid 
die automatic lx>lt threading machinery 
and grinding and polishing machines. 
The other memliers of the family are 
William F., Albert, Olga, Ida and Flora. 
They have a pleasant home at No. 406 South 
Fountain avenue and Mi". Voges has accu- 
mulated a good property, although he start- 
ed out in life empty handed. He realizes 
that in this country, more than in any other, 
is success due to energ}-, determination and 
strong purpose and it has been along these 
lines that he has ad\anced to a \txy credita- 
ble position in commercial circles in Spring- 
field. 



MICHAEL C. RUSSELL. 

!Micliael C. Russell is a cement paving 
contractor and is not only a good artisan 
with a thorough understanding of mechanical 
principles, but has taken advanced steps in 
the Ime of his chosen pursuit, as a designer 
of new kinds of curbs and walks, and in 
this way he has added not a little to the im- 
provement of the city. Mr. Russell is a na- 
tive of Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, bom 
on the 4th of August, 1854, and is a son 
of Hugh Russell, who was bom in Queens 
FeiTy. Scotland, in 1814, but who died in 
Springfield, Ohio. October 5, 1902. He was 
educated in paid schools of his native coun- 
try, acquiring a fair knowledge and becom- 
ing a well read man through research, read- 
ing and investigation after leaving the school- 



room. He also possessed considerable math- 
ematical skill. In early life he engaged in 
granite cutting in Scotland and when he 
cam.e to Springfield he entered into business 
relations with James Mntt. conducting a 
stone-cutting enterprise. The year 1866 wit- 
nessed his arrival in Ohio, at which time 
he and his fair.ily located in Xenia. in Greene 
county, and in 1869 they sought a home in 
Springfield, where the father maintained his 
residence until his death. He had married 
Elizal>eth Conning, who was born in Cree- 
town, Kirkcudbrightshire. Scotland, in 1814. 
being but three months younger than her 
husband. She died Decemljer 10, 1898, hav- 
ing reached the advanced age of eighty-four 
years. Uiito ]\Ir. and Mrs. Russell five sons 
and two daughters had been born ere their 
emigration to the new world. The eldest of 
tliese was William, and the second Anthony 
C. They came to America in the year 1861 
and both joined the Union arn-y. after which 
no news was ever recei\ed from William 
and it is supposed that he was killed in bat- 
tle. Anthony C. was wounded in the Ixit- 
tle of the Wilderness while serving Avith 
General Keifer in the One Hundred and 
Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, but at the 
close of the war he received an honorable 
discharge and, recovering from his injuries, 
lived many years. He passed away in ]Me.\i-, 
CO in 1901, and his remains were interred 
in Ferncliff cemetery in Springfield. Hugh 
Russell is represented on another page of this^ 
work. Jan:es R. is li\ing retired in this city. 
Michael C. is the fifth in the family. Eliza- 
beth is the wife of William McCullough. and 
Mary J-, wife of Andrew J. Burnett, died in 
Texas, and was also laid to rest in Fern- 
cliflf ceiretery. While in the land of hills 
and heather the father was a member of the 
I'nited Pre<I)vterian church and both in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



535 



Xenia and in Springfield held member 
ship with the same denomination. In poli- 
tics he was a Republican, but was never an 
aspirant fur otifice. His was a lung, useful 
and hunurable career and he received the 
veneration and respect which should e\er 
be accorded tO' one of advanced years. 

Michael C. Russell attended the paid 
schools of Scotland until fourteen years of 
age, but afterward spent two years in the 
public schools of Xenia. He also' attended 
the southern and western schools in this city 
and at the age of eighteen years he became 
an active factor in the industrial world, work- 
ing with his father, under whose direction he 
mastered the stone-cutter's trade. He was 
afterward employed as a journe\-man for 
four years and then began working at ce- 
ment work. He entered the employ of I. 
Ward Frey, with whom he ranained for a 
lime, after which he formed a partnership 
with George H. Frej-, Sr., and was thus in 
liusiness for two years. While with Mr. I. 
Ward Pre}-, who* had the contract for laying 
cement walks, he aided in laying the first 
walks of that character ever put down in 
the city. After the partnership was formed 
they devoted their entire time to this busi- 
ness. As before stated Mr. Russell was as- 
sociated with George H. Frey for two years 
and on the expiration of that period he eri- 
tered into" partnership with his father, Hugh 
Russell, Sr., and the business was carried 
on by them for six years, our subject doing 
the active work of the firm. He then start- 
ed upon an independent business career and 
the first contracts which were ever awarded 
to him, and which were executed at Santa 
Ana, California, required fonr months for 
the completion of the work. On the expira- 
tion o'f that period he returned home and 
lias since engaged in business as a contractor 



of cenient walks and curbs. He also laid 
the first cement walks in Dayton, in Xenia, 
in Delaware, and Kenton, Ohio. Until 1897 
he had no competition in his business, but 
since that year other firms have con.e into 
the field, but Mr. Russell maintains a lead- 
ing position in his line. He also takes and 
executes contracts for all kinds of cement 
paving and employs fourteen mai in cari-y- 
ing on the business. He has done work in 
this direction for the b6st and oldest families 
of the city and three teams are continually 
utilized in hauling materials. T'o his bitsi- 
ness he gives his personal supervision and 
has all that he can well attend to. He was 
the first contractor toi lay the combination 
cur'bing and gutter, a design of his own. He 
has added many improvements in the com- 
position of walks and on man_\- beautiful 
streets of the city he has constructed some 
oif the finest walks. To him was awarded 
the contract for building the combination 
curb and gutter in Fernclift' cemetery. Mr. 
Russell purcliases cement by the carload and 
in 1901 he used- twelve carloads, and in 1902 
sixteen carloads, sho-wing the substantial 
increa,se in his business. His work is of a 
substantial and lasting character, as is shown 
biy the fact that walks which he laid twenty- 
two years ago seem as good today as when, 
put down. The walk which he makes is 
laid in sections independent of each other. 
As his financial resources ha\'e increased he 
iias become the owner of se\-eral bnilding 
lots in Springfield and has been \-ery suc- 
cessful in all his business aft'airs. 

On the 1 2th of February. 1880, in Dela- 
ware, Ohio, Mr. Russell was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Emma ^\'o]^later, who was 
born in Delaware, Ohio, in 1855, a daughter 
of Christopher Wohlater, who was a molder 
by trade, 'but is now deceased. In his fannly 



536 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



were fi\e cliildren : Caroline, the wife of 
Jnlin Riddle, of Delaware, Ohio; Mrs. Rus- 
sell ; Hattie, the wife of Charles Bro\vn, of 
Cleveland, Ohio: Lillie, the wife of Charles 
Matthews, who is foreman of the B. H. Win- 
ter Lithographing Company; and William, 
who is engaged in the dry-goods business in 
New York city. Unto ilr. and Mrs. Russell 
ha\e been torn two children : Roy R., who 
died at the age of one year; and Alay Belle, 
\\\\Q is attending Wittenberg College, and 
will there complete a course in music in 
1904. Mr. Russell purchased a lot and in 
1885 built his modern hon.e, which was the 
first erected on College avenue. He and his 
wife hold meml>ership in the United Pres- 
byterian church and he belongs to Red Star 
Lxxlge. K. P., also to the Benevolent and 
Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is 
a Rei^ublican and has served as a delegate to 
county and state co'nventions, but would ne\- 
er accept public office. Entering upon his 
business career with opportunity before him 
but with no capital to assist him, he has prov- 
en that adaptability, unremitting diligence 
and honorable dealing may constitute a fimi 
foundation ujxin which to rear the super- 
structure of success. His reputation in his 
chosen field of labor is one which e.xtends 
throughout the city and his efforts in this 
direction have been of benefit to the various 
circles in which he has lalx>red and at the 
same time have brought to him creditable 
and gratifying prosperity. 



CHRISTTAX KUOU.\. 

The man of wealth is not the one whom 
the American citizens hold in the highest re- 
gard, but he who can plan his own advance- 



ir.ent and accomplish it in the face of com- 
petition and obstacles that are always to be 
met in the business world. The "captains 
of industry" are those whose business fore- 
sight can recognize opportunity and whose 
executive force can utilize advantages which 
are not given tO' one alone, but perhaps en- 
compass the whole race. The life history of 
Christian Kuqua is simply that of a success- 
ful man who owes .his advancement to close 
application, energ)', strong determination and 
executive ability. He has never allowed out- 
side pursuits to interfere with the perform- 
ance of business duties or the meeting of 
any business obligations and thus he stands 
to'lay one of the prosperous residents of 
Springfield, strong in his honor and his good 
name. He deserves, however, special credit 
because at the early age of seven years he 
was thrown upon his own resources and has 
since that time depended entirely upon his 
own labors for advancement, so that what- 
ever he has achieved is the direct result of 
his enterprising efforts. He is today suc- 
cessfully and extensively engaged in the 
manufacture of carriages in Springfield as 
the senior meml>er of the firm of Kuqua & 
Son. where he has carried on business since 
1883. 

Mr. Kuqua was born in Wittenberg, Ger- 
many, August 12, 1825, and was the young- 
est son of Charles and Clara Kuqua. The 
fathei- died in Germany in 1826. after which 
tiic mother came with her four sons to Amer- 
ica, settling in Baltimore, Maryland, where 
she remained for five years and thence re- 
moval to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. 
Ch.arles, her eldest son, reached the age of 
eighty years and died in Erie, Pennsylvania, 
after a successful career as a jeweler. John 
enlisted for service in the United States army 
in the Civil war and was among the missing 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



537 



after hostilities ceased. William went west 
to Utah, and no news has since been received 
of him. He had two daughters : Katherine, 
no'W the wife of William Houston, of CoJum- 
bus, Ohio; and Mrs. Cyrus Dilger, of Fair- 
field county, Ohio. After the death of her . 
first husband Mrs. Kuqua became the A\ife 
of John Detwiler, and she died in Lancaster, 
Ohio, ^^•hen about seventy years of age. 

When a little lad of seven summers Chris- 
tian Kuqua was bound out. He remained 
in Pennsylvania until .after he had attained 
his majority, and in the meantime learned the 
carriage making trade. His educational 
]-)rivileges, however, were very limited, as 
he had no opportunity to attend either day of 
night school. In the school of experience, 
though, he has gained much practical knowl- 
edge and his mind has been continually 
broadened trough research and observation. 
\\ hen he had attained to man's estate he 
came to Ohio', settling first in Lancaster, 
where he opened a shop for the condrctu.ig 
of the carriage-maker's trade. 

It was in that city in 185 1 that .\Ir. 
Kuqua was united m marriage to Sarah E. 
Jackson, who was born in Fairfield county. 
Ohio, in 1833, and is a representative of 
one of the old pioneer families there. Her 
lather, Samuel Jackson, was a farmer, opev- 
ating in Fairfield county, O'hio, and his 
parents were from Maryland. For twenty- 
five years he served as justice of the peace 
and was a leading and influential resident of 
his commciuity. He died in Fairfiold coun- 
ty at the age of seventy-three, and liis wife. 
who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Col- 
lins, passed away in 1873. She was a nati\e 
of Fairfield county and belonged to one of 
the old families established there in pioneer 
times. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were 
born twelve children, of whom nine are yet 



living, namely: Sarah E., the wife of our 
subject; Mrs. James Fickle, of Grovepcrt, 
Oliio; Mrs. Elizabeth Swartz, a widow liv- 
ing in Columbus ; Catherine, the wife of 
Thomas Moyer, oif Fairfield county; Alaria, 
the wife of Joel Fickle, of Des Moines, lown ; 
Emma, the wife of Lemuel Gro>\-e, \\-ho \vas 
the captain of a Union company in the Civil 
war, and now residing in Onarga, Illinois; 
Jacob J., who was for many years superin- 
tendent of schools in Springfield and is how 
living in Des Moines, Iowa; John C, who is 
pastor of the Eastwood Congregational 
church in Columbus, Ohio; and Frank, who 
is pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church 
of West Jefferson, Ohio-. Mrs. Kuqua ac- 
quired lier education in the common schools 
and in a select school, and by her marriage 
she has become the mother O'f seven children' 
all of whom reached years of maturity : Clara 
became the wife of Bo}'d Hollenbeck and 
died in Springfield at the age of thirty-three 
}-ears. She had three clnldren, one of whom 
died in infancy. The others are : ^Irs. Ada 
Baker and Mrs. Alice Berkey. Charles, the 
second member of Mr. Kuqua's family, is 
associated in business with his father and is 
married and makes his home in Springfield. 
Henrietta is the wife of Oliver Bott, of 
Faii-field county, Oliio, and has three chil- 
dren — Carrie, Wilbur and Alice. Samuel J. 
is a traveling salesman for the Babcock Car- 
riage Manufactory Oif Watertown, New 
York, and li\-es in Columbus. For five years 
he was a partner in his father's business in 
Springfield. He has two' daughters. Fern 
and Pauline. Elir.er E., the fifth member of 
the family, is now associated in business 
vvith his father, is ntarried and has one son, 
Lawrence. Alice C. is the wife of Charles 
Cartmell, of Springfield, by whom she has 
two children, Madison and Sarah. ;\Iarv K. 



533 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the youngest of the family, became the wife 
of Edward Donnell and died at tlie age of^ 
twenty-six years. Her one child and her 
husband have also passed away. These chil- 
dren were educated in the public schools cf 
Winchester and Springfield, and the fami- 
ly is one of prominence in the community. 

At various places Mr. Kuqua has carried 
on carriage manufacturing. He conducted 
a business near Lancaster and afterward at 
East Rushville, at Logan, Ohio, at Canal 
Winchester, and in 1883 cair.e to this city. 
The various undertakings which he has es- 
tablished have prosijered. He began business 
here on a small scale on Main street, but 
gradually he enlarged his plant in order to 
meet the demands of the growing trade and 
in 190 1 he built an extensive factor}-, which 
he equipped with n-.odern machinery. The 
firm of Kuqua & Son ranks high as repre- 
sentatives of industrial interests of the city. 
With a comprehensive and thorough under- 
standing of his business, gained through 
practical experience, Mr. Kuqua is well qual- 
ified to direct the labors of the mai and 
today he stands at the head of a large and 
growing business, w hile the output of his fac- 
tory is sent to many parts of the country. 
He manufactures various kinds and designs 
of carriages which, because of their durabili- 
ty and excellent workmanship and finish, 
find a ready sale on the market. Tlie house, 
too, sustains an unassailable reputation for 
fair dealing. 

Both ?klr. and ^Mrs. Kuqua hold memljer- 
ship in the Central Methodist Episcopal 
church and he was at one time a member of 
the Odd Fellows lodge at Logan. He now 
has a pleasant home at Xo. 94 Pearl street, 
and this, together with his business, is the 
visil>le evidence of his life of industry. Lie 
certainly deserves the proud American title 



of a self-made man, for when but seven 
years of age he began to earn his own living 
and without aid or influence has steadily 
worked his way upward and his earnest toil 
has been the sure foundation upon which he 
has bnilded his prosperity. 



IS.VAC KAY, M. D. 

A history of Springfield would not ful- 
fill its designated purpose or reach complteion 
without mention of Dr. Isaac Kay, for no 
other physician of the city has practiced so 
continuously here as this gentleir.an. His 
usefulness can not be measured by any 
known standard, but for forty-nine years 
he has gone about among his fellow men, 
relieving pain and sufifering, restoring health 
and proloJiging life. Long after he shall 
have passed away he will be held in grate- 
ful remembrance by those who have bene- 
fited by his ser\ices. Xot only his profes- 
sional skill, but his kindly temperament, his 
genial majiner and unfailing sympathy have 
endeared him to those with whom he has 
come in contact. 

The Doctor is a native of Pemisylvania. 
his birth having occurred near Qiambers- 
burg, on the 8th of Decemlicr, 1828. His 
parents were William and Susanna (Unger) 
Kay, also natives of the Keystone state, and 
he traces his ancestry back to John Kay 
(or Key, as the name is sometimes 
spelled), whose parents came from England 
in the same fleet with \\illiam Penn during 
the year 1682. He was born in the month 
of December, 1682, near the Delaware riv- 
er, upon groimd subsequently taken into the 
first plat of Philadelphia, and died in Ken- 
nett Square, Chester county, Pennsylvania, 




DH ISAAU KAY. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



541 



on the 5th of July, 1767, iiii the eighty-fifth 
year of his age. His son, John Kay, the 
great-grand fatlier od' our subject, was bo-rn 
in Philadelphia, in 1734; was a manufac- 
turer of firearms for the American" go\-ern- 
ment during the Revolutionary struggle, and 
finally died in the city of his birth in 1804, 
aged seventy years. The latter's son, John 
Ivay, grandfather of our subject, was born 
September 0, 1763, and married Elizabeth 
King, of nearly tlie same age. In 1801 
he rcmoA-ed to Franklin county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and died October 13, 1832. William 
Kay, our subject's father, was born in Penn- 
sylvania, February 22, 1800, and his mother 
was born in 1809. 

Dr. Ivay was reared in the state of his 
nativity until 1836, when the family re- 
moved to Ohio. When his medical educa- 
tion was completed he began the practice of 
medicine, having determined to make it his 
life woi'k. He became a student in the Star- 
ling Medical College, of iColumbus, in which 
he was graduated in the spring of 1849. ^^^ 
then began practice in Lewisburg, Ohio, and 
after four years' residence there, he arrived 
in Springfield 00 the 18th of May, 1853, so 
t'rat he has been a resident of this city and 
a member of its medical professioiu for al- 
most a half century. No other physician 
has so long been continuously connected 
with the profession here and throughout 
ail these years he has occupied a foremost 
jilace in the ranks of the m.edical fraternity, 
honored and respected by his fellow practi- 
ti(jiiers as well as by the general public. 

The Doctor had been married prior to 
liis arrival here. On the 4th of November, 
1S52, he had wedded Miss Clara M! Deck- 
ert, of Miamisburg, Ohio, and for fifty 
years they have traveled life's join-ney to- 
gether, sharing with each other its joys and 



sorrows, its adversity and prosperity, their 
n utual l0'\-e and confidence increasing as 
the }ears have goaie by. Their home was 
blessed with two soais : Charles S. and Clar- 
ence H., both of whom are residents of 
Springfield, the latter being associated with 
his fatlier in the practice of medicine. 

Upon the organization of the Republican 
party I>r. Kay espoused its cause and has 
never wa\ered in his allegiance to its prin- 
ciples, for he believes that its platform con- 
tains the best elements of good gO'vernment. 
For a half century he has been identifietl 
with the Masonic fraternity, and in his life 
has trnl)- exemplified its teachings coincern- 
ing mutual helpfulness and brotherly kind- 
ness. From the foundation of the Gentle- 
men's Literary Club he has l>een one of its 
members and has thus been identified with 
the intellectual culture of the city. From 
early manhood down tO' the present time he 
has also been a member of the Baptist 
church. These social, fraternal and religious 
relations indicate clearly wliat has been the 
life of the man. 

His attenti'm, of coiurse, has been mam- 
ly given to his professional duties, which 
have been extensi\'e, because his ability has 
made his services in constant demand. He 
has lieen a member of the Clark County 
Medical Society for forty-eight years, and 
for at least one-third of this time- has served 
as its secretary, while on twoi different oc- 
casions he has been honored with the elec- 
tion to its presidency. For forty-se\en years 
he has been a prominent member oif the Ohio 
State Medical Association. In the summer 
of 18^)9 he was, in connection with Drs. O. 
(j. Sheldon and E. W. Howard, both of 
this state, appointed on a committee of three 
to a]3pcar before the Ohio legislature in cn- 
der to secure, if possible, a law for impnn- 



542 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



jng the opixjrtunities of studying practical 
anatoiny. In this purix>se tlie committee 
was eminently successful. For this essential 
service in behalf of the medical profession 
these three committeemen had publicly con- 
ferred upon them, in March, 1871, the hon- 
oraljle and highly prized Addendum degree 
in medicine, by the Miami Medical College, 
of Cincinnati. Dr. Kay 'has read a num- 
ber of papers before the Ohio Medical So- 
ciety, particularly at its sessions held in 
Delaware, Columbus and Cleveland, in the 
}ears 1868, 1869 and 1880, resi)ectively, 
and at the annual meeting held at Cincin- 
nati in May, 1871, he was elected its first 
vice-president. For many years Dr. Kay 
has been in the habit of contributing arti- 
cles occasionally to the medical and surgical 
journals of the tlay. He has served as physi- 
cian to the Clark County Infirmary, and also 
as city ph\ siciaii, acting in each capacity for 
a num'l <.r of terms, and for almost nine years 
he was a memljer of the Ixjard of education 
of Springfield. He was also coroner of 
Clark county for one term. On the 4th of 
March, 1898, which was the fiftieth anni- 
versary day of his gratluation. and also the 
semi-annual occasion of Starling Medical 
College, Dr. Kay was elected president of 
the Alumni Association. He signalized his 
incumbency of the office during the year 
by producing a completely classified cata- 
logue of all the graduates of the college from 
its foimdation in 1848 to the year 1898, 
together with a note of most of the deaths 
which had occurred among them during that 
time. It was a catalogue constnicted uixmi 
a new plan, and consisted of twM parts; first, 
an alplial>etical list, including the entire semi- 
centennial i>eriod; and second, a sq»rate 
and distinct class registry for each one of 
the fifty years. For this laborious and use- 



ful service he received an e.xpression of high 
commendation from the college authorities. 
Dr. Kay has succeeded in his life work 
because he deserved to succeed; he is 
great because nature endowed him generous- 
ly ; and he studiously,, carefully and continu- 
ally increased the talents which were givai 
him. He is one of the most honored and ca^ 
pable representatives of the medical frater- 
nity in Ohio, of strong intellectual force 
and broad sympathy, he made the most of 
his opportvmities, and regarding his pro- 
fession a.s something besides a means of 
earning wealth, he put into his life work the 
best efforts of heart and mind. He has re- 
ceived the generous commendation of his 
contemporaries and tiie respect of the ytxing- 
er members of the profession, who unite in 
1>earing testimony to his high character and 
his superior mental gifts. His life is e.xau- 
plary in all respects and he has ever support- 
ed those interests which are calculated to 
uplift and Ijenefit humanity, while his own 
high moral \\iorth is deserving of the highest 
commendation. 



CLARENCE H. KAY, M. D. 

Dr. Clarence H. Kay early turned his at- 
tention to the profession which has for its 
abject the noble aim of assisting one's fel- 
low man. From the outset of his business 
career Dr. Kay has engaged in the practice 
of medicine and surgery and has fully sus- 
tained the enviaible rqnitation which has 
evei- been connected with the family name. 

The I>octor was born in this city on tiie 
j8th of October, 1856, and has silent his 
entire life in Springfield. He is a son of 
Dr. Isaac and Clara M. ( Deckert) Kay. 
After acquiring a thorough literary training 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



he 'began reading medicine with his father 
and later entered the Columbus Medical Col- 
lege, w here he remained for one term. He 
next became a student in the Miami Medi- 
cal College oif Cincinnati, Ohio', and was 
graduated from that institution in March, 
1882. He also took a special course in gyne- 
cology in the Cincinnati hospital and to* some 
extent has made this branch of medical sci- 
ence a specialty. On the ist of April, 1882, 
he began practicing medicine in Springfield 
in connection Avith his father and the asso- 
ciation between them has been maintained 
up to the present time. To the experience 
and mature judgiT.ent of the senior partner 
was added the energy and enthusiasm as 
well as the ambition od" the son. By this 
means the firm 'became a \ery strong one 
and has ever maintained a leading i>ositioii 
in the ranks of the medical fraternity. Dr. 
Ka}- of this re\-iew is now a member of the 
staff of the Mitchell-Thomas hospital of this 
city. For fifteen years he was in charge of 
the medical department of the county infirm- 
ary. He is also examining 'physician for 
twehe life insurance companies, performing 
this work in addition to> the demands of his 
large private practice. For several years 
]jast he has been giving special attention to 
electrontherapy. He is a member of the 
Clark County Medical Society, of the Ohio 
State ]\ledical Society and Roentgen Ray 
Society of America. 

In 1 88 1 was celebrated the marriage of 
Dr. Kay and Miss Florence \\'ilson, a 
daughter of Washington and Mary (Fore- 
man) Wilson, her father being one of the 
prominent old citizens and a retired fanner 
of Springfield. The Doctor is a member of 
the First Presbyterian church and is con- 
nected with the Masonic fraternity, belong- 
ing to Clark Lodge, Xo. loi, F. & A. M.; 



Springfield 'Chapter, No. 48, R. A. M. ; 
Springfield Council, No'. 17, R. & S. M.; 
and Palestine Commandery, Xo^. ^t„ K. T. 
He was president of the Springfield board 
of education during the years of 1888 and 
1S89. He has a wide acquaintance in Spring- 
field, being known among his numerous 
friends as a courteous and most genial gen- 
tleman. Fortunate is the n-.an who has 
back of him an ancestry honorable and dis- 
tinguished, and happy is he if his lines of 
life are cast in harmony therewith. In per- 
son, in talents and in character. Dr. Kay 
well maintains the family name and in his 
chosen profession he has added new lustre 
to it. 



PROFESSOR ZACHARY TAYLOR. 

This gentleman is one of the prominent 
and most competent representatives of edu- 
cational work in Springfield or the surround- 
ing country and is to-day the principal of the 
Lincoln school. He is one of the native 
sons O'f Clark county, his birth having oc- 
curred in the village of Enon on the 30th 
of April, 1852. His father, Samuel Tay- 
lor, was a native of Maryland, born in 1808, 
and was a stone-mason by trade, which busi- 
ness he followed to a greater or less extent 
throiughont his acti\-e life. He married Miss 
Nancy Mummert, also a native of Maryland, 
and in i8.|-9 they remo'ved from that state 
to Ohio, settling in the village of Enon, 
Clark county, which was their home until 
called to their final rest. The father died 
in 1888 and the mother in 1868. 

Professor Taylor accjuired his early edu- 
cation in the public schools of Enon, and in 



544 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



1S71 he began teaching, having charge of 
the Snyder school west of Springfield the 
hrst year. The following year he taught in 
the extreme southwest corner of Alad River 
township and then returned to his original 
school, continuing to teach in the schools of 
Mad River township until 1879. In the 
meantime he became interested in local poli- 
tics and served as clerk of that township 
live years and as justice of the i^eace three 
years, holding teth offices the last three years 
he was in the township. 

In Aiigust, 1879, Professor Taylor re- 
mo\ed to Springfield, and that fall com- 
menced teaching in the Possum .school. The 
fallowing year he taught in the Rockaway 
scliool and then ga\e up teaching for two 
years, during which time he engaged in busi- 
ness as a contractor in stone work in Spring- 
tield and vicinity. He resumed teaching, 
however, in 1884 at Rocky Point, where he 
spent two years and then taught about the 
same length of time at Mill Creek. In Feb- 
ruary, 18S7. he opened a school on Pearl 
street. Springfield, now known as the Lin- 
coln school, and at the end of two years was, 
transferred to the Shaffer street school as 
its principal, in which capacity he served 
eight years. He then returned to the Lin- 
coln school and has been principal of the 
same ever since, having eight English and 
one German teachers under him. In point of 
service he is today one of the oldest princi- 
pals of the city and has l>een a teacher in 
this county since 1871 with the exception of 
two years. 

On Septen?ber 7, 1871. Professor Taylor 
was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie 
Schrock, of Mad River township, a daughter 
of Franklin and Anna (Miller) Schrock. By 
this union were born twehe children, ten of 
whom are still liviui;-. namely: Frank M., 



Stqihcn D., CliJiford S., Inez E., Ralph E., 
Clarence B., Howard L., Justin D., Elizabeth 
!M. and Adella ^I. Lola died at the age of 
twenty-three years. 

The professor and his wife iioid member- 
ship in the Christian church, and he is also 
identified with Anthony Lorge, No. 455, F. 
& A. !M., and Red Star Lodge, No. 205, 
K. P., of which he is past chancellor. He 
has also represented the latter organization 
in the grand lodge of the state, and was ac- 
tively interested in the founding of the 
Knights of Pythias Home and was instru- 
mental in securing its location in Springfield. 
Soon after its opening he was made one of 
its lx)ard of directors, which position he has 
now filled for eight years. During that time 
the number of residents of the home has been 
increased from sixteen to one hundred and 
fifty and the facilities correspondingly. At 
the beginning there was only one cottage, but 
at present there is an administration build- 
ing, two dormitories and a large dining room 
and hall with a closed corridor connecting 
them all. In addition to these there is a 
hospital building and a modem brick barn. 
The farm cwisists of eighty-four acres, forty", 
nine of which is wcKxlland. The object in 
founding this place was to furnish a good 
hoime for the orphans of the Knights of 
Pythias, and its success is due in no small 
measure to the indefatigable labors of Pro- 
fessor Taylor, who has been untiring in pro- 
moting its interests. 



HERBERT PERRY STEWAR T. 

Herbert Perry Stewart, who follows 
farming on sections 10 and 15, Green town- 
ship, where he owns and operates one hun- 



"//£ BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



545 



dred and! fifty acres of land, was bom on 
his father's farm in this township, December 
12, 1862. He is a son oi Oscar N. and 
Rachel (Nicholson) Stewart, who are men- 
tioned on another page of this work and 
are well known residents of Clark county. In 
his }-outh the subject oif this review enjoyed 
the pleasures of the playground, performed 
the duties of the schoolroom and assisted in 
the farm work while at home. His prelimi- 
nary education was afterward supplanented 
by study in Antioch College, where he was a 
student for several terms. Later he contin- 
ued his studies in Lebanon for a few terms 
and thus acquired a good education, fitting 
himself foi- the cares of a business life. He 
has always carried on farm work and the 
practical experience which he gained in his 
youth has proven of value to him since he 
has attained man's estate. He began oper- 
ating his father's land, cultivating the old 
home place until 1895. I'^ the previous year 
he purchased his present home in Green 
township and in 1899 he erected thereon a 
fine, commodious residence, one of the most 
attractive country places in tiiis portion of 
Clark coimty. x\roimd the house is a well 
kept lawn, adorned with beautiful shade 
trees. In the rear are good outbuildings and 
well kept fences divide the fields into' con- 
\-enient size, while the crops of early spring 
gi\'e promise of goldai harvests in the au- 
tumn. 

On the 24th of January, 1889, ^Mr. Stew- 
art was united in marriage to Miss Ermina 
Tuttle, who was born in Green township De- 
cember 29, 1862, and is a daughter of Isaac 
and Fannie (Eichelbarger) Tuttle. Four 
children graced this union: Ira E.. born 
August 14, 1891 ; Roy Levon, born October 
5. 1893: Walter Xesbit, born October 26, 
1895; and Elmer 'Arthur, born Xovember 



28, 1900. The parents are well known in 
this county, where they ha\e spent their en- 
tire lives, and many of the friends of their 
childhood days are still visitors at their home. 
Mr. Stewart first voted for James G. Blaine 
in 1884, and he has always endorsed the 
Rq>ub!ican party, 'believing that its princi- 
ples are best calculated to conserve go<xl 
go\-ernment. 



GEORGE H. HARRIS. 

The city of Springfield has rapicllx- in- 
creased in population in recent years and 
therefore there has been a great demand for 
the services of capable and progressive con- 
tractors and builders. To this class belongs 
George H. Harris and he has received a 
liberal patronage, because of his thorough 
understanding of the builder's art. his faith- 
ful execution of a contract and his honorable 
dealings. He is numbered among the na- 
tive sons of Hamilton county, Ohin, his 
birth having occurred near Cincinnati. April 
3, 1852. He is a son of Shadrach Harris, a 
contractor and builder of Cincinnati and that 
vicinity, who was born in Bethel, Ohio, and 
was a son of James Harris, a minister of 
the Methodist Episcopal church, and was for 
manj' years a resident of Bethel, where he 
died at the advanced age of eighty years. In 
tlie family were four sons and a daughter, 
James, who is living in Shenandoah, Iowa, 
and Mrs. Martha Ullery, of Clermont coun- 
ty, Ohio, being the surviving members of 
the family. Shadrach Harris removed to 
Hamilton county, Ohio, and for many years 
followed his trade, there being engaged in 
building in suburban districts of Cincinnati. 
Fle died at the age of fiftv \ears. while his 



546 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



widow, who bore the maiden name of Lou- 
isa Cord and was born in 1823, is now liv- 
ing in Springfield at the age of seventy-nine 
years. After the death of her husband she 
came to this city, having relatives here. In 
his political views Mr. Harris was a Republi- 
can, but never desired the honors or emol- 
uments of office. In the Methodist Epis- 
copal church he held membership and filled 
official positions, contributing generously to 
the support of the church and to the advance- 
ment of the cause. In the family of this 
worthy couple were nine children, one of 
whom died in infancy, while another daugli- 
ter passed away at the age of eighteen years. 
The others of the family are Mrs. Arabelle 
Patterson, of Indianapolis, Indiana; As- 
bury, who is a farmer and resides in Spring- 
field : George H.: Elizabeth and Ella, who 
are living with their mother; Frank, a mol- 
der: and Joseph, who :is engaged in the 
butchering Inisiness in Springfield. The last 
named was educated in the public schools of 
this city and the others in the public schools 
of Mount \\'ashington. Mrs. Harris is a 
menber of the Congregational church and is 
a most estimable lady, having gained many 
friends in Springfield during her residence 
here. 

Like the other members of the household 
George H. Harris pursued his education in 
Mount ^^'ashington. He came to Spring- 
field in 1870, and entered the employ of 
James Johnson, Sr., as a carpenter, having 
prexioush- spent about a year at that trade 
before his father died. In the fall of 1870, 
liowever. he removed to Missouri, where he 
secured, carpentering work for three years, 
returning to Springfield in 1873. Since 
that time he has been identified with the 
building interests of this city, and for about 
eight \ears worked as a journcvman in tiie 



employ of various contractors. He acted as 
foreman for some time and in 1885 he en- 
tered upon an independent business career, 
taking his first contract at' job work. He 
has since devoted his attention to job work 
and to the construction of dwellings in Clark 
ounty and acts as his own superintendent. 

In 1876. in Springfield, was celebrated 
the marriage of Mr. Harris and Miss Susan 
Evans, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 
1855, and was a daughter of James Evans, 
who, about 1865 came to Springfield and em- 
barked in the .shoe business as a member of 
the firm of Finch & Evans. Thus he was 
connected with mercantile interests for a 
number of years and liis death occurred in 
this city. Mrs. Harris pursued her educa- 
tion in the .schools of Cincinnati and of 
Springfield and by her marriage she has be- 
come the mother of four children : Edna 
.\., who is a graduate of the public schooN 
of Springfield and is now a teacher here; 
Raymond G.. who is a stenographer in the 
employ of the government in connection 
with the land commissioners in Indian Ter- 
ritory; Glenna, who is a graduate of the 
high school ; and James D., who is a high 
school student of Springfield. Of this fam^ 
ily Raymond G. is married. He weilded 
^lartha Dye. of Troy. Ohio, and they now 
reside at South Mc. Mister. Indian Terri- 
tory. 

Mr. Harris is a member of the Juninr 
Order of American Mechanics, and also of 
the Foresters. In poltics he is a Democrat 
where political issues are involved, but at 
local elections, where the only requisite for 
office is the capability of the candidate to dis- 
charge the business affairs of to.wn or coun- 
ty, he votes independently. His pleasant 
b.ome is located at Xo. 30 Perrin avenue, 
where he nurchased land and erected his res- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



547 



idence. His business success is attributable 
entirely to his own efforts and as the archi- 
tect of his own fortunes he has builded 
wiseh' and well. 



ROBERT HOSIER THORPE. 

Robert Homer Thorpe, who follows 
farming and stock raising on the Springfield 
and South Charleston pike, was born in 
Harmony township January 17, 1843, and is 
a son of Robert and Mary (Homer) Thorpe. 
The father was a native of Yorkshire, Eng- 
land, born ]May 8, 1808, and when nine years 
of age came to America with his parents, 
Robert and Elizabeth Thorpe, who made 
their way to Ohio and settled on the farm 
where our subject now resides. The grand- 
father brought some capital with him and 
purchased land in 181 7. The tract was 
largely covered with timber, l.)ut with char- 
acteristic energy he began to clear awa}' the 
trees and prepare the land for cultivation. 
In his business affairs he prospered and from 
time to time he added to his possessions, 
making his home on the farm until about 
1840, when he was called to his final rest. 
He was the father of nine children, (jf wh(im 
Rf )bert Thorpe was the fifth in order of birth. 
He was the only one who married and 
about 1836 he was joined in wedlock to 
Mary Homer. 

The young couple began their domestic 
life upon a farm which was a part of the 
•Thorpe estate and after the death of the 
grandfather the father inherited eighty-six 
acres there. Subsequently he sold that prop- 
erty about 1856 and purchased a larger farm 
of one hundred and thirty-two acres in ^Mad- 
ison township. It remained his home for 



a few years when he again sold out and 
bought one hundred acres of land in Har- 
mony township, there carrying on agricul- 
tural pursuits throughout his remaining 
days. He died February i, 1881, and his re- 
mains were interred in the cemetery at 
Fletcher chapel. His wife was also a na- 
tive of England and came to the new world 
with her parents, Richard and Rachel Ho- 
mer, who settled in Clark county, but later 
removed to Indiana, taking up their abode 
near Evansville, Avhere their last days were 
passed. Unto Robert and ]\Iary Thorpe were 
born eight children, si.x of whom reached 
years of maturity. I\Irs. Mary J. ^Mitchell 
is now living in Springfield township and 
has four children. Robert Homer is next 
in order of birth. Rachel Elizabeth became 
the wife of Leroy Whittredge and lives in 
Springfield township. George C. is a farm- 
er of Harmony township and has three chil- 
dren. Phebe Ellen is the wife of D. A. 
Sprague. Sarah F". married A. S. Schoen- 
barger, of Clark county, by whom she has 
two children. The father of this family 
was a \\'hig in his political affiliations in 
early life and upon the dissolution of that 
party he joined the ranks of the Republican 
party, strongl}- endorsing its principles, but 
ne\-er seeking or holding office. 

The boyhood days of our subject were 
spent upon the home farm in Harmony town- 
ship and he acquired a good common school 
education. On attaining his majority he 
began working for himself, devoting his at- 
tention to stock dealing and agricultural pur- 
suits. In 1869 he went to Kansas, settling 
in Labette county, where he purchased two 
hundred and twenty-fi\'e acres of land. He 
did not remain in the west, however, for 
any great length of time, but returned to 
Clark county in 1870. He then purchased 



548 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



one hundred and six acres of land in Mad- 
ison township and made his home thereon 
for nineteen years. He and his brother in- 
lieritcd the farm upon which he is now Hv- 
ing and he purchased his brother's interest. 
The fine brick residence upon the place was 
erected in 1854, the brick being made from 
clay obtained on the farm. 'Six. Thorpe is 
a Republican Init nut an office seeker, pre- 
ferring to give his entire time and attention 
to his business interests. Throughout his 
entire life he has been connected with agri- 
cultural pursuits and his labors have been 
well conducted, and his business so carefully 
carried on that he has continually increased 
his capital and is now one of the substantial 
residents in this part of the state. 



HARMAX H. TYXER. 

In days of increased commercial activity, 
advertising is considered one of the most 
potent elements in conducting successful 
business affairs. Many methods of adver- 
tising have been employed in introducing 
goods to the market, but not the least of 
these has been through bill-posting and dis- 
tributing and this has led to the building 
up of a large business, so that many men are 
employed in carrying on such work. Mr. 
Tyner, who is well known throughout 
Springfield by the title of major, is a bill- 
poster and distributor of this city, now con- 
ducting a large business because of the lib- 
eral patronage extended him. 

He was born in Wabash, Indiana, July 
20, 1842, and attended the public schools 
there until fourteen years of age. His par- 
ents were Daniel H. and Caroline C. (Flora) 
Tvner, the former a native of Indiana and 



the latter of Kentucky. In 1856 they re- 
moved to Mankato, ^Minnesota. The father 
was a general horse trader and buyer and 
conducted a livery stable. In his political 
affiliations he was a Republican and he 
served as sheriff of Blue Earth county, Min- 
nesota, for two terms. His w ife held mem- 
bership in the Methodist Episcopal church 
and was a devout Christian woman, who 
passed away in 1887, in Mankato, Minne- 
sota, at the age of sixty-nine years, while 
her husband died at ^Medicine Lodge, Kan- 
sas, in 1883, at the age of sixty-eight years. 
He was a self-made man and his position in 
the business world was the result of his un- 
tiring energy and diligence. 

To a limited extent, after the removal 
of the family to Minnesota, Harman HI. 
Tyner attended school in that state, but 
there were only five houses in Mankato when 
the family arrived there. He afterward be- 
came identified with his father in the liv- 
er_\- lousiness and engaged in buying hnrses 
fur the eastern markets and as he grew older 
he was given the management o-f the busi- 
ness. In 1861, at the first call for troops to 
aid in the preservation of the Union, he en- 
listed as a drummer in the First Minnesota 
Regimental Band. The regiment was sta- 
tioned at Fort Snelling. He was in no ac- 
tive service during his three months" term 
of enlistment. Later he re-enlisted fur three 
years, but after fifteen months regimental 
bands were discharged l)y general order and 
he returned home. At the Indian outbreak 
in Minnesota in the same year he and his 
father became scouts and served in the bat- 
tles of New Ulm and Wood Lake against the 
Indians, They organized an independent 
company, the father being looked upon as a 
leader in the community because he had 
served as sheriff of the countv and was fa- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



549 



miliar with all that region, and both father 
and son served throughout the outbreak. 

In 1864 occurred the marriage of Har- 
man H. Tyner and Carrie C. Cannon, who 
was born in Xew York in 1838, and had re- 
sided in Minnesota for several years prior 
to her marriage. They had two children : 
Frank H., the elder, is now conducting a 
bill-posting plant in Englewood, Illinois. He 
married Edith Hoff, of Springfield, Ohio, 
and they have one son, Elmer. William H. 
is associated in business with his father and 
resides at home. In the year 1869 Mr. Ty- 
ner come with his family to Springfield and 
here his wife died in 1894, after thirty years 
and one month of married life, her remains 
being interred in Ferncliff cemetery. In 
1898. in this city, I\Ir. Tyner was again mar- 
ried, his second union being with Miss Mar- 
garet Reising, who was born, reared and 
educated in Cincinnati and is a sister of Pro- 
fessor John Reising, the leader of the Big- 
Six Band. \\"\\.\\ this band our subject was 
connected as a drummer for seventeen years. 
He purchased and erected his present home 
at No. 22 North Race street and there he re- 
sides with his wife and son. 

After coming to Springfield Mr. Tyner 
began work as a carpenter and followed that 
business for four, years, being an expert in 
the use of tools. Finally, however, he drift- 
ed into the bill-posting business, purchasing 
the half interest of a man who conducted 
a small plant. ]Mr. Tyner has since contin- 
ued in this line and with the growth of the 
city his business has increased and he has 
given to it his personal supervision. He put 
bill boards up all over the city and has been 
very successful in enlarging his business and 
making it a profitable source of income. He 
was one of the originators and organizers 
of the Ohio State Bill-Posters Association, 



which was organized in Columbus in 1890 
and has gradually grown until it now cov- 
ers all of the cities of an_\- importance in the 
state. He became one of its charter mem- 
bers, was its president in 1894-5 and 
has served on various committees, while for 
one year he was treasurer of the society. He 
has the franchise for Springfield and South 
Charleston and in Jul}^ 1902, Urbana was 
added to his list. He has always enjoyed 
the respect and confidence of the men with 
whom he has done business and the firm of 
H. H. T}'ner & Company is a reputable one 
of Springfield. In 1891 JNIr. Tyner joined 
the National Association and since that time 
has attended every national convention with 
one exception. In the thirty-two years of 
his business career here he has never been 
censured for neglect of duty by an adver- 
tiser. He employs two men throughout the 
year and is doing a business which is grow- 
ing and has long since become profitable. 

Mr. Tyner belongs to Moncrieffe Lodge, 
K. of P., also to the Benevolent and Protec- 
tive Order of Elks, in which he has served 
as an office holder for five years. He is a 
member of Springfield Lodge, A. F. & A. 
M., and the Union Veteran Union, and in 
politics he is a Democrat, save at local elec- 
tions where no issue is involved, on which 
occasions he gives his support to the men 
best qualified for the ofiice. His wife is a 
member of St. Raphael's church. Both are 
well known in Springfield and the ]\[ajor has 
a large circle of friends here. 



\V. BRAND TODD. 



'A'. Brand Todd, one of the leading citi- 
zens and prominent farmers of Green town- 
ship, was born there on the 20th of August, 



S50 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



T829, and is a wortliy representative of one 
of the honored pioneer famihes of this coun- 
ty. His grand fatlier, James Todd, was an 
energetic farmer, who was born in County 
Cork, Ireland, and came to America before 
the colonies achieved their independence. 
Settling in Masachusetts, he joined the Con- 
tinental army on the outbreak of the Revo- 
lutionary war, taking up arms against the 
hereditary foe 6f his native land. When 
peace was restored he located near Philadel- 
phia, Pennsylvania, and there he was united 
in marriage to ^liss Mary Brand, by whom 
he had se\en children, James Todd, Jr., the 
father of our subject, being the fourth in 
order of birth. The latter was born near 
Philadelphia, October 22. 1796, and in 1806 
accompanied the family on their removal to 
Warren county, Ohio. Their fir.st home in 
this state was a little cabin on a small branch 
of the Miami river, which still bears the 
name of Todd's fork. It was here that 
James Todd, Sr., lost his first wife and he 
subsequent!}- married a Miss X'cel\', by 
whom he had two children. They continued 
to make their home at Todd's Fork until 
they, too, were called to their final rest. 

James Todd, Jr., grew to manhood in 
this portion of Ohio and on the 28th of Jan- 
uary. 1S19, was married in Green township, 
Clark county, to ^Miss {Elizabeth Garlough, 
who was born in Maryland January 12, 
1799. Her parents, Jolin and Mary Gar- 
lough, were natives of Germany and Mary- 
land, respectively, .\ftcr their marriage 
^Ir. and Mrs. Todd located permanently in 
the northern part of Green township, where 
he followed the peaceful \'ocation of a farm- 
er until his death, which occurred December 
29, 1863. His wife survived him and passed 
away on the 13th of April. 1890. He was a 
soldier of the war of 1812 under the com- 



mand of General Harrison, and the rifle, 
powder-horn and bullet pouch which he car- 
ried throughout the struggle are now in 
possession of our subject. In religious faith 
lie was a I'resbyterian. and was long ^n 
earnest and consistent member of that 
church. 

W. Brand Todd, whose name introduces 
this review, was the fifth in order of birth 
in a family of nine children, and was reared 
upon the old homestead in Green township, 
following the general routine of farm work. 
His early education was obtained in the sul> 
scription school of the neigh1)orhood. but 
reading and experience have given him a 
knowledge of men and affairs that could not 
be acquired in the schools of any period. 
Until thirty-three years of age he remained 
with his parents on the farm, assisting in 
the work of field and meadow with excep- 
tion of the summer season for eight years, 
when he worked at the millwright's trade. 

On the 26th of May, 1863, Mr. Todd 
was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca 
\\'i!kins(in. of Madison township, this coun- 
ty, a daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Will- 
iams) \\'ilkinson, who were natives of Berks 
county, Pennsylvania, the former born 
^larch 24, 1801, and the latter January 6, 
1806. Her grandfather. William Wilkin- 
son, was also born in that county on the 
loth of October, 1769, and his wife, who 
bore the maiden name of Lydia McCord, 
was born in the same county October 8, 
^77 c>- ^^^ spent his last days in Ohio, 
where he died of typhus fever at the age of 
sixty-three years and eleven months and 
was buried in the David McComick burying 
ground on the west side of the Big Miami 
river. .\t the age of twenty-two years Mary 
Williams gave her hand in marriage to Jo- 
seph Wilkinson and a few years later they 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



decided to come west and try their fortune 
in Ohio. Accordingly in 1832, accompanied 
hv their two little ones, they started for 
the Ihickeye state, traveling by horse and 
wagon, the only means of conveyance at 
that time. After several weeks spent upon 
the road the}- landed in Belmont county, 
Ohio, where they resided for a short 
time and then came to Clark county, 
Ohio, M'hich was the home of Mrs. Wilkin- 
son for nearly half a century. Her husband 
dying- of smallpox January 27, 1850, she 
was left a widow at the age o^f forty-four 
years with seven children to provide for, 
but by hard work and the assistance of her 
eldest son she reared them all to man and 
wonianlii pod and gave them all a fair educa- 
tion. In 1S86, in company with two daugh- 
ters and a grandson, she visited her child- 
hood home in Pennsylvania, meeting her 
only surviving sister, then .seventy-eight 
years of age. after a separation of fifty-four 
years. When in her eighty-fifth year this 
remarkable old lady was still hale and hearty 
and not only cooked, washed and ironed for. 
her family of four, but also wove carpets. 
On the Sabbath day she attended church 
regularly, some times walking the entire dis- 
tance of three miles. She was a most ex- 
emplary Christian, an affectionate mother 
and kind neighbor and was highly respected 
In- all who knew her. She was the mother 
of nine children and had nineteen grandchil- 
dren and seven great-grandchildren. She 
passed away March i, 1901, at the advanced 
age of ninety-five years and was buried near 
her husband in Greenplain cemetery. 

In 1870 ]\Ir. Todd purchased a farm of 
one hundred acres, one mile east of Clif- 
ton, and to its cultivation antl impro\-ement 
he de\-i:ited his energies until 1888, when he 
bought the Elder Stewart humestead in Clif- 



ton and resided there for fourteen years. He 
then removed to Springfield, where he and 
his wife now reside with their son. In poli- 
tics he is an ardent Republican and has tak- 
en quite an active part in pubhc affaiirs, 
serving as township trustee five years ; as- 
sessor eighteen years ; and as a member and 
treasurer of the Clifton school board fifteen 
years. He was always found prompt and 
faithful in the discharge of his official duties 
and true to every trust reposed in him wheth- 
er public or private. He is a well informed, 
agreeable gentleman and is held in high re- 
gard wherever known. 



CHARLIE E. TODD. 

Charlie E. Todd, proprietor of a livery, 
coach and boarding stable in Springfield, 
was born on the old homestead farm in 
Green township October 6, 1865, and is the 
onh^ surviving child of W. Brand and Re- 
becca (Wilkinson) Todd, whose sketch pre- 
cedes this. He pursued his education in 
tlie village of Clifton as a student in the Clif- 
ton Union school, and during the winter of 
1881-2 he took a course in the Champion 
City Business College at Springfield. On 
leaving school he engaged in business at Clif- 
ton on his own account, handling farm im- 
])lemen.ts, and in 1896 went to Xenia, where 
he engaged in the same business, remaining 
there for one year. He then removed to 
Springfield and purchased the livery stable 
of the firm of DefYenbaugh & Morand on 
Fountain avenue. In 190 1 Mr. Todd re- 
moved his stock to Xos. 22 and 24 Limestone 
street, where he now has a good stable and 
is doing a successful livery business, his be- 
ing among the best horses and turnouts in 



552 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the city. He caters only to the best trade, 
takes charge of funerals and does an exten- 
sive boarding business. 

In 1 888 Mr. Todd was united in mar- 
riage to ]\Iiss Etta Confer, of Donnelsville, 
Clark county, a daughter of John H. Con- 
fer, an honored old pioneer. Mrs. Todd, 
like her husband, was an only child. She 
died of tuberculosis May 26, 1902, at the 
age of thirty-six years. She was an earnest 
member of the First Lutheran church of 
Springfield and led a true Christian life. 
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Todd were born two 
children. Fern and Elmer, aged, respective- 
ly, thirteen and ten years. 

In his social relations ^Ir. Todd is a 
prominent Mason, holding membership in 
Yellow Springs Lodge, No. 421, F. & A. 
M. ; Springfield Chapter. Xo. 48, R. A. M'. : 
Springfield Council, Xo. 17, R. & S. M. ; 
and Palestine Commandery, Xo. 33, K. T. 
He is likewise a member of Antioch Tem- 
ple (if the Xohles ai the Mystic Shrine, of 
Dayton, and of Clifton Lodge, Xo. 669, K. 
of V. Close application to business and an 
earnest desire to please his patrons have se- 
cured to him a good patronage and he is 
now conducting one of the leading and prof- 
itable li\erv stables of the citv. 



ALI'Rl-l) J. SLACK. 

.\lfrcd J. Slack is now proprietor of the 
P. Slack Sons' gun and s])orting goods store, 
the third oldest commercial enterprise of 
Springfield. The establishment was found- 
ed by his father, with whom he was associ- 
ated in the years of Iris early manhood and 
now he is sole proprietor, carrying on a bus- 
iness of considerable magnitude and main- 



taining a reputation which the house has 
ever sustained. 

Mr. Slack is a native of Cincinnati, 
where he was born January 10, 1852. His 
father, Peter Slack, was lx)rn in Peterboro, 
Lincolnshire, England, in June, 1820. and 
died in September, 1892, at the age of sev- 
enty-one years. He was educated in Eng- 
land and learned the gunsmith's trade there, 
serving a seven years' apprenticeship for his 
board and clothes. After working there for 
a few years as a journeyman he crossed the 
Atlantic to America in the fall of 185 1, mak- 
ing his way direct to Cincinnati, Ohio. Ere 
leaving his native land he was married to 
Maria Manton, who was born in Spalding, 
England, and died in this city in 1873, at the 
age of fifty-one years. They became the 
parents of six children : A. J., who is the 
only one born in Cincinnati ; Lucy, 
the wile of M. Johnston, of Springfield; 
Laura, the wife of John J. Rowthan. of 
Springfield; Charles M., who was in busi- 
ness with his brother Alfred and died in 
^larch, 1898, at the age of thirty-eight years ; 
and two who died in early childhood. 
Charles ?kl. Slack was married and had two 
childrai, Charles and Helen. His widow 
v.as a daughter of Dr. Leonard and now re- 
sides in Brooklyn, Xew York. 

In the fall of 185 1 Peter Slack arrived in 
Cincinnati and at once found employment 
there. He remained in that city for two and 
one-half years, working as a journeyman 
gunmaker and then came to Springfield, 
where he embarked in business for himself, 
establishing a gun store and repair busi- 
ness. He received credit for four hundred 
dollars from the man by whom he had been 
employed in Cincinnati and thus he was en- 
abled to begin business on his own account. 
He iranufactured guns and did much work 



-HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



553 



along that line. The building was located 
where the Lent}' meat market now stands. 
He gave close attention to his business, en- 
larging its scope from time to time in order 
to meet the growing demands of the trade 
and removed from his first location to East 
]\Iain street below Spring street. There he 
remained for six years, after which he rent- 
ed a store east of the present site of the 
store conducted by our subject. There the 
father carried on business until his death. 
He not only manufactured guns, but carried 
a large line of sporting goods of all kinds. 
He also began buying raw furs during the 
war, which he shipped to market, finding this 
a profitable source of income, and in 1872 
he began dealing in wool, the firm soon be- 
coming known as extensive wool dealers in 
Ohio. Gradually Mr. Slack attained suc- 
cess in his business as a result of his enter- 
prise, careful management and determina- 
tion. He purchased and erected several 
houses in the city and built his home at No. 
279 South Fountain avenue, there residing 
for twent_\--nine years. Both he and his wife 
died in that home and were then laid to rest 
in Ferncliff cemetery. Mr. Slack was a Re- 
publican and took an active part in civic af- 
fairs. He served as a member of the city 
council for several years and kept well in- 
formed on the issues and questions of the 
day, reading extensively on all general mat- 
ters. Both he and his wife held membership 
m the Center Street Methodist Episcopal 
church, in which he long served as an offi- 
cer, and were charitable and benevolent peo- 
ple who gave freely of their means to pro- 
mote the cause of Christianity and to aid the 
poor and needy. 

In the public schools of Springfield Al- 
fred J. Slack, of this review, pursued his ed- 
ucation and he first received practical knowl- 



edge of business aft'airs through association 
with his father. In his boyhood days he 
worked in the store at intervals and at the 
age of seventeen entered the store perma- 
nently. After he had been in business for 
some time the father admitted his sons to 
partnership and together they conducted the 
business until a few years prior to the fa- 
ther's death, when he retired from the ac- 
tive management. When the business came 
into the hands of the sons they extended it 
greatly and built up a large trade, the en- 
terprise proving a very profitable one. The 
relations between the brothers was main- 
tained continuously until the death of Charles 
Slack, when Alfred J. Slack purchased his 
brother's interest and has since carried on 
the business alone under the old firm name 
of P. Slack Sons. From tlie time when he 
became a partner at the age of twenty-one 
years until the present he has been an active 
factor in its successful conduct. He not only 
deals in guns, but other sporting goods, and 
is also extensively engaged in buying fur 
and wool, his business in that direction 
amounting to a considerable sum each year. 
In May, 1875, in Springfield, occurred 
the marriage of ^Ir. Slack and Miss Lydia 
Sparks, who was born in Bellbrook, Ohio, 
in 1849 and was a daughter of Ephraim 
Sparks, who at one time owned a farm and 
blacksmith shop in Clark county, Ohio, af- 
terward living a retired life. Unto Mr. and 
Mrs. Slack have been born five children : Le- 
ona, who is now pursuing a special course 
in imisic and painting; Bertha; John Ed- 
ward, who assists his father in business and 
is a graduate of the high school and of Nel- 
son's Business College, and has also been a 
student in ^Vittenberg College; and Glena 
and Alvia, both in school. The family home 
is at No. 313 South Fountain avenue. Mr. 



554 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Slack purchased the property here and erect- 
ed his residence in 1877. Both he and his 
wife hold membership in the Center street 
Methodist Episcopal church and take an ac- 
tive interest in its growth and upbuilding. 
He is a member of Red Star Lodge, K. of 
P., and in politics is an active Republican. 
\\hile never an aspirant for office himself, 
he has served as a delegate to county and 
state conventions and does all in his power 
to promote Republican successes. Hfe is 
justly accounted one of the reliable business 
men. of the city, honored and esteemed by 
all for his reliability, his trustworthiness in 
trade circles and his genuine worth. 



DAXIEL A. MYERS. 

Daniel .\. Myers is a representative 
farmer and dairyman of German township. 
He was born near Reynoldsburg, Franklin 
county, Oliio, July 17, 1857. and is a son 
of Abram and Maria (\\"ingert) Alyers. 
The father was a farmer by occupation. He 
was l)orn in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, 
July 27. 1 81 2, and was there reared to man- 
hood and married. His wife was also a na- 
tive of Franklin county, and some of their 
children were born in Penn.sylvania before 
the removal of the family to Ohio. On com- 
ing westward they settled in Franklin coun- 
ty, this state, where they spent their remain- 
ing days. In their family were ten children, 
but only four are now living. Nancy be- 
came the wife of Benjamin Motts and died 
in Franklin county, leaving five children. 
John, a farmer near Etna, Licking county, 
Ohio, married Anna Blosser and they have 
five children. Barbara became the wife of 
William \\"\\\ and died in Franklin county, 



Ohio, leaving four children. Levi married 
Catherine Will and died in Franklin coun- 
ty, this state, leaving two children. Abrani 
F. married Mary Kenne\-, by whom he had 
ten children and is now living in Franklin 
count)-. David, who died in that county, left 
a wife whose maiden name was Jane Over- 
holser. Margaret is the wife of John Trish, 
of Newark, Ohio, by whom she has three 
children. Mary became the wife of George 
Kissel and died in Franklin county, leaving 
two children. Daniel A. is the next of die 
family. Elizabeth, the youngest, died in 
girlhood. 

Daniel A. Myers was the youngest son 
of the family and his boyhood days were 
spent on the old home farm, while in the 
public schools he acquired a fair English ed- 
ucation. At the age of eighteen he began 
to earn his own living, his father giving him 
a start by making him a present of a team, 
wagon and plaw and some other farm im- 
plements. He then farmed his father's land 
and showed that his practical business train- 
ing in youth was of material benefit in en- 
abling him to carry on the work of farming 
on his own account. 

Coming to Clark county on a visit Mr. 
Myers here became acquainted with Miss 
Martha Overholser, of this county, who was 
born in German township and is a daughter 
of Moses and Eva (Rust) Overholser. He 
sought the hand of the j-oung lady in mar- 
riage and in Columbus, on the 26th of Sep- 
tember, 1876, the marriage ceremony wa- 
performed. They lived for about eighteen 
months in Franklin county, Mr. !Myers op- 
erating rented land. After gaining a start 
he purchased ninety acres, where he now 
lives in German township, Clark county. 
Here he now has one hundred and seventy- 
eight acres all in one body, although it ex- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



555 



tends on the other side of the county boun- 
dary line. This is a highly improved place 
and in 1890 he erected a good residence, 
w hile in 1900 he built his large barn. He is 
now successfully carrying on general farm- 
ing and dairying and both branches of his 
business pro\'ide him with products which 
find a ready sale on the market and return 
t'! him a good income. 

L'nto Mr. and ]Mrs. Myers have been 
born four children: Rosa, born April 17, 
1878; Mary Ellen, born September 23. 
1879; John Henry, born March 31, 1883; 
and Noah Orlando, born August 15, 1885. 
jNIr. Myers usually votes with the Demo- 
cratic part}-, but is not a strong partisan 
man. He belongs to the religious order 
known as the Ri\'er Brethren, being con- 
nected with the Dayton District and his 
membership is in the church at Donnelsville. 
He is true to upright principles of life and 
commands the respect and confidence of his 
fellow men, while through his business af- 
fairs he has gained for himself and his fam- 
il}- a comfortable home and good co:rp.- 
tencc. 



HEXRY LEFFEL. 



Henry Leffel was born in Clark county, 
Ohio, in the township of Springfield, Oc- 
tober 2y, 1821. His father, Thomas Lefifel, 
was a native of Virginia and was one of 
a family of ten children, seven sons and 
three tlaughters. The sons were : Samuel ; 
John, who is mentioned elsewhere in this 
work; Daniel; Jacob, wdio married a Miss 
Stafford, of Yellow Springs; Thomas; An- 
thony ; and James P. 

Thomas Leffel was married in \^irginia 
to Miss ^Margaret Carney, and about 1818 



came to Ohio, journeying in a one-horse 
wagon and bringing with him his wife and 
one child, then but eighteen months of age. 
On the journey he tied a tree to the rear of 
the wagon to act as a brake tO' impede its 
progress in going down hill. He first set- 
tled just east of Carlisle and afterward re- 
moved to the Sients farm on the National 
pike. There he remained for a number of 
years, after \\-hich he removed to Springfield 
touTiship, south of the city of Springfield. 
He was a poor man when he came to Ohio 
and being unable to buy ready made furnish- 
ings for his home he used a box for a table. 
By hard work and indefatigable industry, 
however, he at length won success and be- 
came the owner of a very desirable farm, 
provided with many of the comforts of life. 
His death occurred in October, 1856, when 
he was sixty-one years of age. His wife 
survived him for twenty-two years and died 
in the eighty-seventh year of her age. She 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal 
church. In his political views Mr. Leffel 
was a Democrat. He was \-ery energetic 
and persevering and set for his family an 
example in this respect well worthy of emu- 
lation. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Leffel were born 
eleven children, eight of whom are now liv- 
ing, while one died in mfancy and two 
others have also passed away. The family 
record is as follows : John, born in Virginia, 
is now^ deceased. Hannah became the wife 
of George Deaton, but both are deceased. 
Sarah is the wife of Isaac Stratton and their 
home is in Green township, Clark county. 
Henry is the fourth in order of birth. Eliz- 
abeth is the wife of David Wolf, a resident 
of Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Catherine mar- 
ried Asa' Baker, who is now deceased, while 
her home is on North Factorv street. Susan 



556 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



is tlie widow of John Dudley and resides on 
East Clifton street in Springfield. Polly is 
the wife of William Armstrong, of Indiana. 
Amanda is the widow of Pierson Dudley 
and resides in East Liberty. Thonras is 
living on ^^'est Mulberry street in this city. 

Henry Leiifel. whose name introduces 
this review, was born and reared near 
Springfield and attended the district schools, 
pursuing his studies in what is known as the 
Possum school, w hich was conducted on the 
subscription plan. He was thus engaged 
until eighteen years of age through the win- 
ter months, while in the summer months he 
assisted his father in clearing and develop- 
ing the home farm. He remained at home 
imtil twenty-two years of age, when he be- 
gan cutting wood. He received t\venty-fi\e 
cents per cord and boarded himself. Later 
he secured work of the same kind and re- 
ceived his board in addition to the twenty- 
five cents per cord paid him. He also cra- 
dled grain for one dollar per day and for 
mowing received fifty cents per day. Later 
he worked at eight dollars a month during 
the summer season. He was industrious and 
economical and in this way he was enabled 
to lay by some mone\-. When twenty-seven 
years of age he made his first purchase of 
land, becoming the owner of forty acres, for 
which he paid seven hundred dollars. Later 
he bought another tract, for which he paid 
sixteen hundred dollars, and subsequently 
he bought eighty-four acres for three thou- 
sand dollars. This was his father's old 
farm, and for it he paid cash. It is situated 
in Green township and the purchase was 
made after his father's death. It will thus 
be seen that as the years advanced he worked 
earnestly, carefully and systematically and 
gained due success. 

]\Tr. Leflfel was united in marriage to 



Miss Agnes Inlow, who is now deceased. 
They had two children : Margaret Jane, the 
wife of George Plattenberg, a resident of 
this city; and Henry Oliver, who resides in 
Green township. He married Martha Gram 
and they have five children — \'iola, Dora, 
Harriet, Mary and Margaret. Mrs. Lett el, 
the mother, was buried in Greenmount cem- 
etery, and in 1856 Mr. Lefifel was again mar- 
ried, his second union being with ^liss Lu- 
cinda Slater, who was born in Clinton coun- 
ty, Ohio, a daughter of William and Sarah 
(Thomas) Slater. Her parents removed to 
Si)ringfield when the daughter was only 
three years of age. and a year after the fa- 
ther died, passing away in 1835, at which 
time his remains were interred in Columbia 
street cemetery. He was a carpenter and 
cabinet maker. His wife, who was born 
April t6. 1800, died November 5, 1876, and 
was buried in Fernclitf cemetery. They 
were the parents of seven children, of whom 
two died in childhood. The others were : 
Joseph, now a resident of Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania; Martha, who became the wife 
of Gilbert Souder, but both are now de- 
ceased; Calvin, who has also passed away; 
Lucinda, the wife of our subject : and Hen- 
rietta, who married Samuel Deffenbaugh, 
but is now deceased. Her husband resides 
on West Pleasant street in this city. Mr. 
Leiifel was married the second time in 
Springfield and continued to reside in the 
city for two years. 

He was engaged in hauling wood from 
his farm to the city until 1858. when he 
removed to the old home place in Green 
township, where he engaged in farming for 
six years. On the expiration of that period 
he returned to the county seat, this being 
during the time of the Civil war. Here he 
enlisted as a member of Company D, One 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



557 



Hundred and Forty-sixth Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry, becoming a private of that com- 
mand in May, 1864. In August, of tlie 
same year, he returned home and in 1866 
he again took up his residence upon the farm, 
here remaining until 1894. On the expira- 
tion of that period he removed to Yellow 
Springs, Greene county, Ohio, where 
he lived for four years and then re- 
moved to Springfield. Ohio, his present 
home being at No. 497 ^^'est Mulberry 
street. Since leaving the farm four years 
ago, he has lived a retired life. He owns 
eighty-four acres of tine farm land and has 
erected good buildings upon his place, Avhich 
he keeps in excellent condition. 

Unto Mr. and ]\Irs. Leffel have been born 
five children. Frances is the widow of Hen- 
r)- Cosier and resides on \\'est High street. 
She has an adopted daughter, Frances. Cal- 
ista is the wife of William Randolph Seever. 
of Springfield, and they have five children 
• — Laura M., Elmer O., Cozetta V.. Pearl 
R. and Raymond. Florence died at the age 
of three months. Luella is the wife of John 
Sparrow, a resident of Green township, 
Clark county, and they have one child. Sar- 
ah !M. William Sheridan resides at home. 

In his political views ]\Ir. Leffel was first 
a Whig and upon the dissolution of that par- 
ty he joined the ranks of the new Republican 
party, which he supported for some time, 
but to-day he is a Prohibitionist. For about 
three years he served as a member of the 
school board. Both he and his wife are de- 
voted Christian people, holding membership 
in the Central Methodist Episcopal church. 
For fifty years he has been a licensed preach- 
er and has served as a class-leader and trus- 
tee, while for over a half century he has 
been a member of the official board. In re- 
ligious matters he has been verv active, con- 



scientious, zealous and influential. \Vhen 
twenty-one years of age he became superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school and long acted 
in that capacity. He is a member of Mitch- 
ell Post, No. 43, G. A. R., and he takes a 
deep and abiding interest in everything per- 
taining to the general good, doing all in his 
power to promote advancement along so- 
cial, material, intellectual and moral lines. 



PATRICK J. HIGGINS. 

Patrick J. Higgins. a practitioner at the 
liar of Springfield, was born in Springfield 
township, Clark county, July 9, 1862. His 
father, Redmond Higgins, was a native of 
Ireland, and in that country acquired his 
early education. In 1854 he came to the 
L'nited States and soon afterward married 
Bridget O'Brien. They began their domes- 
tic life in Pleasant township, Clark county, 
Ohio, where the father engaged in general 
farming and stock-raising. He was an ac- 
tive, industrious man and a good citizen and 
neighbor, and in this locality he made his 
home throughout his remaining days, pass- 
'uo; away on the farm in 1895, when in his 
seventy-sixth year. His wife, who survives 
him, is still living upon the old home 
place in Pleasant township. She is a 
devout member of the Catholic church, to 
\\hich her husband also belonged. Patrick 
J. Higgins of this review is one of a fam- 
ily of six children, the others being: John; 
Thomas; Catherine, the wife of John Gol- 
den; Ellen, who is with her mother; and 
Redmond. 

No event of special importance occurred 
to vary the rcaitine of farm life for Patrick 
J. Higgins in his youth. He assisted in the 



558 



''HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



work of field and meadow, laboring with his 
father and his brothers in the conduct of the 
old home place. During the winter months 
when t!ic farm work was practically over 
f;ir the year, he would enter the [Hiblic 
sciiools, and thus he acquired his education. 
He remained under the parental roof until 
h.is eighteenth year and then desirous of en- 
jo\ing more adxanced educational privileges 
he entered the State University, at Colum- 
bus. \vhere he pursued his studies for three 
_\ears. Subsequently he engaged in teaching 
for two and one-half years in i^adison coun- 
ty. Ohio, and six months in Clark county, 
.and this pro^•ided him with the means nec- 
■essary to enable him to prepare for the prac- 
lice of law, which he desired to make his life 
work. He pursued his reading under the 
direction of George Spence. of Springfield, 
and on the 5th of June, 1889, was admitted 
to the bar at Columbus before the supreme 
court. Immediately afterward he came to 
Springfield and opened his office. Already 
he has gained good success. He is a close 
student and his application, combined with 
his comprehensi\e knowledge in his profes- 
sion and his devi)tion to his client's inter- 
ests, has given him an advantage in the 
courts that has enabled him to readily pro- 
gress to a creditable standing as a member of 
the Springfield bar. In 1901 he was ad- 
mitted to practice in the United States 
coiu'ts. He is well known throughout the 
county as a rising young lawyer and the 
future undoubtedly holds in store for him 
creditable success. 

On the 24th of May, 1899, Mr. Higgins 
was united in marriage to Catherine Moran, 
of Springfield, a daughter of Martin Moran, 
a native of Ireland. Unto ^Ir. and Mrs. 
Higgins have been born two sons, Redmond 
and Martin Leo. Our subject is a genial. 



affable gentleman, who makes friends wher- 
ever he goes and is popular throughout this 
comity. His success in the chosen field of 
his labors is such as may well be envied by 
many an older practitioner and indicates 
that his qualifications and native ability are 
such as to command consideration at the bar. 



CYRUS M. LOXG. 

Cyrus M. Long is a cement contractor 
doing a good business in Springfield, al- 
though he has been a resident of this city 
only since the 6th of June, 1900. He was 
born on a farm in Milford township, Knox 
county. Ohio, January 31, 1853. Hlis fam- 
ily is of Welsh lineage and comes of a long- 
lived race. One of the great-grandfathers 
I if our subject, who bore the name of Pos- 
tlewaite, was a soldier of the Revolutionary 
war. Solomon Long and his wife, the pa- 
ternal grandparents of our subject, came to 
Ohio in 1825 and cast in their lot among the 
pioneer settlers of Licking county. They 
took up their abode in the midst of the heavy 
timber and began to clear their land. Mr. 
Unig owning one hundred and fifty acres, 
which he developed into good farming prop-' 
erty, and upon the homestead which he im- 
proved both he and his wife spent their re- 
maining days, his death occurring in 1867, 
when be was sixty-five years of age, while 
his wife passed away at the age of eighty- 
four. 

Rollins Long, the father of our subject, 
was bor'Ji in Virginia, in 1821, and was 
brought by his parents to Ohio in 1825. He 
was the oldest of three children, the others 
being Joseph, who is now living in Licking 
count\-. Ohio, and Phoebe, deceased. The 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



559 



educational advantages which Rollins Long 
received were limited. He attended school 
which convened in a log building, the meth- 
ods of instruction being very primitive. He 
grew to manhood in Licking county and af- 
ter his marriage he removed to Knox coun- 
ty, Ohio, where he purchased a farm and 
improved a good property. He died in May, 
1899, while his wife passed away Decem- 
ber 13, 1 88 J. She bore the maiden name of 
Elizabeth Conway and was born in 1821. In 
their family were ten children, seven sons 
and three daughters : Rensleer. who died in 
1864, at the age of twenty-one years; Car- 
oline, who died in 1863, at the age of eight- 
een years; John, who was a soldier in an 
Ohio regiment during- the Civil war and is 
now a farmer residing in Knox county, 
Ohio ; Joseph, a retired minister of the 
^Methodist Episcopal church \\ho has 
preached in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and is 
now resting from his labors in Columbus, 
Ohio; Cyrus M'., of this review; Chase, a 
farn-er of Knox county ; Warren W., a Meth- 
odist Episcopal minister, located at Grafton, 
Ohio; Herbert, who is a graduate of Dela- 
ware College and followed teaching for a 
time but now carries on farming in Licking- 
county. Ohio; Mary, the widow of Edward 
Barker, her home being on a farm in Lick- 
ing county; and Sarah J., the wife of Lewis 
Litzenburg, of Knox county, Ohio. The fa- 
ther of this family was reared in the faith 
of the Democratic party but during the Civil 
war he followed the fortunes of the Repub- 
lican party, which lie continued to endorse 
for some time, but later he became inde- 
pendent in his political connections. He 
was a member of the Methodist Episocal 
church and was a \-ery well read man, be- 
ing particularly well informed concerning 
the history of this country from the time of 



the Revolutionary war. During the years 
of his business activity he was an extensive 
farmer and cleared a large tract of land in 
Knox county. 

Cyrus I\L Long of this review was the 
seventh child in his father's family. He is 
indebted to the district school system of 
Knox county, Ohio, for the early education 
which he enjoyed, was afterward a student 
in the high school of Licking county, and at 
the age of twenty-one years he put aside his 
text-books and tiu-ned his attention to farm- 
ing. In the years 1875 and 1876 he was 
engaged in the drug business in Tuscola, 
Illinois, and while in the west he was mar- 
ried, the lady of his choice being Miss Jen- 
nie Sims, who was born in Macoupin coun- 
ty, Illinois, January 12, 18-59. H'er father, 
Preston F. Sims, was a farmer and after- 
ward removed to- Wichita, Kansas, where he 
died May 11, 1889, at the age of sixty-three 
years. His wife, who bore the maiden name 
of Alary Ford, died in 1891, at the age of 
sixty-one years. Both were born in Ken- 
tucky and were there married. In 1858 
they went to Illinois, settling upon a farm, 
where they resided continuously until 18S0, 
when they removed to Kansas. In their 
family were nine children, of whom two 
died in early childhood. The others are : 
John, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; William, 
James and David, who are living in Kansas 
City, Missouri; Martha, the wife of John 
Hazel, of Utica, Illinois; Julia, the wife of 
Henry Burchman, of Myers Falls, Wash- 
ington; and Jennie, the wife of our subject. 
These children were educated in the pub- 
lic schools of Tuscola, Illinois, and the mar- 
riage of Mr. and Mrs. Long was celebrated 
in 1876. Six children graced this union, of 
v.hom .one son died at age of three years, 
while a daughter passed away at the age of 



560 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



fifteen years. The others are : Fanny M. ; 
William W., who works with his father; 
Grace L. ; and James E. 

After his marriage Mr. Long resided for 
a time in Illinois and then sold his drug hus- 
incss and returned to Ohio, settling on a 
farm in Licking county. There he carried 
on agricultural pursuits until 1883, when he 
remoxed to ^^'ichita, Kansas, where he em- 
barked in the plastering business as a con- 
tracti)r. He plastered the first building in 
Guthrie, Oklahoma, and leaving his family 
in Wichita, he worked in various places in 
the west and south for several years. In 
1890 he returned to Ohio and was again en- 
gaged in farming in Licking county, where 
he had fifty acres of land. In the spring of 
1896 he removed to Newark, Ohio, where 
he conducted a restaurant until 1898, when 
he established a plastering business in that 
place. In 1900 he came with his family to 
Springfield, where he has since engaged in 
cement work. He was connected with M. 
C. Russell, for a few months, and was at the 
Highlands for Ellsworth & Brentlingcr. In 
the spring of 1901 he began taking contracts 
for himself and has been cjuite successful in 
the new enterprise. He executes eventhing 
in the line of cement work, including pav- 
ing, curbing and gutters, and is now pre- 
pared to take contracts for the erection of 
liouses, having the processes and 'machinery 
for the manufacture of hollow cement build- 
ing blocks. He is the city contractor for 
current curbing and gutters. He purchased 
a lot at the corner of Pearl and Catherine 
streets, and upon this he has erected a mod- 
ern home constructed from the manufac- 
tured stone. He employs about fifteen men 
and personally superintends the work. His 
faithfulness to the terms of a contract, com- 



bined with his efficiency, have made his 
services in constant demand. 

Mr. Long, at local elections, supp(jrts 
the men whom he regards best qualified for 
office, but at national elections he votes the 
Republican ticket. He is a member of Lick- 
ing Lodge, Xo. .291. F. & A. M., of Utica, 
also belongs to the Springfield Gunning and 
Fishing Cltib and is well known in the city, 
although one of its more recent arrivals. 
Aluch of his life has been spent in Ohio and 
he takes a deep and active interest in every- 
thing pertaining to the welfare of his city 
and his communitv. 



PETER GERMAN. 

The farming and stiK'k-raising interests 
(if Clark cuunty are well represented by 
Peter German, who is successfully carrying 
on business along those lines in Green 
townsliip. His entire life has been passed in 
this county, he being a native son of Spring- 
field township, where his birth occurred Jan- 
uary 4, 1855. His parents were Baltz and 
Barbara (.Hartmann) German, both of 
whom were natives of Germany, the father 
being about twenty-two years of age when 
he crossed the Atlantic to America, while 
the mother was a }oung lady of eighteen 
years when she came with her parents to the 
new world, the family locating in Green 
township, Clark county, Ohio. In Spring- 
field the parents of our subject were mar- 
ried. Mr. German was a poor man, but had 
learned the trade of shoemaking and with 
this knowledge he determined to start out in 
life upon his own account, believing that he 
could earn a good living through industry 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



561 



and economy. He earned money enough to 
send back to Germany and pay his parents' 
passage to this country. For a number of 
years he carried on shoemaking and then, 
with money which he had gained through his 
own labor, he purchased land where the sub- 
ject of this re\ie\v now resides, becoming the 
owner of one hundred and fifteen acres. On 
the farm he made excellent improvments, in- 
cluding the erection of substantial buildings. 
He lived to be seventy-four years of age, 
passing away in 1900. In bis family were 
twelve children, eleven of whom reached 
adult age, while nine are }-et li\-ing and all 
are residents of Clark county with the ex- 
ception of John and Philip, who reside in 
Grinnell, Poweshiek county, Iowa. The fa- 
ther endorsed the Democracy and was a 
member of the German Lutheran church. 

Petf-r German was the fourth in order of 
birth in his father's family, and was about 
twelve years of age when they removed to 
the farm. He acquired a fair common school 
education and assisted his father until he 
was twenty-two years of age, when he be- 
gan earning his own livelihood, working by 
the flay and month as a farm hand. When 
he had succeeded in saving a few hundred 
dollars he established a home of his own, 
completing his arrangements for that home 
by his marriage to Miss Blumenchein, a 
daughter of Peter and Hannah (Krieg- 
baum) Blumenchein. The marriage was 
celebrated in Springfield July 12, 1881, and 
the young couple began their domestic life 
upon a farm. He is now operating his moth- 
er's farm, comprising one hundred and fif- 
teen acres, and in its cultivation shows a 
thorough knowledge of farm methods. The 
home has been blessed with two children, 
\Mlliam and Minnie, who are still with their 
parents. In 1876 Air. German cast his first 



presidential vote for Tilden and has always 
endorsed the men and measures of the Dem- 
ocratic party when national cjuestions have 
been involved, but at local elections he votes 
independently. His religious faith is indi- 
cated by his membership in the Lutheran 
cliurch. 



HENRY P. BRADBURY. 

Henry P. Bradbury was born in Preble 
county, Ohio, in the city of Camden, March 
17, 1825. His father, Hezekiah Bradbury, 
was born in Pennsylvania April 21, 1790, 
and was the son of Hezekiah and Abigail 
Bradbury. The grandfather came to Ohio 
in 1794 and was a bushwhacker in the 
Revolutionary war. He changed his name 
to Broadberry because of some trouble in 
which he became involved in the army. By 
trade he was a weaver. He settled near 
Fort Hamilton, where he reared his family, 
and where he lived during his remaining 
years. 

Hezekiah Bradbury, Jr., the father of 
our subject studied navigation but by trade 
was a nailmaker and boilerniaker. In 1825 
he removed to Camden, Ohio, where he con- 
ducted a general store and in his business 
affairs prospered, becoming well-to-do as 
the result of his enterprise and capable man- 
agement of his business affairs. In 1832 
he removed with his family to Niles, Mich- 
igan, where he began farming and at that 
place he died February 3, 1865. He served 
his country as a soldier in the war of 1812. 
His wife, who' bore the maiden name of 
Lucy Wright, was \x>n\ near Uniontown, 
Pennsylvania, September 20, 1790, and was 
a representative of an old family that came 
from Ireland. Thev were married in But- 



562 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ler county, Oliio. Unto Hezekiali and 
Lucy Bradbury were born nine children, 
eight scjiis and a daughter: Sin.eon, who was 
a surveyor and teacher, and died at the age 
of sixty-six years; William, who died at the 
age of eighty-one years; Sarah A., a resi- 
dent of Springfield ; Clarkson, who died at 
the age of sevent\--eight years; John, who 
died in 1856, at the age of thirty-three years; 
Henry P.; Pliny, a miner living in Utah; 
Diadorus, who died in ilichigan; and Sen- 
eca, of Cumberland county, Temiessee, who 
was a soldier of the Civil war. The chil- 
dren were all born in Ohio, with the excqj- 
tion of the last named whuse birth occurred 
in Michigan. 

Henry P. Bradliury had ]:ut limited edu- 
cational privileges, for his father had lost 
much of his property and therefore could 
not afford to send his children, away to 
school. When fourteen years of age the 
subject of this review returned to Camden, 
Ohio, where he was engaged in clerking 
for a time. In 1843-4, howevei', he was a 
student in a branch of the University of 
Michigan at Xiles. In the latter year he 
served an apprenticeship in South Bend, 
Indiana, in the works of the St. Josqjh Iron 
Company, and he afterward spent some time 
in Coldwater, ^lichigan, in the same line of 
trade. In 1846 he became a partner in the 
establishment of the first machine shop in 
Niles, ^Michigan, where he continued for 
some time engaged in the construction of 
cars for the INIichigan Central Railroad and 
also in the manufacture of threshing ma- 
chines. In 1S49 li^ came to Springfield to 
work for John A. Pitts, founder of the 
threshing machine manufactory which is 
now conducted under the name of the O. S. 
Kelly Manufacturing Com])any. Since 
that time he has been a valual)le eniiiloye in 



the shops almost continuously. In 1852, 
however, he left the shops and purchased a 
store, which for one year was conducted 
under the firm name of Xagel & Bradbury. 
He then went to Piqua, Ohio, where he was 
engaged in fitting up car axles until 1854. 
In that year he returned to this city and be- 
gan working for Warder, Brokaw & Childs, 
as foreman of the Lagonda machine shops. 
Ill 1857 he took a contract to build wheat 
drills for Jacob Winger and the same year 
took a contract to make bolts and nuts. He 
also worked for a time for the firm of Thom- 
as & Mast. In i860, 1861 and a part of the 
year 1862 he was connected with the Meth- 
odist Book Concern, acting as pressman. 
In 1864 he was drafted for service in the 
Union amiy and assigned to the command 
known as the Shiloh Racers, being a member 
of Company G, Seventy-first Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry. He received his discharge 
on the 1 2th of June, 1865. After the close 
of the war Mr. Bradbury went to work 
with McClellan Brothers and was pro- 
moted to the ix)sition of assistant foreman 
for O. S. Kelly, with whom he remained 
until 1899. He is now employed in the 
shops of the O. S. Kelly Company. He is 
a thorough mechanic, has worked in all 
branches of machinery and has a compre- 
hensive and accurate understanding of the 
business in principle and detail. 

In 185 1 Mr. Bradbun- was united in 
marriage to Anna E. Moore, a daughtei- of 
AVilliam Moore, and unto them were born 
eleven children, of whom three sons and 
two daughters are yet living. William H. 
was a captain in the Spanish-Amiirican war 
and was also a member of the Ohio Nation- 
al (niards. John H. is a machinist of this 
city. Frank J. is also a machinist. The 
dauehlers are Sallie A. and Etifie B. In 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



563 



:88i the family was called upon tOi mourn 
the loss of the wife and mother who died on 
the 23rd of April of that year. Mr. Brad- 
bury afterward wedded Mary E. Cline, the 
widow of William Newport and a daughter 
of Jonathan Cline, of Cedarville. By her 
first marriage she had two daughters, Mrs. 
Luella Thomas and Mrs. Gertrude Bunting. 
Mr. Bradbury had charge of the exhibit 
of the threshing machines of John A. Pitts 
at the first state fair of Ohio. In politics 
he is a Republican; in religious views is a 
Spiritualist and president of the society in 
the city. He has a wide acquaintance in 
Springfield, where he has so long made his 
home, and is particularly well-known in me- 
chanical circles. 



CAPTAIX WILLIAM! H. BRADBURY. 

For n.any years the list of war heroes in 
America contained the names of only those 
who were soildiers of the Civil war. The 
veterans of the early struggles in which our 
country engaged had passed away and there 
was an era of peace covering a third of a 
century from the time of the strife for the 
preservation of the Union until the United 
States again felt it its duty tj take up arms. 
The wars of this land have never been those 
of aggression. They have always been in 
defense O'f a principle and of liberty, and 
when Spain was violating t\ie terms of the 
Monroe doctrine and extending its mon- 
archical interests into the new world Amer- 
ica arose as a defender of liberty and inde- 
pendence in the western hemisphere. It 
was at this time that William H. Brad- 
bury, with the rank of captain, entered the 
Spanish-American war, commanding Com- 



pany B, of the Third Infantry, of the Ohio 
National Guard. 

The Captain was born in Springfield 
November 16, 1862, and in the public schools 
of this city pursued his education. In 1876 
he began working for himself, being at that 
time only foin-teen years of age. He fcmnd 
employment in the finishing department of 
St. John's Sewing -Machine factory, learn- 
ing the trade and following it for three 
years. He then went into the shop of Rine- 
hart, Ballard & Company, learning the trade 
of machinist under his father, who was fore- 
man of that shop for a number of years. 
There Mr. Bradbury was employed until 
1882 when the old firm sold out to O. S. 
Kelly and the Springfield Engine and 
Threshing Works Company was organized. 
Our subject remained with the new concern 
and is still there employed as a journeyman 
machinist, being one of the old and trust- 
worthy representatives of the machinist's 
craft. He has resided continuously in 
Springfield with the exception of the sum- 
mers of 1882 and 1883. when he was em- 
ployed as a farm hand in the neighborhood 
of Xiles, Michigan. 

In March, 1896, ]\Ir. Bradbury was 
united in marriage to Miss Ella D. Brat- 
ton, who w-as born in JMcArthur, Ohio, in 
1868, a daughter of Anthony W. Bratton. 
Her father died in July, 1902, at the age of 
fifty-seven years and his wife, who bore the 
maiden name of Lydia 'M. UUo.n. is now- 
living at No. 67 West Columbia street, at 
the age of fifty-four years. In their family 
were six children, of whom four are still liv- 
ing: Ella D. is the wife of Captain Brad- 
bury; Lillie 'SI. is the wife of Burt Jones, 
an engineer of the Foos ^Manufacturing 
Company; Maggie B. is the wife of Willard 
L. Berry, grand chief of the Knights of the 



564 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Golden Eagle and a resident of Springfield ; 
Archie M. is living in this city; Anthony 
\\". was killed on the railroad in 1893; and 
Edward A. died May 8, 1902. He was first 
sergeant of Con.pany B, Third Ohio Na- 
tional Guard, and sened as a trumpeter to 
Company B, of the Third Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry^ during the Spanish- American war. 
The father of this family was a printer h}- 
trade and followed that pursuit throughout 
his business career. He was also a soldier, 
having served in the Civil war for four and 
one-half years altogether. He was a pri- 
vate of Company A, One Hundred and For- 
ty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. In-.t 
first ailisted as a teamster at the break- 
ing out of hostilities in 1861. Later he 
became a second lieutenant of Company K, 
One Hundred and Ninety-fourth Ohio In- 
fantry. He was born in Guernsey county, 
Ohio, and always remained a resident of this 
slate, coniing in 1888 to Springfield, where 
he spent his remaining days. He was a 
member of the T}pographical Union and 
also of the Union Veteran Union. Mrs. 
Bradbury attended school until she was 
fourteen years of age and tlien began learn- 
ing type-setting under the direction of her 
father in Springfield. She became employed 
on the Champion City Times and was a 
member of Typographical Union No. 117, 
of this city. 

Captain Bradbury has a militar}* record 
of which he has every reason to be proud . 
He became a member of the National 
Guards, but joined Company A of the Sev- 
enth Regiment on the 6th of June, 1881. 
He became a corporal on the gth of Janu- 
ary 1884; sergeant, February 23, 1885 ; and 
was discharged on the expiration of his ser- 
vice, June 6, 1886. Tlie following day, 
however, he re-enlisted and was transferred 



to Company A of the Tliirteenth Infantry, 
May II, 1887. He became a corporal De- 
cember 26, 1887; sergeant, ^lay 25, 1889; 
first sergeant May 10, 1889; and was dis- 
charged June 7, of that year. Once more, 
on the 26th of June, 1889, he re-enlisted and 
on the loth of March, 1890, was made cor- 
poral. On the loth of June of the same 
year he became second lieutenant, acting in 
that capacity until the 12th of January, 
1 89 1, when he resigned. On the 4th of 
January, 1892, he became a member of 
Company R. Third Regiment of the Ohio 
National Guard, was made first lieutenant 
^larch 16, 1892, captain October 2, 1895, 
major of the Tliird Infantry November 21, 
1899, and resigned Decemljer 22, of the 
sair.e year. He was re-comm.issioned cap- 
tain of Company B, Third Infantry, Jan- 
uary 8, 1900, to rank from the 2d of Octo- 
ber, 1895. He was in active service in the 
Cincinnati riots from the 29th of !March to 
the 3d of April, 1884. Company C of the 
Fourth Ohio National Guard was the only 
company of the old Fourth Regiment that 
reached the jail of Cincinnati, Ohio, per- 
formed its duty faithfully and returned 
home and preserved its organization intact. 
Our subject was at Carthage, Ohio, frt^mi the 
6th to the 17th of May, 1886, and at Wheel- 
ing Creek from the 8th of June to the 17th 
of the same month, in 1894. He was also 
in active duty in the Urbana riot in June, 
1897. Captain Bradbury was also on ac- 
tive duty at the time of the Arcade Hotel 
fire February 19, 1894; in the East street 
fire February lo-ii, 1902; and at the time 
of the cyclone at the south end of the city. 
He enlisted in the army of tlie United States, 
November 29, 1890, was assigned to Com- 
panv F of the Tenth United States Infantry, 
March 10, 1891, and discharged December 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



565 



15 of the same year under provisions and 
paragraphs i and 3 of the general order 
No. 81, issued at the adjutant general's of- 
fice. In the war with Spain he enlisted on 
the loth of May, 1898, becoming a captain 
of Company B, Third Ohio Volunteer In- 
fantry, and was mustered out with his regi- 
ment October 26, 1898. He was one of the 
organizers and is the commander of Keifer 
command No. 52, of the Spanish War Vet- 
erans, with which he is yet associated. 
While encamped at Tampa, Florida, he 
was joined by hi.s \\ife, who spent 
seven weeks with him in the south. Aft- 
er the war he was sent to Cuba in the 
interests of the O. S. Kelly Company. 
The Captain belongs toi Ingomar Lodge, 
No. 610, K. P., and is captain of Spring- 
field company, No-. 6, of the Uniformed 
Ranik. He also 'belongs to Al Yeni- 
bo Temple, No. 112, D. O. K. K., and to 
Logan Castle, No. i, K. G. E. In his polit- 
ical views he is independent, supporting the 
men and measures regarded by him as best 
qualified to promote the public welfare. He 
is well known in militaiy circles in Spring- 
field and throughout Ohio and has the warm 
regard of many of his comrades who wore 
the blue uniform. 



THOMAS R. WINGATE. 

Thomas R. Wingate is a retired merchant 
of Catawba. For many years he has been 
widely and favorably known in Clark coun- 
ty, dating his residence here from 1 844. He 
was born on the eastern shore of Mary- 
land, in) Cecil connty, January 24, 1827, 
and is of English lineage. His great-grand- 
father was a native of England while the 



grandfather of our subject, born in this 
country, served as a soldier of the Revolu- 
tionary war, valiantly aiding in the strug- 
gle to throw off the yoke of British oppres- 
sion and establish the American Republic. 
Peter Wingate, the father of our subject, 
was born in Maryland and became a soldier 
of the war of 1812. About 1844 he came 
to Ohio, settling in Pleasant township, Clark 
county, where he lived until 1856, there 
following farming upon a tract of land 
which he transformed from its wild state. 
He married Eliza Ward, who was also of 
English descent, her people having come to 
the United States about the time the Wingate 
family was founded in the new world. She, 
too, was born in Maryland and she died in 
Delaware, at the age of forty-two years, af- 
ter which her husband always remained a. 
widower. He survived lier about twenty 
years and passed away in Missouri, in 1864, 
at the ripe old age of se\^enty-seven years. 
Tliey were the parents of seven children 
but the only one now living is Thomas P. 
Wingate of this review, the second in order 
of birth. One son, James, was killed in a 
skirmish during the Civil war, when only 
twenty years of age. Robert W. was a 
member of the Home Guard in the state of 
Missouri during the- Rebellion. The other 
members of the family were George, Su- 
san, Mary and Martha, all of whom died in 
early life. They were educated in the com- 
mon schools. -The father gave his political 
support to the Whig party until its dissolu- 
tion, when he became an advocate of the 
principles of the new Republican party. In 
religious faith he was a L'niversalist while 
his wife was identified with the INIethodist 
Episcopal church. 

Thomas R. Wingate, of this review, 
spent the first seven years of his life in 



566 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Maryland. He then accompanied his par- 
ents to Delaware, where he pursued his edu- 
cation in the subscription schools of the 
state until sevaiteen jears of age. He ac- 
companied his father to Ohio in 1844 ^"•^^ 
remained at home until after he had at- 
tained his majority. He then learned the 
carpenter's trade, following that pursuit for 
a number of years. In 1856 he went to 
Missouri where he carried on farming until 
1864. and in that year he turned his attei:- 
tion to general merchandising. In 1865, 
howe\-er, he returned to Clark county and 
here he embarked in business with his brother 
George, as a merchant of Catawba, the part- 
nership being maintained until 1876, when 
his brother died at the age of fifty-six years. 
yiv. Wingate of this review then contin- 
ued alune in business until 1892 when he re- 
tired and was succeeded in the store by his 
sons. He had tuilt up a good trade as a 
general merchant and for many years en- 
joyed a liberal patronage whereby he an- 
nually gained a satisfactory income. 

In 1853 Mr. Wingate was married to 
^liss Mary Lefferty, who was born in 
Pleasant township, Clark county, in 1835, 
the only child of Isaac Lefferty, who was a 
well known farmer of that township. She 
was educated in the common schools there 
and in the old academy on East High street, 
in Springfield. For many years she was the 
faithful companion and helpmate of her hus- 
band, but on tjie 19th of September, 1901, 
she was called to the home beyond. Unto 
Mr. and Mrs. Wingate were born five chil- 
dren who are yet li\ing, and one died in in- 
fancy. Laura is the wife if Byron Hull, 
who is in the I'armcrs' I'.ank at Mechanics- 
burg, Ohio, and their children arc Lucile 
and Marian. Ella is the wife of Sewall 
Tullis, a farmer "i Champaign county, and 



they have three children, Tliomas \V., Mar- 
guerite, and Martha. George married Anna 
Burgess and is engaged in n:erchandising in 
Catawba. Isaac Burton wedded Mary 
Cofifey and is engaged in the creamery busi- 
ness in Catawba. Their three children are 
Kenneth S., Th(jnias Byron and Marga- 
ret. IMaud is still at home. Mr. and !Mrs. 
Wingate provided their children with com- 
mon-school educations which they acquired 
in Pleasant township and the two eldest 
daughters also attended Delaware College, 
while George was a student in Nelson's Bus- 
iness College, of Springfield. 

While in Missouri Mr. Wingate joined 
the Home Guards. He was a strong Union 
man and e.xerted his influence and aid in 
support of the administration at Washing- 
ton. He also served as a school director in 
that state and was the only man in his neigh- 
horhood who would take the oath. He 
likewise served as judge of elections for one 
year and it was impossible to get enough 
voters to fill out the board. He has been a 
school director of Catawba and treasurer of 
his township for eleven years, and also 
school trustee. He has been a delegate to 
county and district conventions and for four 
y-ears was postmaster under General Grant's 
administration. He is a devoted member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which 
he has been a trustee for many years, and 
his daughters are workers in the Sunday- 
school. His wife was also a Christian wo- 
man, earnest and consistent in her religious 
belief, and ably supplemented his labors in 
behalf of the church. Socially he is identi- 
fied with the I^Iasonic fiaternity. He has 
lived a retired life since 1892 and owns a 
good farm in Champaign county, and also 
one in Pleasant township, Clark county. Mr. 
Wingate has ever been fearless in defense 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



567 



of his honest convictions and has taken a de- 
cided stand in fa.vor of all that tends tO' de- 
\-elop the best in mankind. Ever honorable 
aird upright, he has been found as the cham- 
pion of truth and justice, and his high n.oral 
worth is widely acknowledged by his 
friends. 



DANIEL S. ROYER. 

Daniel S. Royer, who :s now living a re- 
tired life at Xo. 29 East ^^'ard street, in 
Springfield, where he has made his home 
since 1891 was born in Center county, 
Pennsylvania, upon a farm near Rebers- 
burg, December 17, 1836, and is of German 
lineage. His paternal grandfather, Chris- 
topher Royer, was born in Germany, and 
Daniel Royer, the father of Daniel S. Roy- 
er, was his eldest son. The latter was reared 
in Center county, Penns}'lvania, from early 
boyhood and in 1838 he removed to Clin- 
ton county, being an early settler of this 
place. He always followed farming and 
when he started out in life he had no capital. 
He prospered in his undertakings and be- 
came the owner of several bunded acres of 
land in Center and Clinton counties. He 
died in the latter county in 1876, at the ad- 
vanced age of eighty-three years. In early 
manhood he had wedded Rachel Shutt, who 
was born in Pennsylvania and died in 1846, 
at the age of forty-seven. Mr. Royer was 
a Whig in his political affiliations in early 
life and afterward became a Republican. 
He held membership in the German Re- 
formed church and his wile was a member 
of the Lutheran church. They became the 
]iarents of nine children one of whom died 
in earlv childhood. Of the six sons and 



three daughters, all are now deceased with 
the exception of Daniel S., who was the 
eighth in order of birth, and George A., who 
is living near Akron, Ohio. One of the 
sons, Samuel Royer, died in Pennsylvania 
in 1 90 1, at the age of eighty years. 

In the district schools Daniel S. Royer 
pursued his studies during the winter 
months and worked on the farm in the sum- 
mer until he had attained his majority. 
There were no threshing machines and he 
had to -ride the horse tO' tramp out the 
wheat. He attended the seminary at W'ill- 
iamsport, Pennsylvania, for two years, pur- 
suing an elective course, and then returned 
to his father's farm, where he remained for 
three years longer. In 1863 he married 
Miss Eva Heckman, who was born in Clin- 
ton county and was educated in the common 
schools. He then removed to a farm near 
the old homestead which had been purchased 
by his father and in a few years he bought 
this land and continued its cultivation for 
twenty-seven years. It is now well improved 
with modern buildings. His first home was 
a log cabin, 'but that primitive dwelling was 
afterward replaced by a substantial and com- 
modious brick structure. He kept a high 
grade of stock and successfully cultivated 
his fields until 1891, when he sold his farm 
and is now living retired in Springfield. 
Unto him and his wife were born four chil- 
dren, one of whom died at the age of four 
years. Tire others are: Rachel, the wife 
of Professor Heckert; Newton H., who is 
a Lutheran preacher and is married and lives 
in Brookville, Ohio; and Nettie K. The 
;.:;rents and children are all memliers of the 
Fourth Lutheran church. In politics Mr. 
Royer is a Republican and has ever been the 
advocate of all measures to advance the 



568 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



genral welfare. He commands the re- 
spect and confidence of his fellow men 
throughout this locality and has many 
friends in the citv and county. 



JACOB PEARL NAVE. 

Of a well known family that from pio- 
neer days has figiu'ed in the history of agri- 
ailtural de\elopment in Clark comity, Mr. 
Nave of this re\iew well deserves represen- 
tation in this volume. He was born No- 
vember 23, 1867, on the farm on which his 
father, John G. Nave is still living. His 
mother bore the maiden name of Marga- 
ret Gram anrl they are well known peoi^le 
of Green township, widely and favorably 
known. Under the parental roof the sub- 
ject of this review spent his boyhood days, 
being trained to habits of industry, econ- 
omy and honest\\ The common schools af- 
forded him his educational privileges and 
through the summer months he worked in 
the fields. After putting aside his text books 
he ga\-e his attention altogether to farm 
work until twenty-four years of age, being 
employed by the month by his father. 

He then made preparations for having a 
home of his own by his marriage to Miss 
Aurelia Garlough, their wedding being cel- 
ebrated on the 24th of December, 1 89 1 . Tlie 
lady was born in Green township and is a 
daughter of Benjamin and Matilda (Mc- 
Kinney) Garlough, who are now residents 
of ritcliin. Two children were born unto 
our subject and his wife, but John Benja- 
min, who was born No\-ember 19, 1892, died 
February 5, 1895, at the age of two years 
and two months. The other son, Edgar 
Pearl, born in Green township, January 27, 
1894, is yet with his parents. 



In his political views Mr. Nave is inde- 
pendent. He did not vote at all in 1892 and 
in 1896 he cast his ballot for William Jen- 
nings Bryan. During the years of his 
manhood he has always carried on farm 
work which is thoroughly familiar to him 
in principle and detail. From the time of 
early spring planting until after his crops 
are harvested in late autumn he gives close 
attention to his farm work, plans his la- 
bors so as to utilize iiis land to the best ad- 
vantage anil as the re.^ult of his capability 
as an agriculturist he is steadily adding to 
his income and is now a substantial resident 
of Green township. 



JOSEPH C. O'BRIEN. 

Joseph C. O'Brien is engaged in the un- 
dertaking and embalming business in 
Springfield. He was born in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, February 25, 1855, and is a son of 
Patrick O'Brien, whose birth occurred in 
Ireland. The father was educated in the 
common schools of his native land and re- 
ceived a business training in his native 
country as well. He served an apprentice- 
ship to the carpenter's trade and about 1849 
sailed for America, believing that he might 
have better business opportunities in the 
new world. For a time he resided in Que- 
bec, Canada, and in 1850 he came to Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, where he engaged in con- 
tracting and building for four years. On 
the e.xpiration of that period he removed 
his family to Urbana, Ohio, and was a resi- 
dent of that city until 1869, when he be- 
lieved that he might better his condition by 
becoming a resident of Springfield. Ac- 
cordino-ly he linMiQ-ht his family to this place 



■ THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



571 



and for many years successfully followed 
his chosen occupation, being actively and 
prominartly identified with building inter- 
ests here. He is now living retired in the 
enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. 
Before he left the Green Isle of Erin he 
was united in marriage to Miss Ann Es- 
mond, and unto them were bom four chil- 
dren, of whom one died in infancy. The 
others are Joseph C, Mary and John. Mary 
is the wife of Daniel Kenney, of Spring- 
lield. John, also a resident of this city, 
has been a member of the board of equaliza- 
tion since 1893, and is an active worker in 
the ranks of the Democratic party. He 
married and had three children, Elizabeth, 
Patrick and Paul, but the wife died in 1897. 
Patrick O'Brien, the father of our subject, 
has always been an active and enterprising 
man and is one of the old, respected con- 
tractors O'f the city. He provided his chil- 
dren with good educational advantages 
in the public and parochial schools of Ur- 
bana and Springfield and gave them in- 
struction at night in different branches of 
learning in order that he might prepare 
them for life's practical duties. 

Joseph C. O'Brien was thus educated 
until sixteen )-ears of age, when he began 
work with his father at the carpenter's 
trade, the business association between them 
being maintained for a few years. Our sub- 
ject then secured work in a planing mill and 
possessing much natural mechanical skill, 
he made rapid advancement. He followed 
that pursuit for a time and later began work 
in a foundry, being then twenty-one years 
of age. He was in the James Leffel Wheel 
Works under the superintendency of Tim- 
othy Hennessey, learning the trade and re- 
maining in that place for seven years, but 
in 1882 he abandoned that work in order 



to secure, other opportunities in the busi- 
ness world. He purchased an interest in 
the undertaking business of Callahan & 
Graham, buying out the junior partner, the 
firm being known as Callahan & O'Brien. 
Mr. O'Brien then had no knowledge of the 
business, but with ready adaptability he 
mastered all the details. At the time the 
new firm was organized they purchased the 
interest O'f Mr. Breslin in the livery busi- 
ness of Brennan & Breslin. They contin- 
ued to do a successful business, gaining a 
wide reputation for honesty and industry. 
In 1890 Mr. O'Brien purchased the interest 
of his partner in the undertaking business 
and has since been alone in this enterprise. 
He follows modern methods, keeping 
abreast with the times and personally su- 
perintends his business in its various 
branches. From 1890 until 1898 he ex- 
perienced some trying years in business. 
He worked against strong opposition and 
competition, and as this covered a period 
of financial depression in the history of the 
country, it was all the more difficult for 
him, but his honesty and industry, combined 
with resolute purpose, enabled him to over- 
come all obstacles. 

Mr. O'Brien keeps well read on cur- 
rent events, politically and otherwise, and 
is a man of high standing. He is a worker 
in St. Raphael's church, and to charitable 
institutions of the city he has been a liberal 
supporter, although he is very quiet and un- 
ostentatious in his giving. He was an act- 
ive worker and a member of the Father 
Matthews T. A. B. Society from its organi- 
zation until it yisbanded, while in the 
foundry he was an active member of the 
Iron Molders Union, and is a member and 
also treasurer of the Knights of Columbus. 
In politics he is a Democrat and for two 



572 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and one-lialf years took part in public affairs 
as a member of the police and fire board. 
Modest in demeanor and of a quiet tem- 
perament, he nevertheless has gained the 
warm regard of a very large circle of 
friends. 



JOXATHAX .MATTHIAS EVAXS. 

Jonathan IMatthias Evans, who by 
attainments, results accomplished and emi- 
nence in his chosen line of labor, in every 
w ay fills the ideal called to mind by the ex- 
pression "captain of industry," in all that 
the term implies, being well worthy of the 
title. His leadership rests upon a knowl- 
edge and understanding of industry itself, 
for his has been a bus)- and useful career, 
in which he has accomplished much not only 
for his individual profit but also in promot- 
ing industrial and commercial activity, in 
furnishing employment to others and in push- 
ing forward the wheels of progress. Since 
1867 his home has been in Sprinarfield and 
though he has now retired from business 
cares he has left the impress of his individu- 
ality for all time on the material advance- 
ment of the city. 

A native of Pennsylvania Mr. Evans 
was born in Cumberland county March 30, 
1818. His father, Owen Evans, was a na- 
tive of Philadelphia, and spent almost his 
entire life there. B}- trade he was a car- 
penter, following that pursuit through many 
years. Tiie Evans family is of Welsh lin- 
eage. The grandfather of our subject was 
bom in Wales, whence he crossed the At- 
lantic to America at an early day. Owen 
Evans was twice married and by his first 
union had one son, Rowland D., now de- 
ceased. For his second wife he chose Leah 



Souder, who was born in Lancaster county, 
Pennsylvaia, and represented one of the old 
families of that state. Her father lived to 
the very advanced age of one hundred and 
twelve years, and she reached the ripe old 
age of eighty-five years. By her marriage 
she became the mother of four sons and 
four daughters : David S. and Lewis Cass, 
both now deceased; Mary, the deceased wife 
of Hairy Paul ; Jonathan ^L ; Anna, the de- 
ceased wife of Smith Druley; Owen who 
was a resident of Columbus, Ohio, but has 
now passed away; LeaJi, the deceased wife 
of ITiomas ^Edmonson, of Springfield ; and 
Caroline, who is the widow of John R. 
Smith and resides on Fruit Hill, in Cincin- 
nati. The father of this family became 
w ell-to-do and in connection with carpenter- 
ing owned and operated a small farm. The 
children were all educated in the subscrip- 
tion schools of Pennsylvania. 

Jonathan ^^latthias Evans of this review 
was only thirteen years of age at the time of 
his father's death. The following year he 
began to earn his own livelihood and from 
a humble position he worked his way up- 
ward until he occupied a commanding place 
in the trade circles of Springfield. For a 
time he studied medicine with his brothers 
but never practiced the profession. Begin- 
ning work in a woolen factor)-, his duty was 
to care for the carding machines. He af- 
terward learned the carpenter's trade and 
for some years worked as a journeyman. He 
next went into a foundry and learned the 
molder's trade. Tlie year 1840 witnessed 
his arrival in Ohio and in that year he cast 
his first presidential ballot, supporting \\'ill- 
iam Henry Harrison, at which time the cry 
of the \\'higs was "Tipi^ecanoe and Tyler, 
too." From Dayton Mr. Evans removed 
to Piqua, Ohio, where he worked as a ir.ol- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



573 



der for a time and later entered into part- 
nership, carrying on business there for sev- 
eral years under the firm name of Alexander, 
Rouzer & Evans, manufacturers of heavy 
mill machinery, their specialty being the 
machinery for saw and flouring mills. The 
firm later took a contract for building cars 
fur the Columbus, Piqua & Indiana Railroad 
which has since been merged into another 
road, and constructed some of the first cars 
used on that line. They carried on a gen- 
eral jobbing factory of heavy machinery 
and much of the machinery was made after 
original inventions. This company invented 
and placed upon the market a turbine wheel 
known as the E\ans water wheel. They 
were among the first builders of heavy ma- 
chinery in Ohio and in the enterprise, in 
which they were pioneers, met with good 
success. The railroad, however, from 
which they had taken the contract to build 
cars, went into the hands of a recei\'er and 
the company never received payment for the 
work it had done. Changes in partnership 
occurred and in due course of time Air. Ev- 
ans became associated with his sons under 
the firm style of A. C. Evans & Company, 
which stands to-day as one of the strong- 
industrial institutions of this city. The sub- 
ject of this review is still a director in the 
business and many of the ideas developed 
in the foundry have originated- in his brain 
and have been carried to successful comple- 
tion by the sons. The factory in this city 
was first built on Main street and subse- 
quently the business was removed to the 
present site and the buildings constituting 
the plant were erected. The first site was 
a farm at the time of the Evans purchase 
and later it was divided and sold in building 
lots. A. C. Evans, a son of our subject, 
was also an inventor of note and was one of 



the first to invent and manufacture machin- 
ery for planting corn. This machine, which 
he perfected has come into general use 
throughout the United States, and also in 
many foreign lands. Many other kinds of 
machinery are now manufactured in the 
plant, a specialty being made of harrows. 
From the establishment of the enterprise 
until his practical retirement from active 
business life, Jonathan ]\I. Evans was a 
leading factor in the successful control of 
a business which under the guidance of him- 
self and partners grew to extensive propor- 
tions. 

In Piqua, Ohio, ]\Ir. Evans was united 
in marriage to Ann Muter, who was born 
in England 'but had resided for some time 
in Piqua. Five children blessed this union, 
four sons and a daughter, but the latter, 
Leah, died in childhood. George is a stock- 
holder of the A. C. Evans Company and re- 
sides on West High street. Alva was mar- 
ried and at his death left a son, George, who 
was a soldier in the Spanish-American war, 
joining the United States army in Cuba, and 
now resides in Indiana. Aiistin C, who 
w'as the inventor of the corn planter abo\'e 
mentioned and one of the founders of the 
A. C. Evans ^Manufacturing Company, 
served as its president until his death. His 
w'idow is now the wife of Dr. J. T. Myers 
and their daughter, Pearl, is the wife of 
Frank Harwood. Lewis C. is emplo}-ed 
by the P. P. Alast Company and is president 
of the Evans [Manufacturing Company. He 
is married and has two children : Eliza- 
beth and Lewis C. The sons were all edu- 
cated in the public schools of Piqua, and the 
wife and mother died in that city. As they 
grew to manhood the sons became acti\-e as- 
sistants of the father, the family working 
together in harmony in the ownership and 



574 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



control of an important business enterprise. 
In 1883 Mr. Evans was again married, his 
second union being with Mrs. Catherine 
Downs, a widow whose husband died in Cal- 
ifornia, leaving three daughters. She was 
born in New York and was educated in the 
public schools of Springfield, Ohio. Her 
father, John Sheaff, removed from the Em- 
pire state to Lancaster county, Pennsylva- 
nia, and in 1837 came to Clark county. In 
his 'family were eleven children, of whom 
six are yet living, >but Mrs. Hilary- Hicks, of 
South Plum street, and Mrs. Evans are the 
only residents of Ohio. 

Jonathan M. Evans holds membership 
in the Unixersalist church, and in jxalitics is 
a Republican who took an active part in the 
local work of the organization of the party 
while residing in Piqua. Reading has been 
one of his chief resources of recreation and 
pleasure and he has kept well informed on 
all issues of the day, both ijolitically and 
otherwise, and is familiar with good liter- 
ature of all ages. His face indicates strong 
character, concentration of purpose and a 
capacity for strong feeling. He has ever 
been 'fearless in defense of what he believes 
to be right and has always been found as a 
supix>rter of the true, the just and the beau- 
tiful. He is to-day a well preserved man 
for one of his years. Nature is kindly to 
those who abuse not her laws and Mr. Ev- 
ans has ever been observant of her princi- 
ples. He has long occupied a commanding 
position in public regard by reason of his 
success and by his close adherence to cor- 
rect business principles. He has seized the 
opportunities that have offered and has used 
his brains and his ability to further his busi- 
ness interests and at the same time has had 
due regard for the rights of others. 



JOHX G. DALIE. 

Springfield largely owes her prominence 
to her industrial interests and those who 
have been prominent in promoting develoj)- 
ment along these lines may well be termed 
the founders and builders of the city. John 
G. Dalie was for many years a most impor- 
tant factor in this line of activity and to-day 
he is enjoying a well merited rest. He was 
born in Sidbury, Devonshire, England, Oc- 
tober I, 1846. His father brought the fam- 
to American in 1852, locating in Lockport. 
Xew York, whence after two years he re- 
moved to Clark county, Ohio, making the 
journey by way of the canal, lakes and rail- 
road. Here he located in 1854 and from 
that time forward Mr. Dalie of this review 
has been almost continuously a resident of 
Spring-field. 

He was educated in the Episcopal school 
and later in a public .school on east High 
street. Subsequently he was a student in a 
school conducted by William Reed under 
the auspices of the United Presbyterian 
church, on the present site of the Fox whole- 
sale grocery house. There he was severely 
punished by the teacher i)ecause he was an 
English lad. He attended the summer 
schools contlucted by Richard Murris, who 
instructed his pupils in the new eastern 
building just being erected. He was af- 
terward a pupil of j\Iiss Criley and when 
only thirteen years of age he permanently 
left the schoolroom in order to provide for 
his own support, beginning work on the 
farm of Samuel Woods, but he did nut find 
the occupation congenial and went instead 
to Dayton Ohio, spending his last cent for 
car fare. In that city he found employ- 
ment with the firm of Bummager, White & 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



575 



Company, manufacturers of reapers. He 
entered upon an apprenticeship but was soon 
afterward taken ill. On his recovery, how- 
ever, he returned tO' that house and com- 
pleted his trade. His ne.xt employment was 
in the shops of the Big Four Railroad Com- 
pany and subseciuently he was put upon the 
road as a fireman, thus working for some 
time. He enlisted in the Seventeenth Ohio 
Battery of Light Artillery under Captain 
Rice and went to Camp Tod, where he was 
assigned for duty at New Orleans, at which 
place he joined his cijmpau}', remaining 
with that command until the close of the 
war. 

In September, 1865, Mr. Dalie returned 
to the north and was mustered out at Camp 
Chase, after which he once more became a 
resident of Springfield, working at the car- 
penter's trade under Ximrod Alters. In 
1866 he again went to Dayton, where he 
was employed as a machinist, and after 
three months he accepted an offer from the 
James Leffel Company of Springfield and 
became a machinist in their machine shop. 
A branch house had been established at New 
Haven, Connecticut owned b}- the Bigelow 
JManu|fa|cturing Company, and Air. DaJie 
was selected to go to that place as foreman 
and superintendent of the construction of 
the machinery-. This was a position of re- 
sponsibility and although he was only twen- 
t}' years of age at the time, he was regarded 
as well qualified for the important duties. 
Again he returned to Springfield where he 
was employed at his trade until 1869, when 
he was made foreman under Fuller Trump, 
occupying that position until 1874, when 
he entered the service of Mast, Foos & 
Company in their new shop. In connection 
therewith he continued until 1879, during 
\\hich time he built all of their model work 



and centennial exhibits. This certainly in- 
dicated his superior skill, as he was placed 
upon work which was to compete with the 
hest of the kind produced in the world. In 
the fall of 1879 Mr. Dalie returned to the 
James Leffel Company as a machinist and in 
three weeks was placed in charge of the 
factory as assistant superintendent under 
Fuller Trump. In 1890 he was promoted 
to superintendent and remained with that 
house until September, 1901, when there oc- 
curred a. change in the general management 
and he retired from the company. From a 
very humble beginning he had worked his 
way upward and by close application, a 
thorough mastery oi mechanical principles 
and construction and by superior skill he 
had gained a position reached by 'few in his 
line of work. 

On the 29th of October, 1868, Mr. Dalie 
was married in Springfield by Rev. Cald- 
well, a minister of the First Baptist church, 
to 'Jennie Steele, who was born in this city 
July 7, 1 85 1, and is a daughter of John and 
Anna (Martin) Steele. Her paternal grand- 
father, John Steele, was a manufacturer of 
pottery, carrying on business where the 
Diehl hardware store is now located. The 
parents of Mrs. Dalie were both born in 
Pennsylvania. After their marriage, which 
occurred in the city of Dayton, Ohio, they 
removed to Springfield. They were the 
parents of five children of whom two are 
now deceased : Hiram H., who died at the 
age of nineteen years and six months; and 
Wesley, who died at the age of eleven years. 
Those still surviving are: Lucinda, the 
wife of Willard Smith, by whom she has 
three children — Charles; Maude, the wife of 
W. F. Copenhaver ; and Clara, the deceased 
wife of Charles Schindler; Hattie E., the 
wife of Jerome W. Cook, by whom she had 



576 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



two children — Frank S. now deceased, and 
Eddie; and Mrs. Dalie, the wife of our sub- 
ject. The father was a pump maniifactur- 
er, carrying on business for man}- years. At 
his death he was laid to rest in the Colum- 
bia street cemetery, where were buried his 
father and his son, Wesley. Mrs. Steele 
was buried in Fernclifi' cemetery and Hiram 
in Greenmount. The children were educat- 
ed in the private school conducted by ^Sliss 
Harbaugh, and in the Western school. Un- 
to Air. and Mrs. Dalie have been born three 
children: Lamar J., born in 1871, mar- 
ried Ethel Bloom, who was a daughter of 
Senator Bloom and is now deceased. He 
afterward married Catherine Souders and 
they have one son. Lamar. Percy J., born 
in 1876, married Marguerite A. Lutz and is 
a traveling salesman living in Jersey City, 
although he does business in New York 
City. Anna Leali, born in 1878. is the wife 
of Robert J. \\'ilson and has one son, John 
Lohner. The sons were educated in Witten- 
berg College and Airs. Wilson in the high 
school of Springfield. 

\\"hen but eighteen years of age Mr. Da- 
lie cast his first presidential vote, being en- 
titled to this right because of his service in 
the Union army. He supported Abraham 
Lincoln and has aiways adhered to the Re- 
publican party when state and national is- 
sues are involved. He has been a delegate 
to the city, county and congressional con- 
ventions and held the office of police and 
fire commissioner under W. R. Burnett 
w hen the law was first put in operation. He 
was also a member of the Union Fire Com- 
panv as a torch bearer, where the station 
house is on Spring street. This company 
was called "Wooden Shoes," as they were 
all German. For fourteen years Mr. Dalie 
was connected with the fire department. He 



belongs to Clark Lodge, Xo. 10 1, F. & A. 
AL, and is a member of Stevens Command 
U. V. U. He belongs to the Church of 
England to which he has always been a lib- 
eral contributor, and he is generous in his 
benefactions to public institutions and to 
many objects worthy of support. Air. Dalie 
has won many friends, for he has much of 
quality which for want of a better term is 
called "personal magnetism." He is gen- 
erous and genial and, moreover, his word is 
tru<twortliv. his actions sincere. 



JOHX XICHELSOX. 

John Xichelson, now deceased, was a 
man whom to know w as to respect and hon- 
or and he well deserves mention among the 
representative men of Clark county. He 
was born in Harmony township, June 11, 
1837, his parents being Andrew and Rach- 
el (Hammond) Xichelson. Upon the home 
fami he was reared, spending his lx>yhood 
days in the usual manner of farm lads. He 
acquired a good common-school education 
and through the summer months \\ orked in 
the fields and meadows. He and his broth- 
er, Andrew became partners in dealing in 
slock and in carrying on farm work. They 
received some assistance from their fa- 
ther and were successful in life, adding to 
their property until they owned nearly three 
thousand acres. As the years passed and 
their financial resources increased they 
made judicious investments in land and thus 
became very extensive property holders. 

On the 13th of Xovember, 1894, Air. 
Xichelson was united in marriage to Miss 
Ella Hannah, of De Graft. Logan county, 
v.here she was born and reared. Her par- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



S77 



ents were David and Christenia (Matthews) 
Hannah. Her father was born in Clark 
county, not far from Springfield, on the 14th 
of April, 1819, and died June 8, 1893. The 
mother was born March 14, 1830, in Logan 
county near where she now lives, and al- 
though now well advanced in years she is 
still very hale and hearty for one of her age. 
In the family of this worthy couple were 
ele\-en children, seven of whom reached years 
of maturity. Airs. Nichelson being the eldest. 
Airs. Nichelson was born March 21, 1858, 
spent her girlhood days on her father's farm 
and attained her education in the common 
schools. She had became acquainted with 
Air. Xichelson several }-ears prior to their 
marriage while visiting in this neighbor- 
hood. Tliey made their home on the farm 
and in 1898 Air. Nichelson erected a fine 
residence into which they removed in De- 
cember of that year. When one year and 
six days had passed he was killed on the 
railroad near his home December 28. 1899, 
bringing gloom and desolation to the home. 
There had been two children born of this 
marriage, of whom one, Ellie, still lives, 
whose birth occurred September 9, 1899. 
Air. Nichelson was a Republican in. politics 
but never sought or desired office, the hon- 
ors and emoluments of the same having no 
attractions for him. He enjoyed the re- 
spect and esteem of all with whom he came 
in contact, for he lived an upright, honor- 
able life and was kindly and sincere. True 
to all the duties and obligations that de- 
volved upon him, the poor and needy found 
in him a warm friend and he was also lib- 
eral in his donations to the church, while to 
his family he was very devoted, putting 
forth every efifort in his power to promote 
the welfare and happiness of his wife and 
child. When death came to him he was 



laid to rest in Plattsburg cemetery where a 
beautiful granite monument now marks his 
place of interment His estate was admin- 
istered by his nephew, Charles Nichelson, 
and by Albert Hannah, a brother of Airs. 
Nichelson. Airs. Nichelson is now the man- 
ager of the estate and is an excellent busi- 
ness woman as well as a most estimable 
lady. Like her husband she has many 
friends in the community and is widely 
known. Air. Nichelson spent his entire life 
in the county and was alwa)-s held in the 
highest regard by reason of his fidelity to 
duty and his strict adherence to manly prin- 
ciples. 



BENJAAIIN F. TAVEXNER. 

Benjamin F. Tavenner is a progressive 
and enterprising farmer of Pleasant town- 
ship and the owner of considerable property 
in Catawba. He was born in Loudoun coun- 
ty, Virginia, February 21, 1830, and repre- 
sents one of the old families of that state, 
his ancestors having lived there through 
many generations. Eli Tavenner, his fa- 
ther, was a farmer and a mechanic, who, 
with his wife and eleven children, came to 
Ohio. He died in Pleasant township when 
about fifty-five years of age and his wife 
passed away in the same locailty when 
about seventy years of age. Of their chil- 
dren only two daughters and a son are now 
living, namely: Airs. Rebecca Clarke, of 
Vienna ; Airs. Anna Ruse, of Loudoun coun- 
ty, Virginia; and Benjamin F., who was the 
youngest of the eleven children. 

The subject of this review obtained his 
education in the common schools of Pleas- 
ant township and also in the subscription 
schools of Virginia. He was reared to 



573 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



niaiihood upon a farm in this localit}- and 
assisted in tlie arduous task of clearing and 
developing new lands, working ni^on the 
home farm until 1864, when he purchased 
property and erected his home in Catawba. 
There ho i>])ened a blacksmith shop which he 
conduct'jd ioi twelve years also doing gen- 
eral rejjair work on wagons. He inherited 
considerable mechanical genius from his fa- 
ther and was thus an expert workman in 
this direction. After 1876, having sold his 
smithy, he followed wood-working and to 
some extent is still engaged in that line of 
occupation. He built his shop in the village 
cnnducting a prosperous business there, and 
is now engaged in stock-buying and feeding. 
He is of a sturdy, industrious race and his 
active, energetic life has brought to him 
creditable success and he has been a con- 
tinuous resident of the village since 1864. 
He has carried on this business for ten years 
in connection with his son, Will E., under 
the lirni name of B. F. Tavenner & Son. 

In 1 85 J, in Springfield township, Mr. 
Ta\enner was united in marriage to Emma 
Cook, who was born in Springfield, and is 
a daughter of John Cook, who was a shoe- 
maker by trade and who served for three 
years as sergeant-at-arms at the state legis- 
lature at Columbus. While residing in In- 
diana he filled the position of state librarian 
in Indianapolis. Later he returned to 
Springfield and purchased land, on which 
lie carried on general farming for several 
years. In 1849 li^ went to California, 
where he spent his remaining days dying 
on the 1 8th of Alay, 1877, I'l's birth having 
occurred on the Isle of Wight in 1796. His 
wife, who bore the name of Jane Wheeler, 
was also born there and died in 1849. ^^ 
had come to America in 1819, locating first 
in Cincinnati, Ohio, A\hence he removed to 



Bellefontaine, this state, remaining there for 
a year. He then came to Springfield and 
was well known in this city as Major Cook. 
In politics he was an old line Whig and was 
particularly prominent as an active temper- 
ance man. His career was a useful and 
honorable one and his life's span covered 
more than eighty years. In his family were 
seven children of whom three are living — 
Mrs. .\nn Bailey of Chicago, Illinois; John 
W ., who is living in the same city ; and ^Irs. 
7a\enner. Mrs. Ta\enner received her ed- 
ucation under private instruction. Her 
mother had been a teacher prior to her re- 
moval from England and greatly assisted 
the daughter in gaining a knowledge of the 
branches of learning usually taught as a 
preparation for life's work. Unto Mr. and 
Mrs. Tavenner have been born nine chil- 
dren, of whom one daughter died in infancy. 
Charles F., who was born in December, 
1852, is now living in Springfield township; 
Effie M. is the wife of Jacob Grove, of La- 
gonda; Anna J. is the wife of Alfred Jones 
of Pleasant township; Harry R. is living in 
Clifton, Ohio; Albert S. is a resident of Ca- 
tawba; Will E. and Amelia E. are with their 
parents; and Arthur ]\I. is also living in 
Catawba. The children were educated in 
the public schools of Pleasant township and 
all remained at home until married. The 
sons are now filling various occupations. 

In his political attiliations i\lr. Taven- 
ner is a Republican and has taken an active 
part in political work for several years. He 
served as township trustee and for three 
years was school director, has also been a 
member of the village board and has taken 
a deep interest in everything pertaining to 
the general good. He and his wife belong 
to the Protestant Methodist church and he 
has served as a mcmbei" of the church 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



579 



board. Since coming to Ohio he has made 
one trip back to his native state, visiting- 
the scenes of his boyhood and the friends 
wlioni he knew in his youth. He was a 
menilaer of Ephraim Lodge, I. O. O. F., 
of Springfield, and became a charter mem- 
ber of Catawba Lodge, of that organiza- 
tion. In an analyzation of his business ca- 
reer the sahent elements are found to be 
strong and persistent purpose, guided by 
sound judgment and supplemented by un- 
tiring diligence. He has depended upon 
no outside aid or influence, but has been 
the architect of his own fortune and has 
builded wiselv and well. 



WILL E. TAVENNER. 

Will E. Tavenner is well known as one 
of the representative business men of Ca- 
tawba, Clark county, where in connection 
with his father he is engaged in stock-buy- 
ing, feeding and shipping, as a member of 
the firm of B. F. Tavenner & Son. They 
have carried on this business for the past 
ten years and have raised considerable 
stock, mostly shorthorns and Jerseys. Their 
business is constantly increasing and has 
assumed profitable and extensive propor- 
tions. The junior member of the firm is 
a member of the Knights of the Golden 
Eagle and has passed all the chairs in the 
local lodge to which he belongs. He ex- 
ercises his right of franchise in support of 
the men and measures of the Republican 
party takes an active interest in its growth 
and upbuilding and has been a delegate to 
county conventions. He is well known for 
his enterprise, energy and laudable embition 
in business affairs, and is accorded a credit- 
able position in business ranks of Catawba. 



JOHN PIERSOX. 

John Pierson, who was connected with 
farming interests for many years, and 
whose life record indicated the possibilities 
which lie before young men in America, 
was a native of Yorkshire, England, his 
birth occurring in that country between 
York and Leeds, on the 21st of July, 1823. 
Upon a farm he was reared. His parents 
were John and Mary Pierson, who spent 
their entire lives in England where the fa- 
ther followed the occupation of farming. 
Thus the son early became familiar with the 
work of tilling the fields and caring for 
the crops, and in the schools of his home 
neighborhood he acquired his education. 

Like most young men starting out on life's 
journey, Mr. Pierson desired a companion 
to walk with him and at the age of twenty- 
two years he was united in marriage to 
Miss Sarah Burnley, who was born ^larch 
26, 1826, two miles from her husband's 
birthplace. She was a daughter of John 
and Hannah (Burt) Burnley, of Lincoln- 
shire, England, who with their family of 
several children sailed from England for 
Australia when Mrs. Pierson was l3ut fi\-e 
years of age. Her mother, an aunt and a 
sister of Mrs. Pierson all died on shipboard 
and after a few years the father returned 
to England. He died at \\'eathersby, in 
that country; several years after ]\[rs. Pier- 
son came to America. 

A year after their marriage our subject 
and his wife decided to come to America 
and thus about 1846 they sailed for the new- 
world, hoping to enjo}- better business op- 
portunities in the new world. Making their 
way across the countr}- to Clark county, 
Ohio, they settled upon a tract of land in the 
southeastern part of Springfield township. 



580 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL REQORD. 



^vhere they lived for four years, and on the 
expiration of that period they removed to 
Iroquois county, Illinois, but after four 
years they returned to Ohio and JMr. Pier- 
son purchased eighty acres of land in 
Springfield township. There he lived for 
twenty years, developing his farm into a very 
productive tract, which returned to him a 
good profit. When two decades had passed 
he removed to a home on High street, just, 
east of the corporation limit of the city of 
Springfield, making it his place of residence 
until his death. He was unusually ambi- 
tious anil energetic, was industriuus and 
frugal and by the exercise of economy and 
unflagging industry, together with the as- 
sistance of his estimable wife, he accumu- 
lated a good competency, although he start- 
ed out in life with very little capital. A 
public-spirited man, he was interested in 
e\'erything pertaining to the general good 
and aided in making many of the early im- 
provements of the county, including the 
building of the Charleston pike and the 
London railroad. At the time of Mrs. Pier- 
son's death she owned over thirteen hun- 
dred acres of farm property in this county. 
Unlo .Mr. and Mrs. Pierson were born 
nine children. William P)., the eldest, died 
at the age of sixteen years. John died in 
early childhood. George Edward reached 
maturity, was married and at his death, 
which occurred in 1889, when he was thir- 
ty-seven years of age, he left four children. 
Eliza became the wife of Francis Sultz- 
baugh and resides on South Fountain av- 
eiuie in Springfield. She has three chil- 
dren: Mary Ellen, the wife of Murray 
Ramsey, Ijy whom she has a son, Robert 
Pierson ; James Francis ; and John. All 
three reside with their mother. James, the 
next member of the Pierson family, resides 



upon the farm upon \\hich the father spent 
his last days. He married ^liss Mussleman, 
and they have one child, Daisy, at home. 
Mary is the wife of Joseph Hinkle, and 
they have one son, Clarence. Martha Ann 
is the wife of William H, Snyder, and they 
have two children, Vera and Dorothy E. 
William J. died at the age of six years, 
and another member of the Pierson family 
died in infancy. 

Tlie father passed away March 6, 1889, 
and the mother died August i, 1892, the 
remains of both being interred in Fernclift' 
cemetery. ?^Irs. Pierson was a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church and both 
were peoi^le of the highest respectability. 
With courageous hearts and strong deter- 
mination they came to America, and though 
they had little means they made the most of 
their opportunities and as the \ears passed 
prosperity attended them. They were 
worthy and esteemed citizens of their com- 
munity and England thus furnished to 
America two representatives of value to the 
new world. 



WILLIAM J. GRAM. 

William J. Gram, who is connected with 
the farming interests of Clark county, is a 
son of Jacob and Isabella M. (Dory) Gram, 
and was born in 1855. His father was a na- 
tive of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and 
became one of the pioneer settlers of Clark 
county, whither he came with his father, Cor- 
nelius Gram, about 1837. The grandfather 
purchased a farm about a mile and one-half 
north of the present home of our subject, 
securing there a section of land which he 
entered from the government and with the 
work of pioneer development and improve- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ment he was actively associated. Jacob 
Gram also bore his part in the task of trans- 
forming the wild tract into productive fields. 
After arriving at years of maturity he car- 
ried on farming on his own account and in 
1858 he purchased the farm which is now 
tlie home of his son, William J. Gram. 

Our subject was only three years of age 
when his parents removed to this place and 
here he was reared to manhood. He ob- 
tained his education in the district schools 
near by and through the months of summer 
he .worked in the field, gaining practical 
knowledge of the best methods of carrying 
on a farm. He now has fifty acres of rich 
and arable land and in addition to the rais- 
ing of cereals best adapted to the soil and cli- 
mate he is also engaged in dairy farming, 
keeping a number of good milch cows for 
this purpose. Neatness and thrift are the 
salient features of his place and his work 
is carried on with energy and determination. 

Mr. Gram was united in marriage to 
Mattie P. Otstot. a daughter of A. H. and 
Sarah (Parsons) Otstot. residents of 
Springfield, who removed from that city to 
California. Since that time the father has 
died, but the mother is still living in the 
Golden state. The home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Gram has been blessed with se\en children: 
Robert R., who is residing on the home farm 
and runs the dairy wagon : Dola, George 
W., Louis J., Burt, Isabella and Marion, 
all at home, and the family circle is yet un- 
broken by the hand of death. The family 
attend the services of the Lutheran church, 
of which 'Sir. Gram is a member, and in his 
political affiliations he is a Democrat and 
keeps well informed on the issues and ques- 
tins of the day, as every true American citi- 
zen should do. He has never sought or de- 



sired public office, preferring that his time 
and energies should be devoted to his busi- 
ness affairs. 



CHARLES ALFRED WOOD. 

For fifty-one years Charles Alfred Wood 
has been a resident of Springfield. This cov- 
ers his entire life's span, his birth having oc- 
curred here on the loth of Decemlaer, 1851, 
at the family home at the corner of East 
]\Iain and Foster streets. His boyhood days 
were passed in a manner not unlike that of 
most lads of the period and he entered upon 
his business career without special advan- 
tages and with nO' pecuniary assistance. He 
was industrious, however — and industry is 
always the foundation to success. Genius 
and talent may provide ability, but it is 
close application and hard work which must 
make genius a marketable commodity. For 
many }'ears Mr. Wood was known as one of 
the most prominent merchants of the city 
and }-et it was not because he possessed qual- 
ities unusual to> man ; it was because he exer- 
cised these qualities in the pursuit of a per- 
sistent purpose and well did he merit the 
prosperity which crowned his efforts. 

The ^^'ood family, of which he is a mem- 
ber, is nf Scotch-L'ish descent. His paternal 
grandfather was John G. Wood, who was 
brjrn in Virginia and there learned the trade 
of a cabinetmaker and furniture manufac- 
turer. In the year 1843 ^""^ 1^^*^ the old home, 
roming to Springfield, where he estab- 
lished a cabinet and furniture shop and later 
he embarked in the undertaking business. 
He was one of the best known furniture 
manufacturers of Clark county and to-day 
in the homes of many of the prominent fam- 



582 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ilies of the city are seen evidences of his 
handiwork in fine articles of household fur- 
niture. He erected a large building at the 
corner of Foster and Main streets, having 
there an extensive shop and residence com- 
bined. He continued in the undertaking 
business until his removal to Illinois, where 
he resided for a time, removing thence to In- 
dianaixjlis. Indiana, where his last days were 
passed. He owned and operated a sawmill 
and planing mill in connection with his cabi- 
net shop, in which he carried on an extensive 
and profitable trade. Through good man- 
agement, excellent workmanship and hi)n- 
orable dealing he became well-to-dn. His 
first wife died in Virginia and he afterwiud 
married again. There were two sons by the 
first union : William, who resided in Gales- 
burg, Illinois, and at his death left a wife and 
two daughters ; and Robert I., the father of 
our subject. The children of the second 
marriage were Sarah, Edward and James, 
and were burn in Springfield and went It) 
Illinois with their father in 1868. John G. 
Wood was a man of a deep religious nature 
and became one of the founders of the High 
Street Methodist Episcopal church, of this 
city, holding various ofiices in the church 
during his residence in Springfield. He was 
also a member of the Independent Order of 
Odd I'ellows. 

Ivibcrt 1. \^'ood, the father of our sul)- 
ject, was born in Virginia in 1830, began his 
education in the subscription schools of that 
state and in 1843 came to Springfield with 
liis parents. He afterward engaged in rail- 
road work on the Little Miami road between 
Springfield and Xcnia, continuing in that 
service for twenty-fi\e years. On resigning 
his position he served as deputy sheriff for 
several years and in 1879 he retired to pri- 
vate life, dvino- at the rild familv residence at 



120 East Main street, in 1881, his ranains 
being then interred in Ferncliff cemetery. 
He was well-known in railroad circles and 
his genial manner and obliging disposition 
won him many friends. He was familiarly 
and lovingly called by the name of "Bob." 
He married Xancy Ann Marshall, who was 
born in Christianburg, Champaign county. 
Ohio, in 1832. and died in 1895. Her father. 
Dr. Lorenzo Marshall, was one of the lead- 
ing physicians of the county. L'nto Robert 
Wood and his wife were born three children, 

,of whom one son died in infancy, the others 
being Charles A., of this review, and Will- 
iam, who resides on Main street, where he 
w.-ns born, although the old residence has 
been replaced by a more modern one. 

Charles Alfred \\'ood obtained a public 
school education, l)ut as he was in delicate 
health during his boyhood he was taken 
from school and sent to his mother's people 
in the countr\- that he might enjoy the bene- 
fits of out-door life. In 1864 he returned to 
the city and began clerking in a bakery and 
ice cream establishment for Mr. Pretzman. 
with whom he remained for three years. He 
then entered the grocery store of John Stew- 
art and when the business changed hands, 
continued with ^Mr. Stewart's successor, 5- 
X. ^lills. Subsequently he was in the em- 
ploy of the firm of Barr & Harnish, who first 
introduced the cash basis for mercantile 
business. He ser\ed as a head salesman 
and on the dissolution of the firm remained 
with ^Ir. Harnish, for whom he managed the 

■business for several years. In 1867 he be- 
gan business on his own acount as a member 
of the firm of P. J. Cole & Company, and in 
1870 became sole proprietor, conducting his 
store with signal success until 1898. As the 
trade grew he carried a very large stock and 
to some extent sold to the wholesale trade. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



583 



He purchased the first stock of Royal baking 
powder ever brought into the city. His busi- 
ness gradually increased until his annual 
sales amounted to one hundred thousand 
dollars, and he was recognized as a leading 
grocer of Springfield, employing ten people 
in the store and using four wagons in the 
delivery of his goods. His business grew as 
the result of his correct business principles, 
his close adherence to commercial ethics and 
his recognized desire to please his patrons, 
fie would tolerate no action on the part of 
his employes that was not fair and just and 
would not bear the closest scrutiny and in- 
vestigation. The name which he won in 
trade circles was therefore above question 
and his probity stands as an undisputed fact 
in Jiis career. 

In 1872 Mr. \\'ood was happily married 
to Sallie Belle Foreman. She comes of good 
old Revolutionary stock, her great-grand- 
father, Colonel Peter Foreman, having 
served in the Revolutionary war. In 1773 
he married Alary Jane Greene, a daughter of 
General Nathaniel Greene, and Mrs. Wood 
now has in her possession as a cherished 
heirloom a jiiece of china which was pre- 
sented to him by his army comrades on the 
occasion of his wedding. David Randall 
Foren-an, the father of Airs. AA'ood, was born 
in Chambersl3urg, Pennsylvania, and re- 
mo\-ed from that state to X'enia, Ohio, where 
he carried on business as an architect. He was 
married in Kentucky to Sallie Stallings, who 
was born in P.ardstown, that state. They 
look up their abode in Xenia and were the 
parents of five children: William B., who 
was born in Kentucky and is now living in 
Springfield; James B., who* is employed by 
the Warder, Bushnell & Glessner Company 
of this city, having complete charge of their 
repair department; Mrs. Wodd ; Charles W., 



who is employed in the same shops; and 
Aloses S., a grocer. The father came to 
this city and took charge of the Voorhees 
&: .\rthur mill, with which he was connected 
lor some time. Later he turned his attention 
to the undertaking business as a member of 
the well known firm of Foreman & Coles. 
His wife died in 1868 at the age of forty 
years and he later lived with his daughter, 
Airs. AA'ood, until his death, which occurred 
when he had reached the age of seventy-five 
years. He was a member of the Afasonic 
fraternity, of the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, the Knights of Honor and the Im- 
proved Order of Red Afen. He was also one 
of the organizers of St. Paul's Alethodist 
Episcopal church in which he placed his 
membership, being therein known as an act- 
ive and earnest worker. The e\-idences of 
his handiwork as a cabinet maker are shown 
in the home of our subject. The Foreman 
family possesses natural musical talent and 
Airs. \\'ood received pri\'ate instructions in 
Cincinnati, in organ, piano and theory. For 
thirty years she has taught music, some of 
her pupils being among the finest musicians 
of this city. For ele\-en years she Avas the 
organist of the Center Street Alethodist 
church, and when the St. Paul's Alethodist 
Episcopal church was organized she became 
its organist, acting in that capacity for eight- 
een years. She has a thorough understand- 
ing of the technique of music and her love of 
the art adds expression to her playing, so 
that she is widely recognized as one of the 
leading musicians of Springfield, her ability 
being far above the average. 

Both Air. and Airs. Wood Ijek.ng to the 
St. Paul's Alethodist Episcopal church, 
which they aided in organizing when that 
church was founded by former members of 
'^he Central Alethodist church, in which Mr. 



584 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



^^'ood had served as a member of the official 
board and as one of the stewards. He be- 
longs to Anthony Lodge, Xo. 455, F. & A. 
M. ; Springfield Chapter, Xo. 48, R. A. :M. ; 
Springfield Council, Xo. 17, R. & S. M.; 
and JPalieatine Commandery Xo. 33, K. T. 
Such, in brief is the life history of one of the 
prominent and influential residents of 
Springfield. From humble clerkships have 
come some of the leading merchants of the 
land and those who have controlled the traffic 
of the country. It is this possibility for ad- 
\ancement that makes America the mecca 
for the ambitions. 'Six. Wood is one whose 
life history stands in exemplification of what 
can be accomplislied here through deter- 
mination and steady application and to-day 
he stands among those who are accounted as 
Springfield's prosperous residents. 



ELMORE WILLARD ROSS. 

The name of Ross figures prominently 
on the pages of the history of Springfield in 
connection with its manufacturing interests, 
Elmore W. Ross having been connected 
with an enterprise which is to-day one of 
the leading industrial concerns of the city. 
He was born in Auburn, Xew York, and 
for some time attended the ^Military Acad- 
emy at Sing Sing, that state. He also pur- 
sued his studies under the direction of a 
private tutor and later entered Yale Col- 
lege, but at the end of a year was obliged 
to leave school, as his eye sight failed and 
he was totally blind for a time. The fol- 
lowing year was spent at his old home in 
Auburn, during which time he regained his 
sight and then eml)arked in the wholesale 
coal business at that place. 



Subsequently Mr. Ross removed to Ful- 
ton, X'ew York, where he took charge of 
w hat was then known as the Wasson Man- 
ufacturing Company, which had come into 
his father's hands through a business trans- 
action, and on the death of his father our 
subject assumed control of the business, the 
firm name being changed to E. W. Ross & 
Company. They were extensively engaged 
iii the manufacture of machinery and con- 
tinued in business at Fulton for a number 
of years or imtil the demajids of the busi- 
ness made them seek a more central ix>int 
with increased facilities and they came to 
Springfield, Ohio, in 1885. Two years later 
a plant was erected on tiie present site at 
tliC junction of Warder street and the Cleve- 
land, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Rail- 
road. Tlie various buildings are substan- 
tial brick structures, equipped with the lat- 
est and most improved machinery and cover 
a!i area of fifteen acres. The company was 
incorporated on the ist of January, 1890, 
with a capital stock of one hundred thou- 
sand dollars and Mr. Ross served as its 
president until his death, which occurred in 
1892. Since then his wife has held that 
position, while his son, Elmore Preston 
Ross, has served as secretary of the com- 
pany. Tliey manufacture agricultural im- 
plements of various kinds, furnishing eni- 
plovment to one hundred and twenty-five 
men. Their trade not only extends 
throughout the various states of the Union, 
but their exports are large, shipments be- 
ing made to various parts of Europe and 
South America. 

Mr. Ross married iliss Mary Muir 
Fitch and to them was born one son, El- 
more P. ^Irs. Ross' father was Nelson 
Fitch, who was born in Auburn, Xew York, 
a son of Abijah and Lanah (Xelson) Fitch, 




ELMORE WILLARD ROSS. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



587 



tlie former of English and the latter of 
Scotch descent. His ancestors came to 
America in 1635 and settled in Norwalk, 
Connecticut. ^Ir. Fitch was educated in the 
schools of Auburn, Xew York, and there re- 
mained until twenty-five years of age, when 
in 1849 he sailed for the gold fields of Cali- 
fornia, going around Cape Horn. After 
spending two years in the far west he re- 
turned to his native city and later became 
connected with the ^\'adsworth Manufac- 
turing Company of that place. He was also 
interested in the manufacture of edged 
tools in the state prison and was identified 
with a number of other business enterprises, 
being a man of broad capabilities. Prior 
to the death of Mr. Ross he removed 
to Spring-field, Ohio, and when that gen- 
tleman passed away he became general 
manager of the E. W. Ross Manufacturing 
Company, continuing as such until he too 
was called to his final rest, April 11, 1897, 
when the active management was assumed 
by J. B. Cartmell as treasurer and John L. 
Zimmerman as vice president of the com- 
pany. In 1852 'Mr. Fitclx married Miss 
Xancy Muir, also a native of Auburn, New 
York, and a daughter of Robert and Nancy 
( Bennett) ^luir, the former ai native of 
the south of Scotland. By this union were 
born three children : !\Iary M., who be- 
came Mrs. Ross; and Lillias and Stearns, 
both deceased. Mr. Fitch cast his first 
presidential vote for Henry Clay, the Whig 
candidate, and later became a strong Repub- 
lican. 

Elmore P. Ross, the father of our sub- 
ject, was a Democrat in his political views 
but was not an active politician in the sense 
of office seeking, although he was a very 
prominent and influential man in New 
Y'ork. He was one of the leading business 



men of Auburn, where he was a resident, 
prior to the opening of the New Y^ork Cen- 
tral Railroad. He was also largely inter- 
ested in, real estate in various cities and in 
the a,ii^iracite coal fields, and was one of the 
incprporators of the Merchants Union Ex-. 
press Company, afterwards merged with the. 
American Express Compan)'. 



JOSEPH PEARSON. 

Joseph Pearson is now li\ing a retired life 
in -Catawba,. He is well known throughout 
the county, where he is called "Uncle Joe" 
by his many friends, and among his military 
acquaintances he goes by the title of "Sier- 
geant." He was born in Loodoai, England, 
Februaiy 12, 1827. His father, William^ 
Pearson, was also bo-rn there and was a 
cabiinet maker and wagon maker by trade, 
serving an apprenticeship tO' both. He would 
walk twenty-one miles froan his work each 
Saturday night in order to spend Sunday 
at home. Although a self-educated man, he 
became well informed, and reading kept him 
abreast witli the topics of the times. In 
1832 the family came tO' America and sought 
a home in Clark county, Ohio. They were 
of strong Methodist faith and came tO' the 
United States because of their favorable im- 
pression of the form of government. The 
father had carried on wagon making and 
cabinet making in his native country until 
1832, when, with his wife and children he 
crossed the Atlantic and, making his way 
westward, proceeded down the Ohio- river, 
settling in Pleasant township. His mother, 
who after her second marriage became Mrs. 
Elizabeth Inman, liad come to Ohio at an 
early day and owned three hundred and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



twenty acres of land in Harmony township, 
Clark county, where with the family she 
established a dairy farm. William Pearson 
conducted this farm for several years and as- 
sisted in caring for his mother, who reached 
the very advanced age of ninety years. Hers 
was one of the finest fruit farms in the 
county, as will be remembered by many of 
the old settlers. One of her sons, Martin 
Tnman, who was formerly a merchaint in 
Clark county, now lives in St. Louis. 

After coming to America, William Pear- 
son, the father of our subject, followed car- 
pentering and cabinet making, and not only 
erected many of tjie old homes of die county, 
but also made the furniture with which they 
were equippeil. He was well skilled in the 
use of swords and served as captain of a 
light horse company. He was likewise the 
strongest man in Clark county and at the 
gaieral musters often gave exhibitions of 
his strength, as well as his skill as a swords- 
man. He married Elizabeth Lockhart, a 
daughter of Levi George Lockhart, who on 
one occasion was taken out tO' be hung be- 
cause he preached the truth as he understood 
it. Two children were born unto William 
Pearson and his wife while in London, the 
eldest being Josq>h, of this review. The 
younger, Hemy, became a soldier of the Civil 
war and was killed below \^icksburg l)y the 
accidental discharge of a gun, when thirty- 
two years of age. After the arrival of the fam- 
ily in Ohio eight more children were added 
to the household : Maria, the widow of O. 
W. Davis, and a resident of Hardin county, 
Ohio; Elizabeth May. the deceased wife of 
Benjamin Golden, who is living in Catawba, 
Ohio; George, who was a soldier of the 
Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry in 
the Civil War and resides in Catawba: Mar- 
tha, of I'-indlnv. f^Jhin. tlie widow ..f William 



Shanks, who was a memljer of the Union 
army: Millie .Ann, the wife of Edwin 
Gardner, station agent at Patterson, 
Clark county, and a \eteran of the Civil 
war; Mary, the wife of John Young, a re- 
tired farmer of Hardin county, who was 
also one of the boys in blue in the war of 
the Rebellion ; Thomas, who was a soldier 
of the Fourth Ohio \'olunteer Infantry and 
is living retired in Cataw ba ; and Samuel, 
who was a soldier of the Forty-fourth Ohio 
Volunteer Infantrj- and is now engaged in 
merchandising in Owatona, Kansas. The 
father of this family was a Republican in 
his political views, but never sought or de- 
sired office. A prominent member of the 
]\Iethodist Episcopal church, he contributed 
liberally to church work and erected the 
Vernon and Pleasant Chapel churches. His 
house was the home of all the circuit riders 
in the early day and his hospitality was 
greatly enjoyed by other visitors to the lo- 
cality. He never accumulated a great 
amount of money because of his liberality, 
but he gained what is far better — the re- 
spect, confidence and friendship of those 
with whom he came in contact. He died in 
Catawba, in 1847 at die age of fifty-seven 
years, honored and esteemed by all who 
knew him. His widow afterward became 
the wife Edward Shanks and by this mar- 
riage there was one son, David, who is now- 
living in Columbus, Ohio. Mrs. Shanks 
passed away in Catawba. 

Like the other members of his father's 
household, Joseph Pearson was educated in 
the early common schools of Clark county. 
He was only five years of age when the fam- 
ily came to America, and being the eldest 
of the family his school privileges were 
somewhat limited, for his services were 
needed on the home farm. As a boy he 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



589 



used tlie sickle and the cradle, working in 
the harvest fields at a time when the labor 
of gathering the crops was much more dif- 
ficult that it is at the present time, when 
splendidly improved machinery does the 
work that was at that time performed by 
hand. For three years he was employed 
on a farm and he also assisted his father 
in the shop until the latter died. For four 
years he was a clerk on board a store boat 
on the Ohio and ^lississippi rivers. During 
that time he saved some money, which he 
brought home and with it settled up his 
father's affairs. He then located in Ca- 
tawba, where he learned the cooper's trade, 
which he followed continuously until 1861. 
Prompted by patriotic impulses Mr. 
Pearson then offered his serxices to the gov- 
ernment, enlisting September 10, 1861, as 
one of the boys in blue of Company F, For- 
ty-fourth Ohio Infantry, with which he 
served for four years witl; the rank of 
fourth sergeant. In 1864 he re-enlisted as 
a veteran, becoming a member of the Eighth 
Ohio Cavalry and was promoted to com- 
missary sergeant and remained at the front 
until after the close of the war, when he 
received an honorable discharge.- He served 
with the Clark County Greys and partici- 
pated in many important battles. He was 
under the command O'f Captain Israel 
Stough and Colonel S. A. Gilbert. The 
regiment was ordered to Camp Piatt, West 
Virginia, and assisted in driving Floyd from 
Cotton Hill, then moved on to Ganley 
Bridge and Meadow Bluff". At Lewisburg 
they were attacked by General Heath, with 
forty-five hundred men, but repulsed them, 
capturing three hundred prisoners and four 
pieces of artillery. Company F alone cap- 
turing an eighteen-pound gun. Next the 
regiment proceeded to Soldier Springs, and 



at Charleston had an engagement. They 
burned the bridge ox'er the Elk river and 
assisted in destroying the Jackson River 
Railroad. On the ^oth of December the 
regiment was mounted and sent after Mor- 
gan. "With his command Sergeant Pearson 
was also in the engagements at Dutton Hill, 
Greenbrier River and the siege o£ Knox- 
ville. He w^as thel^ detailed and became a 
noted spy and scout under General Cook. 
After being appointed commissai")- sergeant 
he was detailed, recruited thirty-two men 
and serv^ed in the Second Brigade of the 
Second Division of the Army of Kentucky, 
being discharged December 31, 1863, but 
on the following day he re-enlisted, becom- 
ing a member of Company F, Eighty-first 
Infantry, under Captain Evans and Colonel 
Gilbert. He then took part in the engage- 
maits at Carrington, Otter Creek, Lynch- 
burg, Liberty, Winchester, Alartinsburg, 
Fisher's Hill, Luray Valley and Beverly. 
For three months he was ill of fever in the 
hospital at Dearington. He was then de- 
tailed and recruited twenty-one men. He 
served in Averill's Cavalry Division of the 
Eighth Corps under General Sheridan and 
was at Clarksburg on the 30th of June, 1865. 
He belongs now to N. M. McConkey Post, 
No. 391, G. A. R., in which he has served as 
quartermaster and as commander. 

After the close of the war Sergeant 
Pearson returned to Catawba and resumed 
the cooper business, not only providing for 
his own support, but assisting his brothers 
and sisters until they reached maturity. In 
1875 he left the shop and purchased the 
hotel here and a grocery store. In the latter 
he built up a good trade, prospering in the 
new undertaking, and for many years he con- 
ducted his store, enjoying a very liberal 
patronage. In 1898, however, he sold out, 



590 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and is now living retired. Well does he 
merit this rest, for his life has been a very 
busy one, as well as useful and honorable, 
his untiring dijigence being supplemented 
by an honesty above question. 

In April, 1848, Mr. Pearson was mar- 
ried to Miss Nancy Golden, who was born 
in Pleasant township, Clark county. She 
died of cholera the year following their 
marriage and left one son, Martin L., who 
died in early childhood. In 1850 Mr. Pear- 
son was again married, his second union be- 
ing with Mary S. Palmer, who was bom 
in Adams county, Ohio, in 1832. By this 
marriage there have been six children. Jo- 
seph Williams, a 'farmer of Hardin county, 
Ohio, is married and has five children- 
Alice, the wife of Jacob Godfrey, a farmer 
of Wyandot county, Ohio, Bruce, Emma, 
Joseph and Walter. Francis Dale, the sec- 
ond member of the family, is a graduate of 
Wooster College and for several years was 
professor of languages in the high school 
of St. Paul, Minnesota. He is now prin- 
cipal of the E street high school, of Colum- 
bus, and is a lecturer of note. He is mar- 
ried and has one son, Humphrey. Martha 
Jane is the wife of Joseph Keeser, of 
Springfield, and they have three children — 
IMyrtle, the wife of W. J. Tumbull, of Co- 
lunibus, by whom she has two children ; An- 
nie and Mary Keeser. George Franklin is 
a manufacturer of and dealer in buggies, 
of Mechanicsburg, Ohio, and has one son, 
Marion. Charles Lincoln, of Benedict, 
Kansas, who has been for twenty years in 
the railway postal service, had two children, 
Bruce and Hazel, but the former is now 
deceased. Dora, the youngest member of 
Mr. Pearson's family, died at the age of 
eighteen years. Her mother was burned to 
death in 1863, and in 1864 Mr. Pearson 



n.arried Airs. Elizabeth Ann Palmer, a 
widow of F. M. Palmer, a soldier who died 
in Kentucky during the war. Mr. and Mrs. 
Pearson had two children : Etta May, the 
wife of Frank Hendricks, of Catawba, by 
whom she has three children. Ethel, Sarah 
B., and Lee; and Elizabeth Ann, the wife 
of Hugh Cartmell. of Moorefield, by whom 
she has three children, Leah, Xela and 
Rodger. Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Pearson died 
at the birth of her younger daughter, in 
1870, and in 1872 Mr. Pearson wedded 
Sarah E. Porter. They have one son, Le\i 
Thomas, who is living in South Dakota. 

In politics Mr. Pearson has been a Re- 
publican from the organization of the party 
and has taken an active interest in its work, 
bein* recognized as one of its leaders in 
his township. He has almost continuously 
since the war ser\-ed as a delegate to the 
county and state conventions. For eight 
years he served as treasurer of Catawba, 
and for eleven years was a member of the 
village council while for si.xteen years he 
filled the ofiice of deputy county sheriff. For 
similar period he served as a member of the 
Republican central committee of Pleasant 
township, and for sixteen years has been 
connected with the school board, sen-ing dur- 
ing a part of the time either as president or 
secretary. Since 1857 he has held mem- 
bership in Catawba Lodge, Xo. 49, I. O. 
O. F., and has served continuously as its 
treasurer for thirty years, with the excep- 
tion of one year. Pie has passed all of the 
chairs in the lodge, has several times been 
a delegate to the grand lodge and is a mem- 
ber of Mad River Encampment, Xo. 16, 
of Springfield. He aided in organizing Mc- 
Conkey Post, G. A. R., of which he served 
as commander for several years, and was 
appointed by Joseph \\'. 0"Xeal, the state 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



inspector of Ohio, to the position of assist- 
ant inspector in this district. He has fre- 
quently been sent to the national encamp- 
ments as a delegate. He holds membership 
in the Methodist Protestant church and be- 
longed to the church board for a number 
of years. His has been an eventful life. He 
has almost reached the seventy-sixth mile- 
stone on life's journey. His career has 
ever been honorable and upright and there 
is much in his life history worthy of emula- 
tion. He has never been intoxicated, has 
always been fair and just in his treatment 
of his fellow men and has lived at peace 
with them. He is identified with the early 
development of the county and can relate 
man interesting experiences of pioneer life 
in this section of the state. He carried on 
horseback the first mail in Pleasant town- 
ship, traveling fifty-two miles per day, over 
mud roads. His father built the first frame 
house in Catawba, and there Mr. Pearson 
of this review lived. He has been the cor- 
respondent for the agricultural board, of 
Washington, D. C, and also of the water 
bureau, of Columbus. Although he is now 
living retired he still owns ninety-seven and 
one half acres of valuable land and this re- 
turns to him a good income. While serv- 
ing as a spy under General Cook in the 
Civil war he had many narrow escapes. Pie 
was always found true to the Union, how- 
ever, and throughout his entire life he has 
been a loyal citizen, faithful to his country 
at all times. 



JUSTIXUS T. NAVE. 

Justinus T. Nave is a soil of John G. 
and Margaret E. (Gram) Nave, and was 
bom upon his' father's farm, September 3, 



1S65. He now carries on agricultural ptir- 
suits in Green to-\vnship and his work is 
bringing to him a credita'ble financial return. 
He is the third in a family of five children 
and he assisted in the work of the old home 
place until twenty-one years o^f age. During 
that time he also acquired a good English 
education in the common schools and gained 
practical experience in the work of field 
and meado^w, soi that he \Aas wdll equipped 
for conducting agricultural pursuits on his 
O'wn account when he started out in life 
for himself. 

At Covington, Kentucky, on the ist of 
O'ctobier, 1889, was celebrated the marriage 
of Justinus T. Nave and Miss Jennie .E. 
Jones, whoi was born and reared in Green 
township, and: is a daughter oif Henry H. 
and Jane (Hawkins) Jones. Her father 
is still living, but her mother died when 
the daughter was oiil}- nine \'ears of age. 
j\Irs. Nave acquired a good comnion school 
education and is an estimable lady, who has 
won many friends in the community in 
which she is living. The yonng conple be- 
gan their domestic life upon rented land and 
Mr. Nave continued to operate leased land 
until 1891. Tlie following year he made 
his first purchase, becomiing the owner O'f 
thirty acres, where he now li\-es. There 
\vas a house and barn upon the place, but 
the land had not been cleared, except a small 
garden. Mr. Nave has since prepared the 
fields for cultivation by clearing them and, 
as the work of plowing, planting and har- 
vesting has been carried on, his farm has 
become a richly cultivated tract. In Janu- 
ary, 1902, he purchased twenty acres addi- 
tional, and he now has foirt}--one acres 
cleared, from which he is deriving a good 
income, for his fields are productive and well 
developed. The household is brightened 



592 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



by the presence of two cliiklren — -J. Albert, 
born in Green township, June 2, 1890; and 
Gladys Elnora, born on the home farm, 
October 30, 1892. 

Mr, Xa\e was reared in the faith of 
the Republican party. In 1888, however, 
he supported the Prohibition party and has 
since been independent in politics. He is a 
charter member of the Junior Order of 
American ]\Ieclianics and for one term was 
warden. 



PHIXEAS P, MAST. 

On^ of the most prominent and useiul 
men Springfield has ever known was Hon, 
Phineas P, ^[ast. who came here alx)ut forty- 
seven years ago. from Champaign, his native 
county, and soon engaged in the manufac- 
ture of agricultural implements in connection 
with the late Hon, John H, Thomas, under 
the firm name of Thomas & Mast, This 
partnership was dissolvetl by mutual consent 
in the fall of 1871, Mr, Mast purchasing the 
entire stock of Mr, Thomas. The style of the 
firm was then known as P, P. Mast & Com- 
pany, Afterward the firm of ^Mast, Foos & 
Company was organized and extensive shops 
were built in the west end, for the manufac- 
ture of Buckeye force pumps, iron turbine 
wind engines, lawn mowers and iron fence. 
Subsequently Mr, Mast organized the Mast 
Buggy Company. He was the principal per- 
son concerned in the organization of the 
Springfield Xational Bank and was its presi- 
dent until his death, in November, 1898. 

Mr. Mast was for many years a member 
of the city council and none of his con- 
temporaries was more faithful in attendance 
or in rendering service than he. He was also 
for two vears mavor of the city and for two 



terms president of the board of trade, of 
which organization he was a charter mem- 
ber. In all these bodies, and in all public 
service, he was active and faithful, 

Xo man connected with Springfield af- 
fairs stcxxl higher in intblic esteem than he. 
He came to Springfield a young man and be- 
came at once prominent in public movements. 
His influence in positions of power was not 
baneful but Ijeneficial. It was evident to 
all that he had the highest welfare and great- 
est good of the community always at heart. 
He demonstrated this by his works, by do- 
nations from abundant means, and the giv- 
ing of most valuable time to foster our local 
municipal development. In business he was 
able to accomplish what few men can 
achieve successfully — maintain many lines 
of diverse enterprises, carrying on all with 
evenness and unimpaired credit. He showed 
not only a strong will in the manageir.ent of 
a business that would have crushed most 
men. but maintained a uniformily cheerful 
spirit. 

Xo utterance could be a more satisfac- 
tor\- expression of public sentiment or more 
illustrative of his character than the resolu- 
tions presented by Mr. Charles S. Kay. at a 
meeting of the board of trade called for tiie 
purpose of doing honor to Mr. ^last, on the 
25th of Xovember. 1898. It is as follows : 

"\\'hereas. death has removed, in the per- 
son of P, P. Mast, an eminent citizen of 
Springfield, and one of the most honored 
and useful members of the board of trade, 
therefore be it 

'7v('.jo/:'r(/— That we recognize, in the 
per.sonal character and career of P. P. Mast 
a conspicuous example of the best type of 
American citizenship and a notable illustra- 
tion of honorable business achievement. 
While leaving to others, associated with him 



^HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



595 



in education and cliurch lite the privilege of 
paying tribute to his influence and useful- 
ness in those relationships we deem it prcjper 
that the representative commercial body of 
the city of Springfield, in which Mr. Mast 
has spent his entire active business life 
should pay just tribute to his character as a 
citizen and business man. 

"Beginning with moderate capital but 
with well ecjuipped mind and keen business 
faculties, Mr. Mast grew to be, with the pass- 
ing years, more and more one of the pillars 
in the structure of our local business affairs, 
his influence and sagacity developing and di- 
recting some of the most important lines of 
trade and financial enterprises in the city. 

"As a deeply interested and constantly 
active member of the board of trade, his par- 
ticipation in its discussions and his counsel 
as toi procedure were of the greatest \'alue 
based, as the}' were, upon a well-grounded 
knowledge of the growth, capabilities and 
resources of our city. He was oiie of the 
few older citizens of Springfield whose per- 
sonal interest and active participation in its 
affairs kept pace with the progress of events 
and the needs nf the time. 

"While occupied with muUiform cares 
and responsibilities Air. Mast manifested to 
a remarkable degree a generous sympathy 
with the mental, moral and political welfare 
of the city, the state and the nation. He was 
one of the first to respond liberally to call for 
aid in any worthy direction. 

"While possessed of large means, he 
ne\'er flaunted his possessions in the face 
of his less-fortunate fellow men. Although 
tenacious in his purposes, Mr. Mast main- 
tained throughout his life a modesty of de- 
meanor and a readiness to confer with others 
concerning important matters of local in- 
terest. The development of our city to a 



position of commercial prominence, and as 
an attractive, healthful place of residence, 
was alwa}'s uppermost in his mind, and tO' 
this end he devoted seme of the highest 
energies of the best years of his life. 

"Resolved, that we express i.ui- sincere 
appreciation of all these lii-h i|u:iliiivs of 
capacities and usefulness, and that wc record 
oiu" sense of the deep loss sustained by the 
city of Springfield in the death of Mr. Mast. 
We shall miss his expressions of interest and 
his ad\-ice in the affairs of this board and the 
cit\-, in which he was so long a prominent 
factor, will ex]>ei'ience an incalculable va- 
cancy in its roll of influential citizens and 
business men. 

"The members of this board can pay him 
no better tribute than to endeavor to incul- 
cate and foster the public-spirit which he 
so pre-eminently displayed." 

Mr. Mast was a man of fine, attractive 
personal appearance as well as qualities and 
had the respect and esteem of all classes of 
people. As the years pass his memory 
grows. It w^ould recjuire a large volume to 
contain all the services rendered by Mr. Mast 
to the communit}', many of which were so 
quietly rendered as to be unknown. He was 
very prominent and liberal in church and 
benex'olent work. 



PETER A. DILLAHUXT, V. S. 

Peter A. Dillahunt, V. S., who is en- 
gaged in the practice of veterinary surgery 
in Springfield and Clark county, was born 
in German township, tliis county, December 
30, 1869, and is a son of Andrew J. Dilla- 
hunt, whose birth occurred in Maryland 
February 29, 1844. He came to the west 



596 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



with his parents, George W. and Ehzabeth 
(^Garvin) Dillahunt. The grandfather of 
our subject was a farmer and settled on 
land in German township, four miles from 
Springfield. His death occurred in Clark 
county and he was buried in Mount Zion 
cemetery. He was twice married and by 
the first union he had nine children, name- 
ly: Mary, the deceased wife of Jefferson 
Meranda; John Calvin, who wedded Aviary 
Colvin and died leaving two children; An- 
drew J., the father of our subject; George 
Scott, who is living in Covington, Ken- 
tucky; Anna E., the wife of Harvey Ste- 
phenson, of German township ; Luther, who 
died in infancy; Ellen G., the wife of S. 
T. Swearengen, of Wittenberg College; and 
■\\'illiam and Emma, who died in infancy. 
By the second marriage there were five chil- 
dren : Isabelle, the wife of Charles A. 
Thomas, of Pike tow^nship; Charles A., of 
Springfield ; Cora, the deceased wife of \\'ill- 
iam Bailey: Oliver of Moorfield town- 
ship: and Florence O., the wife of Rev. 
\\'illiam G. Smith, of Xew York. The 
mother (^f these children bore the maiden 
name of Lucinda Garvin, and was a 
half-si.ster of ^Mr. Dillahunt"s first wife. 
His first five children were liorn in 
Maryland and the others in German town- 
ship. All were educated in the common 
schools and reared to farm life and the sons 
have always followed agricultural pursuits. 
All who have passed away reached the age 
of about fifty years. George W. Dilla- 
hunt came to Clark county and purchased 
land which was mostly covered with timber. 
He became the owner of two hundred acres, 
al! of which was improved by himself and 
sons. 

Andrew J. Dillahunt succeeded to a part 
of the home farm and alwavs carried on ag- 



ricultural pursuits. He was a prominent 
man in party work in behalf of the Democ- 
racy, but he never sought or desired ofiice. 
He wedded ^Mary M. Miller, w-ho was born 
in German township, October 28, 1845, a 
daughter of Jacob Miller, who was one of 
the old pioneers of this section of the state. 
Her mother bore the maiden name of Rachel 
Bower and by her marriage became the 
mother of eight children: Lucy, the de- 
ceased wife of S. Xawman; Henry of \\'in- 
field, Kansas; William, who died in infancy; 
George H., who is living in the west ; Peter 
B., deceased ; Mary ^1., the widow of A. J. 
Dillahunt; Catherine, the wife of Harvey 
McCartney, of Dayton, Ohio; and Jacob 
A., of Winfield, Kansas. The sons re- 
moved to different parts of the west. The 
parents of this family are both now de- 
ceased. Tlie father was born December 16, 
1799, and his wife November 11, 181 1. The 
parents of Jacob Miller were William and 
;^L^gdaline (Karch) Miller and they were 
oi Pennsylvania German parentage. In 
their family were eleven children, of whom 
Isaac was ninety-two years of age at the 
time of his death. Those still living are: 
Mrs. Sarah Baker, who is living in Spring- 
field at the age of eighty-eight; and Mrs. 
Catherine James, of Dayton, who is now 
eighty-si.x years of age. 

Unto A. J. Dillahunt and his w'ife were 
born eight children : Elizabeth, the wife of 
Joseph Pattison, of Pike township; Peter 
A., of this review; George, who is an un- 
dertaker of Springfield; Laura B., who died 
in infancy; Fred A., Frank B. and Otto C, 
all of Springfield; and Homer B., who died 
at the age of five years. The father died 
on the old homestead in January, 1895. 
The children were all educated in the com- 
mon schools of German township but the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sons all came to Springfield and began busi- 
ness here on their own account. After the 
death of her husband j\Irs. Dillahunt also 
removed to the city and is now living at 
Xo. 314 West ]\Iain street. Mr. Dillahunt 
was a man in moderate circumstances in 
early life, but entered upon a successful ca- 
reer. About 1874 he began the practice of 
\eterinary surgery, having mastered the 
principles hin-.self and he enjoyed an exten- 
sive patronage in Clark and adjoining coun- 
ties. 

Dr. Peter A. Dillahunt of this review 
pursued a literary education in the common 
^chools. He afterward studied veterinary 
^urg■ery with his father and later took a 
course in the Ontario Veterinary College, 
at Toronto, between 1891 and 1893, receiv- 
ing his diploma in the spring of the latter 
year. ,\t this time he located in Spring- 
field and began practice, and he soon demon- 
strated his ability to successfully perform 
tlie duties of his profession and thereby he 
gained a liberal public patronage, his prac- 
tice e.Ktending not only over Clark but also 
into adjoining counties. In this way he has 
prospered. He is now a member of the 
Ohio State Veterinary Medical Association 
and in 1898 he served as its vice-president. 

^iv. Dillahunt was married in Spring- 
field in 1896 to Miss Elva M. Kobelanz, 
who was Ixjrn in Springfiekl township, 
Clark county, October 25, 1872, and is a 
daughter of J. Henry and Anna (Snyder) 
Kobelanz, both of whom are residents of 
Springfield township the father having been 
born March 15, 1839, and -the mother on 
the nth of July, 1841. They were married 
December 21, 1871, and became the par- 
ents of five children: Elva M., now the 
wife of our subject; Charles E. deceased; 
J. Harry, who is living on the home farm ; 



and Daisy L. and Anna il., both at home. 
The grandfather, Frederick Kobelanz, was 
born in October, 1898, in Germany and 
about 1832 became a resident of Clark coun- 
ty, Ohio. He was twice married, his first 
union being with Marj- Hackman, by whom 
he had a daughter, Mary, now deceased. 
His second wife was Alargaretla Duhme, 
who was born in Germany and ■\^"as the 
grandmother of Mrs. Dillahunt. Her chil- 
dren were : Fred, of Mississippi ; Henry, 
of Springfield township; Herman L., of this 
city. The home of Dr. Dillahunt and his 
wife has been blessed with two children — 
Lelah Esther and Henry Cecil-. The Doc- 
tor resides at No. 2,22 \\'est Columbia 
street and his office is at Xo. 46 West Main 
street. He and his family attend the 
Lutheran church, of which his wife is a 
member, and he is a member of Red Star 
Lodge, K. P. In his political views he is 
a Democrat, but the duties of his profession 
leave him no time to seek public office, even 
if he desired to do so and he is content to 
perform his duties as a private citizen. 



PETER A. SCHIXDLER. 

Peter A. Schindler, now deceased, was 
for many years, however, engaged in the 
undertaking business in Springfield and 
was a man of prominence in commercial 
circles, his reliability commanding for him 
the public confidence and respect. He was 
born October 15, 1820, in Frederick coun- 
ty, Maryland, near iliddletown. The fa- 
ther John Schindler was a native of Baden 
Baden, Germany, born in 1790, and in 
1802 he started with his parents for Amer- 
ica, but both his father and mother died on 



598 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sliip-board, and other members of the fam- 
ily, wliile enroute, also died of ship fever. 
John Schindler was thus left an orphan. 
He made his home with an uncle in Mary- 
land, who paid his passage to this country, 
and remained with him until he had reached 
manhood. He there learned the miller's 
trade and in that state he was married to 
Hannah Leatherman, a daughter O'f Peter 
Leathernian and a sister of Jcob Leather- 
man, who was a minister of the Dunkard 
church. In early manhood John Schindler 
de\oted his attention largely to the milling 
business and in later years to farming. In 
1852 he came to Ohio and purchased land 
three miles from Springfield. Later he re- 
moved to a farm three miles south of the 
city, known as the W'oolf farm, and upon 
that place he spent his remaining days, 
passing away at the age of seventy-three 
years. His wife survived him only a few 
years and died at the home of her daughter, 
Mrs. Louisa Schindler, in Miami county, 
Ohio. L'nto John Schindler and his wife 
were born five children, Daniel A., who be- 
came a preacher; John, a miller who died at 
Altoona, Pennsylvania; Mary, who became 
the wife of ^L K. Biser and died about 
1852: Louisa; and Peter A. 

Tlie subject of this review was the eld- 
est of the family. He pursued his educa- 
tion in Wittenberg College, of which his 
brother Daniel, who became a preacher, was 
also a graduate. The father provided his 
children with good educatioual privileges. 
He had l)een successful in life, and, al- 
though bound out in his early years, he had 
accumulated considerable property and was 
not only well-to-do, but also a highly re- 
spected resident of Clark county. He held 
membership in the Lutheran church. 

Durino- his xouth I'eter A. Schindler 



assisted his father in milling and farming, 
and at the age of twenty-one he made a 
start in life for himself. He was married 
in 1842 to Miss Mary Ann Shafer and 
started out as a singing teacher, for he 
possessed considerable musical ability. He 
went to Hagerstown, Maryland, where his 
wife died in 1850. Li October of the same 
year he came to Ohio, locating at Spring- 
field, where he established a good reputa- 
tion as a teacher of vocal music, a number 
of residents of the county to-day yet re- 
membering his ability in this direction. In 
1853 he embarked in the furniture manu- 
facturing business in connection with ls\. 
K. Biser, under the firm name of Schindler 
& Biser. Various changes afterward oc- 
curred in the firm, but the business was con- 
tinued until 1865, when Mr. Schindler sold 
his interest, having in tli£ meantime met 
with heavy losses caused by endorsing notes 
for others. Subsequently he engaged in the 
manufacture of horse collars in partnership 
with Joseph F. Sheeter. He was an ac- 
countant and after his failure he engageil 
in bookkeeping for Colonel Doty, a plow- 
manufacturer, but after a short period he 
began the manufacture of brick near the 
Erie depot, Springfield, using one of the 
first machines ever brought to Ohio for the 
purpose of brick manufacture. He contin- 
ued in this line until 1867. About 1870 
he became associated with J. Lamor Cole- 
man, formerly a member of the firm of 
Coles & Coleman, undertakers. Mr. Schind- 
ler purchased the interest of J. W. Coles. 
Business was carried on under the firm 
style of J. L. Coleman & Company until 
1884, when, in October. Mr. Schindler pur- 
chased his partner's interest and the firm 
of Schindler & Son was formed, but in Feb- 
ruarv. 1886. Mr Cnles re-entered die busi- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



599 



ness and in June of the same year, J. M. 
Bennett was admitted to a partnership and 
was associated in the ownership of the busi- 
ness until December, 1887, when he sold 
his interest to Messrs. Schindler and Coles. 
In June, 1891, Mr. Schindler again pur- 
chased Mr. Cole's interest. In Augaist, 
1 89 1, a half-interest \\-as sold to J. H. 
Clark, and in February, 1892. a third was 
purchased by Joseph Littleton. In June, 
1893, Mr. Clark sold to F. E. Snypp and 
in Xo'vember, of the same year, Mr. Schind- 
ler purchased ^Nlr. Littleton's interest, since 
w hich time business has been carried on un- 
der the hrm style, of Schindler & Snypp. 
After the death of Peter A. Schindler, 
Charles Schindler, his son, became his suc- 
cessor. 

In 1852 Peter A. Schindler was united 
in. marriage to Mrs. Caroline Keller, the 
widow of the late Rev Ezra Keller, D. D., 
the founder and first president of Witten- 
berg College and also of the First Lutheran 
church. She pursued a common-school edu- 
ucation and bore the maiden name of Caro- 
line Routzahn. Her birth occurred in 
ilaryland in 1819, her parents being Adam 
and Elizabeth Routzahn. By her first mar- 
riage she had one child, who is now the wife 
of Ross Mitchell, of Springfield. By the 
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Schindler there 
was born one son, Charles, now a promi- 
nent business man of Springfield. The 
mother died September 20, 1888, and in 
October, 1889. Mr. Schindler was again 
married, his second union being with Eliza- 
beth Martin, of tiagerstown, Maryland, 
who died February 17, 1890. 

Mr. Schindler was a \ery stanch Re- 
publican and did everything in his power 
to promote the growth and insure the suc- 
cess of his party. He was a member of the 



school board of Springfield and became 
connected with the Lutheran church in 
1838. He afterward ofticiated as choir lead- 
er from the time he joined the church until 
1890 and was also the leader of music in 
the Sunday-school. For over forty years 
he likewise served as superintendent of the 
Sunday-school and he organized many Sun- 
day-schools in Clark county, taking much 
pride and interest in the work, realizing how 
important is early religious training as a 
preparation for life's duties, in instilling 
into the minds of the young the principles 
that endure as long as life endures. Dur- 
ing his incumbency as Sunda^'-school super- 
intendent he succeeded in building up a 
school until it had a membership of over 
one thousand and the new church was also 
built during his active connection with its 
\vork and government. Mr. Schindler 
passed away August 3, 1895, at the age of 
seventy-five years. His was a useful, hon- 
orable and upright life and the world is bet- 
ter for his having lived. There was in his 
life much that is worthy of emulation, and 
he left the impress of his individuality for 
good upon the community in which he so 
long made his home. 



CHARLES SCHINDLER. 

Charles Schindler, who is engaged in the 
undertaking business in Springfield, was 
born in this city September 24, 1855, and is 
a representative of one of its old families, 
being a son of Peter H. Schindler, whose 
sketch precedes this. Our subject pursued his 
early education in the public schools and aft- 
erward was a student in Wittenberg Col- 
lege. When a young man he worked at 



6oo 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



\arious occupations in different factories and 
stores. In 1877 he became owner of a book 
store, which he purchased of Samuel Coch- 
rane, conducting that estabhshment success- 
fully until the spring of 1884. In October 
of the same year he became a partner of his 
father in the undertaking business. He had 
some practical knowledge of undertaking 
and embalming and after joining his father 
he tiinroughly mastered the business in all 
its iirinciples and details. He has conducted 
the business from 1885. at which time his fa- 
ther practically retired, and upon the father's 
death he assumed control of the business in- 
terests. Since Xovember. 1893. the firm has 
been Schindler & Snypp, the partner of our 
subject lieing F. E. Snyp]). who at that time 
purchased an interest in the business. The 
firm has a large patronage in this line and 
carries a large stock of funeral goods. Mr. 
Schindler is an experienced funeral director 
and embalmer and well merits the jjatronage 
which is extended to him. 

In 1879 occurred the marriage of our 
sul)ject and Miss Clara G. Smith, a daughter 
of W'illard and Lucinda Smith. She was 
born in 1859 and died in April, 1901. leav- 
ing two children — Edith Keller and Caro- 
line Steele. Tlie latter was born August 19, 
1896 The former, who was born in 1881, 
is a graduate of the high school of Spring- 
field and is now the wife of the Rev. W. A. 
Pearman. a Lutheran minister of Spring- 
field, by whcim she has one son. Karl. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Schindler 
is a Republican, but has never sought or de- 
sired office. He and his wife adhered to the 
Lutheran faitli and were charter members 
of the S.econd Lutheran church, as were his 
father and mother, but having formerly be- 
longed to the First Lutheran church. He is 
a charter member of Red Star Lodge. Xo. 



205, K. P., in which he has served as master 
of finance since 1894. He belongs to divis- 
ion No. 44. of the Uniformed Rank; and is 
also identified with Al Yembo Temple. D. 
O. K. K. ; with Springfield Lodge. I. O. O. 
F. ; with the Mad River Encampment: 
and with the Improved Order of Red Men. 
He also holds membership in the Commer- 
cial Club and Xo. 3347, M. W. A., and en- 
joys the high regard of his brethren in these 
fraternities. Kindness and geniality, defer- 
ence for the opinion of others and strict ad- 
herence to principles which make an u])- 
right manhood, have made him jwpular in 
social circles and gained for him the friend- 
ship of many with whom he has come in 
contact, while his reliability in business has 
won for him desirable success. 



COLOXEL JOSEPH LEFFEL. 

Joseph Leffel is a native of Clark county. 
!iis birth having occurred near Medway. in 
Bethel township. September 21, 1833. He 
represents one of the old pioneer families 
of this locality. His father, James P. Left'e!. 
was born in Botetourt county. Virginia. 
March 29, 1799, and was lovingly called 
"Father Leffel" throughout the community. 
Tlie parents were John and Margaret Leffel, 
in whose family were eleven children. The 
father died in 1801. In the year 181 7 the 
mother, with her son James and another son. 
came to Ohio, the older members of the fam- 
ily having previously settled in this state. 
James Leffel was then a young man of eight- 
een years and he hired out to work as a farm 
hand at six dollars per month. He was also 
employed by his brother John, who con- 
ducted a flouring mill anil distillery near 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Enon. He remained with him for four years 
as an employe and then became a partner in 
the business. They built the mill which was 
owned and operated for many years by 
Henry Snyder. The father of our subject 
continued his connection with the milling- 
business for eight }'ears, when, on account of 
ill health, he sold his interest to his brother 
and removed to his home near IMedway. 
In his farming operations he prospered and 
from time to time made judicious invest- 
ments in real estate until he had sixteen hun- 
dred acres of land, while his city property 
included a fine business block and a residence 
on South Limestone street. He added to his 
property holdings as he found opportunity 
and became independently wealthy owing 
to his active farming operations and his judi- 
cious investments. His political support was 
given the Whig party in early life and upon 
its dissolution lie joined the ranks of the Re- 
publican part}-. He married Elizabeth 
;\Iiller and tbiCv became the parents of ten 
children, nf whdi-n three died in early child- 
hood. Michael. Ix.rn March 22. 1822. fol- 
lowed farming on the Yellow Springs pike 
and married Elizabeth Cosier. Martin, a 
farmer of Miami county, is deceased. James 
who was an officer in the Civil war, died on 
the old home place near LefTfel's lane. Jo- 
seph is the next younger. Reuben, born 
]\Iarch 9, 1836, married Rachel ]\IcClelland 
and is now deceased. Elizabeth is the widow 
of Mathew Irie and lives on South Lime- 
stone street. Scott is a resident of Dayton, 
Ohio. The father of this family was a man 
whose word was as good as his bond, his in- 
tegrity being proverbial. He and his wife 
were adherents of the ]\Iethodist Episcopal 
church and died in that faith, the former 
passing away April 7. 1887. Being a man of 
domestic tastes and fond of his family, James 



■ P. Leffel put forth every effort in his power 
to promote the welfare and happiness of his 
wife and children and provided for them 
every pleasure which he could obtain. 

Colonel Joseph Leffel, for by that title 
our subject is known among his friends, pur- 
sued a common school education, beginning 
his studies in a log school building in Green 
township. He lived at home until about 
thirty-seven years of age and during that 
time was an active assistant in farm work. 
In early manhood he began raising bees, 
made a thorough study of the business and 
patented a bee hive which he had manufac- 
tured and which was sold throughout the 
countr)-. It was called the Buckeye hive and 
was a great improvement on those which had 
been formerly used. Mr. Leffel also began 
raising fancy breeds of poultry w-hile on the 
farm and continued the business after com- 
ing to Springfield in 1875. He issued cata- 
logues giving the kinds of poultry raised, 
and his sales have extended to all sections of 
the United States. He is one of the pio- 
neers in the fancy poultry business and has 
secured a very liberal patronage, which 
brings to him a good financial return. He 
also handles and raises rabbits, dogs and 
other pets. He has been an exhibitor at 
many county and state fairs and has won 
many prizes for his fine poultry and animals. 
His name is a household word amimg poul- 
try- men and in the market, and the Josqjh 
Leffel poultry business is widely known. 
The Colonel gives his personal attention to 
the supervision of the business and very 
creditable success has attended his efforts. 
At \-arious times he has engaged in the gro- 
cery trade. He is only three feet and ten 
inches in height and weighs sixty-seven 
potmds, Ijeing the smallest business man so 
far as known in the countr\-, l:)ut he has al- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ways enjoyed good health and his capacity 
for business is sliown in the successful con- 
duct of his affairs, indicating his ability and 
determination. 

The Colonel was married to Eveline 
Ik-aslev-. but she only lived for a year there- 
after, in .March. 1876. he wedded Miss 
Sadie B. Mead, who was born in Clark coun- 
ty and was a daughter of Arthur and Xancy 
( Hatcher) Mead. Her birth occurred Feb- 
ruary 4, 1854, and by her marriage she has 
become the mother of four children : Frank, 
who was born in 1876 and died on Christ- 
mas day of 1901 ; Gilbert, who was born in 
1880 and is associated in business with his 
father; Blanche, born in 1885; and Philip, 
born in 1888. All were educated in the 
Gray Hill school. Mr. Leffel has always 
been a family man and has reared his chil- 
dren in luxuriious surroundings. By careful 
management he has paved considerable 
money and has made judicious investments, 
owning a good business block and also city 
residences. At one time he was engaged in 
the photograph business. Fraternally he is 
connected with the Benevolent and Protect- 
ive Order of Elks and in politics is a Re- 
])ublican and always votes the straight ticket. 
P>w residents of this county are more wide- 
ly known than Joseph Leffel and the pros- 
perity which has attended him is indeed well 
deserved. 



GEORGE O. McMlLLEX. 

George O. McMillen, deccasetl, was wide- 
ly known in Clark county a-s a man i)f u])- 
right life and .sterling character who achieved 
success in business through honorable in- 
dustrv. He was born in Bracken county. 
Kentm-kv, in 1830. His father died in that 



state during the early boyhood of our sub- 
ject and the latter afterward came with his 
mother, ]\Irs. Martha McMillen, to Ohio, a 
settlement being made in Brown county. 
Later they removed to Jamestown. Greene 
county, and from there ti> h'ayette county, 
Ohiii. where the mother died. 

George ]^lcMillen then came to South 
Charleston and was married on the 226. of 
December, 1853, in the city where his widow 
now lives, to Miss Elizabeth Truitt. a daugh- 
ter of Kendall and Sarah ( Woosley) Truitt. 
Her father was born in Maryland and his 
parents were George and Martha ( Dale) 
Truitt. The farmer died in Maryland and 
the latter with her children then came west- 
ward, settling in Madison county. Ohio, 
when Kendall Truitt was about seventeen 
years of age. He became a farmer and ulti- 
mately attained a fair degree of success al- 
though he started out in life a poor man, 
having only thirty-seven cents at the time of 
his marriage. His wife was born in Ross 
county, Ohio, and was a daughter of James 
and E.lizabeth Woosley. who came to Clark 
comity when she was only a little girl. As 
years passed Mr. Truitt devoted his energies 
untiringly to his farm work and prospered in 
his undertakings, becoming well-to-do. He 
acquired three hundred acres of land near 
South Charleston and also became the owner 
of two hundred acres in Madison county. 
At the time of his death he left two heirs, 
Mrs McMillen and Mrs. Harrod, now of 
South Charleston. Politically Mr. Truitt 
was a Republican and was a faithful member 
of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which 
he held the otticc of trustee. He lived in 
Clark county in jjioneer days and also wit- 
nessed its development as pioneer conditions 
were left behind and those of a more ad- 
vanced ci\ilizalion were introduced. He 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



603 



was known as a worthy and upright citizen 
and he left to his family the record of an 
lionorable career as well as a goodly estate. 
Mrs. McMillen was born in Madison 
township, Clark county, and proved to her 
husband a faithful companion and helpmate 
on life's journey. He had acquired a good 
common school education and had learned 
the carpenter's trade in South Charleston, 
following that as a contractor until he went 
to the army. In 1862, feeling that his coun- 
try needed his services and that it was his 
duty to aid in the preservation of the Union, 
he joined the army becoming a sergeant of 
Company C. One Hundred and Tenth Ohio 
^'olunteer Infantry. He had been promoted 
to the rank of second lieutenant and partici- 
pated in a number of battles. At length he 
was hit in the neck by a spent bullet at the 
Wilderness, and was ag-ain wounded in the 
1 ight foot at Monocacy, Maryland. He lay 
upon the field for some hours and then was 
carried by his comrades to the farm house 
of a Union woman. The Rebels drove his 
comrades away and then took the sword and 
other valuables belonging to Mr. McMillen 
which they could find, but the lady to whose 
house he had been carried buried his watch 
and money, so they were saved. The next day 
he was sent to the hospital at Frederick City, 
Maryland. His wound had received but lit- 
tle attention except what his kind hostess 
could gi\'e -him. His limb was twice ampu- 
tated and for a time the wound semed to be 
healing well and it was thought that he would 
recover, but be did not have the vitality to 
stand the terrible strain on his system and 
after about six weeks of suffering he passed 
away August 21, 1864. Mrs. McMillen had 
gone to him about three weeks prior to this 
time and was with her husband at his death. 
She brought his remains back to South 



Charleston, and he was here interred. He 
had received a commission as first lieutenant 
but was never able to be sworn into the 
office. His widow still retains this commis- 
sion in her possession. He ilied as a brave 
and loyal soldier of his country, giving his 
life in defense of the old flag, which since the 
close of the war in 1865 has floated so proud- 
ly over the united nation. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. McMillen had been 
born one child. Emma, whose birth occurred 
August 21, 1858. She married Walter 
Moon and resided for a time in Fayette 
county, Ohio. Three children were born of 
this union : I\-a, born in Fayette county, 
February 13, 1885 : Oscar, born in the house 
where Mrs. McMillen now lives, January 
T^o, 1887; and May McMillen, born March 
18, 1S90. The mother died in South Charles- 
ton, October 17, 1895. and thus 3.1rs. 
IMcMillen was deprived of her only daugh- 
ter as well as of her husband. Both "Six. and 
Mrs. McAIillen were earnest and faithful 
members of the ]\Iethodist Episcopal church, 
in which he served as class leader. He voted 
with the Republican party but never sought 
or desired office. His life was one of indus- 
try and at all times he so lived as to merit 
the confidence and good \yill of those with 
whom business or social relations brought 
him in contact. His name is enrolled among 
the heroes of the Civil war whose sacrifice 
of life was the awful price that was paid for 
the Union. 



LE\MS PATRIC. 



Tlie name of Lewis Patric is well known 
in mechanical circles throughout the country 
because of his inventive genius. He is the 
patentee of a large number of valuable in- 



6o4 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ventions. which have found their way upon 
tlie market and to-day is the vice president 
of the Patric Furnace Company of Spring- 
field, an important and leading industrial 
concern of this city. He has made his home 
here since 1870 and thus his life history of 
usefulness, of business activity and of hon- 
est}- is a familiar one to his fellow towns- 
men. 

^Ir. Patric was born in Dutchess county, 
\^ew York, May 17. 1831. Far back can 
the ancestral history of the family be traced. 
The Patrics come of Scotch ancestry, the 
first emigration to this country having been 
made about two hundred and thirty-seven 
years ago. The great-grandfather oi our 
subject was the first of the family to settle 
in Pennsylvania. Abel Patric. the grand- 
father of our subject, was a soldier of the 
Revolutionary war and, being captured by 
the British, was confined in a tobacco house 
used as a prison in Xew York. In company 
with a fellow prisoner he managed to escape. 
His friend, however, was killed, but he suc- 
ceeded in making his way to the lines of the 
Colonial troops. His 'death occurred in 
18.14, when he had reached the advanced age 
of eighty-seven years. 

Fitch Patric. the father of our subject, 
was a native of Pennsylvania and died in 
Monroe county, that state, when about 
seventy-four years of age. His people had 
been pioneer settlers of Pennsylvania, hav- 
ing taken up their abode along the Susque- 
hanna river when that entire district was a 
wild country. They lived in a log house in 
Luzerne county fur a numlier of years and 
experienced many of the trials incident to 
pioneer life. In the early days of the repub- 
lic the members of the family were support- 
ers of the Democracy and at the time when 
I'ro'i'Mnt Ixr-mie the first presidential candi- 



date of the Republican party they became 
identified with that party and the repre- 
sentatives of the name have since been loyal 
to its support. Fitch Patric was united in 
n:arriage to Bethiah Patric, who bore the 
same family name as her husband. On the 
maternal side she was a representative of 
the old Sturtevant family. She lived to the 
advanced age of seventy years and both she 
and her husband were members of the Bap- 
tist church and reared their children in that 
faith. Fitch Patric and his wife had a fam- 
ily of nine children, of whom four are yet 
living: Abel, of Jamestowm, Xew York; 
Jjewis, of this review; Samantha, the wife of 
John Still well, of Geauga county, Ohio; and 
Charles E., who is connected with the Supe- 
rior Drill Company of Springfield. All of 
the children remained at home until they 
were of age, living on the farm in Dutchess 
county. New York. Tliey were educated in 
the common schools and also in the suliscrip- 
tion schools at a time when the teacher 
boarded around among the scholars. The 
older brothers were carpenters and as Lewis 
Patric grew up he too began to learn the 
trade, working for a time as a house builder. 
These brothers erected a sash, door and blind 
factory and also a grist mill, which they 
operated successfully. The family had re- 
moved to Victor, Ontario county, Xew York, 
and it was there that the mill was located. 
The father and brothers also erected a saw- 
mill in ^\■ayne county, Xew York. Later 
the father removed to Monroe county and 
died at Perrington. For many years, how- 
ever, he and his sons were associated in busi- 
ness in the conduct of lumber mills and in 
farming enterprises. The planing and grist 
mill which they erected was operated until 
i86.|. 

Lewis Patric, of this review, gained good 



"^HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



605 



practical experience in the line of mechanics. 
In connection with this enterprise he also 
went to Rochester, where he had a brother 
who was working upon some inventions, and 
there the subject of this review remained un- 
til 1870, when he came to Springfield. Be- 
ing of an inventive turn of mind he began 
developing a furnace, which was first pat- 
ented in 1874, but since that time he has been 
adding many improvements and perfecting 
his furnaces. In 1883 he made some very 
great improvements and other new features 
were added about 1901. He has made a 
study of furnaces and their construction and 
his knowledge of this branch of mechanics 
is ^•ery comprehensive and accurate. In 1872 
he joined I. W. Rodgers in the manufacture 
of furnaces and also of spring mattresses of 
his own invention. This partnership was 
maintained until 1899. when the company 
was organized as the Patric Furnace Com- 
pany. The sales of its products extend 
throughout the United States, the trade, 
howe\-er, being largely western. The officers 
of the company are I. W. Rodgers, presi- 
dent ; L. Patric, vice-president ; Robert Mc- 
Gregor, secretary: and C. F. Smith, super- 
intendent. Mr. Patric has given his per- 
sonal attention to the business and many of 
his furnaces are now in use throughout the 
city as well as throughout the country. They 
base their sales upon the merits of the fur- 
naces manufactured and this is a sufficient 
advertisement. Time tests the merit of all 
things and has set its approval upon the 
products of the Patric Furnace Company. 
The business has steadily grown in volume 
and importance and is now an extensive and 
profitable one. ]\Ir. Patric has patented sev- 
eral other inventions, which have been placed 
upon the market and ha\'e won recognition 
by reason of their practical utility. 



While in New York in 1869 Mr. Patric 
was united in marriage to Emily Longwell, 
who was born in New York and was a 
daughter of David Longwell, a farmer. She 
holds membership in the Presbyterian 
church. They have a pleasant home at Xo. 
133 South Mechanic street, which was built 
by Mr. Patric in 1871. During the past ten 
years they have spent the winter months in 
Florida for the benefit of his health and he 
has a fine orange grove at Interlocken. In 
the interests of his business he has traveled 
very extensively in the west and south as 
well as in the northern states. He has lived 
a quiet life, giving his attention largely to 
his business affairs and to the perfecting of 
his inventions, and thus he has prospered be- 
cause the results of his hands and brain have 
been of practical use to his fellow men. His 
business has grown under the capable con- 
trol of himself and his associates and to-day 
he is numbered among the prosperous resi- 
dents of Springfield. Quiet and unostenta- 
tious in manner the circle of his friends is a 
select rather than a large one and all who 
come within this circle feel the power of his 
genial presence and entertain for him gen- 
uine regard. 



LUTHER A. GOTAN-ALD, D. D. 

"Knowest thou what argument thy life 
to thv neighbor's creed has lent.'" wrote 
En:erson in one of the most beautiful 
little poems that has come from an Ameri- 
can pen. It is a well known fact that each 
individual has an influence over those witli 
whom he comes in contact, either for good 
or ill, and that his thought-life as well as 
his action leaves its impress upon the world. 
Devoted to the noble calling of uplifting 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



humanity, of promoting moral strength and 
developing character that api)roaches the 
ideal, Luther A. Gotwald certainly gave 
strong proof of the power of Christianity in 
the hearts of men. and the argument which 
he gave to his neighl>or's creed was such as 
made the world better for his having lived. 
For thirty years he devoted his life to the 
active work of the ministry of the Lutheran 
church; then came a period in which as a 
teacher he prepared young men for the 
duties of the church, followed by a i>eriod 
of retirement when physical infirmities pre- 
vented him from carrying on his lalx>rs, but 
through all he was upheld by a Christian 
faith and a deep human svnnpathy wdiich 
makes his memory a hallowed and precious 
one to all who knew him. 

Luther Alexander Gotwald was born in 
York county. Pennsylvania, in 1833, of 
German parentage. Ijeing a son of the Rev. 
Daniel and Susan (Krone) Gotwald. His 
father was one of the most eloquent and able 
German Lutheran preachers of his day and 
accomplished great good in the world 
throng his eloquence born of his firm belief 
in the church and its mission in the world. 
His \\ife, too, was a noble Christian and 
thcKugh her educaticsn was somewhat limited 
her intellectual endowments were of a high 
order and she was a model Christian moth- 
er. After her husband's death in 1843 a 
double duty fell upon her — the spiritual and 
temporal care of her eight children. She 
had eleven children, hut three had passed 
away. Luther A. was the seventh in order 
of birth and was a youth of ten years at the 
time of his father's death. The family were 
in straitened circumstances but the older 
children soon secured positions in which they 
could contribute to the family comfort. 
When alxlut eleven vears of age Luther was 



employed as errand boy in a store and in a 
few years he was serving as a clerk, with 
increased wages. Later he learned the prin- 
ters trade and was not only able to provide 
for his own needs Ixit also to^ assist his 
m.other in the care of the family. At his 
birth he had been consecrated by his parents 
to the gospel ministry. Constantly was this 
high calling held up before him as his life 
work. One of the veiy last acts of his fa- 
ther as he lay uix>n his dying l>ed. was to 
call Luther and the boy's mother to the bed- 
side and placing his attenuated hand upon 
tiic lad's head, devote him to the holy work 
of preaching Christ, and then with his dying 
breath he charged the mother never to cease 
her efforts and prayers until she saw him 
in the high office to which he had been given. 
That dying act was never forgotten by the 
boy and that holv consecration was not dis- 
regarded. From that moment he ilctcr- 
mined to assume the work w hich the father 
laid down. He began his preparation for 
the ministry in 1852. as a student in the 
preparatory departm.ent of \\ittenberg Col- 
lege, in Springfield. Ohio, ren.aining there 
for three" and a half years, struggling with 
poverty and enduring many privations, until 
the close of the sophomore year in the col- 
legiate course. He then ci>ntinued his 
studies in Pennsylvania College, in. Gettys- 
burg, and was graduated in 1857. as one of 
the honor m.en of the class. The next two 
vears were spent in the Theological Sem- 
inary, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in 
which he was graduated in 1859. and scKin' 
afterward he was licensed to preach by the 
synod of West Pennsylvania and became 
pastor of the Lutheran church at Shipi)ens- 
burg, that state, where he remained until 
1863. He next accepted a call from the 
church in Lebanon. Pennsvhania. where he 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



607 



remained for two years, and in 1865 he be- 
came pastor of tlie First English Lutheran 
church, in Da_\to«, Ohio, but when iour 
}'ears had passed his health failed him and 
he was forced to rest f(3r a year, spending 
that time with his mother in Aaronsburg, 
Pennsylvania. He was suffering from 
throat trouble, but at tlie end oif twelve 
months he returned to the active work oif 
the ministry altho-ugh during the first year 
thereafter he preached but once on Sunday. 
In 1870 he became pastor of the Lutheran 
church in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, 
continuing there until he accepted the call 
from St. Paul's Lutheran church of 
York, Pennsylvania, his m.inistration there 
coaitinuing for tweh'e vears. from April, 
1874. 

Toward the close of the year 1885 Dr. 
Gotwald took charge of a struggling mis- 
sion church in Spring-field, Ohio, which 
under his guidance grew" in numerical and 
spiritual strength, becoming a strong self- 
supporting church of more than three hun- 
dred members. When he retired from that 
pastorate,, he closed his active connection 
witli the ministry and entered upon a work 
ecpially important as an educator. He had 
labored earnestly and effectively for the 
churches of his denomination in Springfield, 
taking generous part in the founding of the 
Tliird church, in 1887; the Fifth church, in 
1891 ; the Fourth church, in 1898; and 
Calvary church, in 1900. During each 
pastoral charge which he had, he secured 
m.any additions toi the church and wherever 
he was located lie won the lo\-e. confidence 
and good \\-ill not only of people of his own 
deriomination, but of other churches as well. 
His first work in the ministry was performed 
during the trying days of the Civil war and 



during those years he preached many pa- 
triotic sermons and did much to promote 
sentimicnt in favor of the administration. 
While in Lebanon, Peimsylvania, he organ- 
ized a company of militia and w-as elected its 
captain. For his loyalty and patriotism his 
friends and admirers there presented him 
with a handsome and valuable Bible, for 
which noi one w'as allowed to contribute 
more than a dime — a fact which indicates 
how many must have been the contributors 
toward the gift. 

In December, 1888. Dr. Gotwald becan:e 
professor of practical theologj' in ^^'itten- 
berg Seminary, of Springfield, Ohio, being 
unanimously chosen by the board to fill the 
position. Flis chair embraced homiletics, 
church history, pastoral theology. Biblical 
criticism, church polity, apoJogetics and 
other branches. His work in the college was 
ecpially successful with that in the minister- 
ial field and gave splendid satisfaction to 
those Avho are strict adherents to the true 
Lutheran faith. On tlie 2d of November, 
1895, Dr. Gotwald was stricken with paral- 
ysis and was thus incapacitated for further 
duty of a public nature. He then lived in 
retirement with his family until his deatli, 
September 15, 1900. In addition tO' his 
labors as pastor and in the college he filled 
many other positions of trust and responsi- 
bility in the church. He was a director of 
^\■ittenberg College from 1865 until 1869; 
trustee of his alma mater from 1873 until 
18S5; director of the Theological Seminary 
of Gettysburg, from 1871 until 1880: m. em- 
ber O'f the board o'f church extension from 
1874 until his death, also of the board of 
home missions from 1881 and was president 
of the West Pennsylvania s}-nod from 1873 
until 1S76. He was a frequent delegate to 



6o8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tlie general synod and took an active part 
in its deliberations. 

The home life of Dr. Gotwald was ideal. 
He was married October 13, 1859, to ^lary 
E. King, who was ever his able assistant. 
Unto them were born seven sons and two 
daughters, but the seventh son died in in- 
fancy and Luther A. and William \\'., died 
at the ages of fifteen and seventeen years, 
respectively, while prosecuting their col- 
legiate studies for the ministry. The second 
son. Rev. George D. Gotwald, died in Kan- 
sas City, Missouri, January 12, 1890, after 
a ministry of four and a half years. The 
five surviving members of tlie family are Dr. 
D. King Gotwald; Robert C. Gotwald, an 
architect; Rev. F. G. Gotwald; Mary S., 
of this city ; and Mrs. Glenn M. Cummings, 
of ]\Iansfield, Ohio. 

Dr. Gotwald received his degree of Doc- 
tor of Di\inity from his alma mater in 
1874. He was a prolific writer and many of 
his writings have been published and show 
great breadth of thought, deep research, 
clear understanding and deep sympathy and 
piety. He was ever noted as a pre-eminent 
pastor, with splendid social talent, affable 
manner, warm heart and winning ways. His 
friendships were strong, his sympathy 
broad, and he was not only possessed of a 
strong humanitarian spirit but that Chris- 
tianity which is the foundation of all that 
is true, right and uplifting. He added to 
the strength of his intellectual endowments 
the embellishments of culture and of broad 
reading; he was logical in thought, enter- 
taining and instructive in discourse, and 
moreover his life was e\er permeated with 
a lo\e for the whole human race that made 
all who knew him count his friendship a 
prize well worthy the winning. 



ST. CHARLES BORR03.IEO CHURCH. 

.St. Charles Borromeo church, of South 
Charleston, Ohio, is now an organization 
of much influence. For many years the con- 
gregation held services in a hall on North 
Chillicothe street. The Rev. Thomas Blake, 
pastor of St. Brigids church of Xenia, looked 
after the spiritual wants of the Catholics 
of South Charleston for a long period. He 
was a zealous and hard working m.issionary 
and accomplished much good here. He was 
succeeded, coming in the regular order men- 
tioned, by the following nanted clerg_\nien : 
Rev. J. A. Morone}- ; Rew John J. Kennedy ; 
Re\-. W. H. Sidley; Rev. Jarr.es Burns; 
Rev. G. Grennan, a South American mis- 
sionary; Rev J. H. Rowecamp; Rev. C. !M. 
Berding, a most popular and successful 
priest, who administered the affairs of the 
parish from October, 1877, to January, 1882. 
Father Berding was succeeded by the Rev. 
^Martin L. iluqihy, one of the best Irish 
scholars in America. Father ^lurphy's pas- 
torate extended from January, 1882, to May, 
1 886. Rev. Alcide Bourion succeeded Fa- 
ther Murphy and remained until November, 
1896, when he retired, broken down in 
health. Father Rourion was succeeded by 
Rev. L. !^L Sullivan, who, during his short 
pastorate of two years, made many needed 
improvements in and about St. Charles 
cliurch property. Father Sullivan was re- 
markable for his great gaierosity and his 
fatherly care of the sick. He died January 
24, 1898. 

The present pastor is Rev. Joseph M. 
Hyland, who was bom in Ossining. New 
York, July 19, 1867. He pursued his clas- 
sical studies in the University of Notre 
Dame. Notre Dame. Indiana, and tiien en- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



609 



tered Alt. St. ]\Iary's Seminary, in Cincin- 
nati, Oliio, where he pursued his philosophi- 
cal and theological studies. He was or- 
dained b}- the most Rev. William Henry 
Elder, D. D., on the 19th of June, 1884, 
and after a month's vacation he was ap- 
pointed assistant at the cathedral in Cincin- 
nati, Ohio, where he remained until Sep- 
tember 5, 1895, when the archbishop ap- 
pointed him pastor of St. Martin's church 
at St. Martin, Ohio. After a very success- 
ful pastorate of three years at that place 
he was appointed pastor of St. Charles Bor- 
romeo church in South Charleston. The 
congregation is now engaged in building a 
fine new house of worship. It will be 
eightv-nine by fifty-one feet and it is con- 
structed of pressed brick and covered with 
a slate roof. 



CHRISTIAX SCHUMACHER. 

Comparatively few are the men who are 
devoting their time, energies and talents to 
those lines of life promoting the ethics of 
culture. The vast aggregate are concerned 
with industrial, agricultural or commercial 
pursuits, but here and there are found those 
whose ability in another direction cootri- 
Ijutes to the happiness and pleasure of the 
world through ministering to the lo-x'e of 
the beautiful. In such a department of life 
is Christian Schumacher found, and his ar- 
tistic skill is widely acknowled by many w ho 
have seat his w'ork and are competeit judges 
of art. His fame as a painter is not con- 
fined to Springfield, but is extending 'far 
lieyond the limits of this city and of the 
stale. 

]\Ir. Schumacher is a native of \\'urtem- 
l>erg, Germany, born June 12, 1846. His 



parents, Henry and Frederica (^Lohr) Schu- 
niacher, were bom, reared and educated in 
Germ.any, there spending their entire lives. 
Both passed away when about se\-enty years 
of age. The father was a stoaie mason b}- 
trade, and also a builder, and was an expert 
workman. They had three sons : Christian, 
of this re\-iew ; Henr\-, who was a mechan- 
ic and died in Springfield in 1871, but was 
educated in German}', whence he came to 
this city in 1866; and Gustavus, who is a 
mechanic now living in Michigan. He tame 
to Springfield in 1876 and removed to Mich- 
igan in T890. The father of this family 
died in 1888 and the mother in 1889. He 
\\as a man of means and provided his chil- 
dren with good educational privileges. 

Christian Schumacher was educated in 
the general public schools of Germany and 
at the age o>f fo^uteen \vas apprenticed to 
a machinist for a term of three years, during 
which time he learned the trade. During 
that same period he was also- attending an 
art school at Tubingen, his home place, and 
he also spent some time in the art school 
at Stuttgart. When eighteen years of age 
he left his native land and came to America, 
maJving his way to Springfield, Ohio, where 
he had relatives living. Here he found work 
as a machinist in the Leffel \\'ater Wheel 
works, and \\as thus employed for about 
ten )-ears. At the same time he w-as study- 
ing and improving his artistic skill. Some 
time later he did drafting for his former 
en.ployers at their factory, but in 1875 he 
gave up the machinist's trade in order to 
devote his entire attention to painting. From 
his brush have come many fine o«il paintings, 
which are seen in \^arious homes in Spring- 
field. He formerly gave private instruc- 
tions in crayon, oil and drawing and was 
an instructor in drawing in the art depart- 



6io 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ireiit of Wittenberg College. From his ma- 
ternal ancestry he inherited his taste for 
this Hne of work and by earnest efforts he 
has develo]3ed his talents which have long 
since adxanced him beyond the ranks of 
mediocrity. He formerly employed agents 
to solicit orders in \arions parts of the 
country for oil and crayon portrait work, 
but since 1897 he has been doing original 
work, n-.aking a specialty of animals, and has 
several times exhibited his work at state 
fairs. In 1888 he made a trip to Germany 
and visited his parents, both of whom died 
within a year after his visit. While abroad 
he spent much of his tin:e in the art depart- 
ment cf Munich, studying for about four 
months. 

In 1869 Mr. Schumacher was married 
to Miss Caroline FVi.\, who was born in 
\\'urtem1>erg. Germany, in 1849. and when- 
a young lady came to America. They have 
three sons. ?Iern:ann, born in 1874, and 
now employed in the tool dqiariment of the 
Thomas Manufacturing Company, is mar- 
ried and has two children, Carrie and Irene. 
Henry, who is married, is now employetl 
by the P. P. Mast Com.pany as a machinist. 
Charles is a machinist in the tool depart- 
ment of the na\y yard at Washington, D. C. 
The sons were all born, reared and educated 
in Springfield and had private instruction 
in mechanical drawing at the Young ]\Ien's 
Christian Association, the father teaching 
them free-hand drawing. 

In 1873 Mr. Schumacher purchased a 
lot which was then, mitside the corporation 
limits of the city, which is at Xo. 387 Clif- 
ton street, where he now maintains his resi- 
dence. In politics he is a Rquiblican where 
matters of national or state importance are 
involved, but at local elections he votes in- 
dej)endentl\-. He {•i n nii-mlier of St John's 



Lutheran church and is a citizen interested 
in everything pertaining to the general good. 
His advancement in his profession is due 
to his earnest application, his close study, 
his efficient work and his native talents. He 
has prcxluced many works of high n.erit 
and Springfield has reason to be proud of 
his artistic skill. 



ANDREW FIXK. 

Andrew Fink, who has been engaged in 
business in Springfield since 1883, and is 
now dealing in meat and groceries at the 
corner of East and Kenton streets, was born 
in Springfield township in that portion now 
within the city limits. May 25. 1856. His 
father, Adam Fink, came to America from 
Germany about 1853, his birth having oc- 
ciu'red in the latter country in 1832. 
A butcher and farmer, he long conducted 
a meat market, and he is yet living at the 
age of seventy years. He n arried Louise 
Krauss, who wa,s born in Xenia, in 1839. 
is of German ancestry and is now living in 
Green township. Mr. Fink removeil to a 
farm at Pitchin, Green township, where he 
is conducting a truck farm and butchering 
business. Both he and his wife hold mem- 
bership in the Lutheran church. In their 
family were ten children: Andrew: Adam, 
a farmer of Pitcliin :. Minnie, the wife of 
John Young, of Lagonda avenue, Spring- 
field : Carrie, the wife of Orrin lUiffcnbarg- 
er, of Auglaize county, Ohio: Emma, the 
wife of Albert Crossland, of Green town- 
ship ; Anna, twin sister of Emma : Rosa, 
the wife of R. Skillings, of Green town- 
ship: W. F., a farmer of Green township: 
F.liz.ibotb. lit Siiringficld : and Xettie. wh<< 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



is at hon.e. These children were all edu- 
cated in the public schools of Pitchin, and 
for a time Elizabeth engaiged in teaching. 

Like the others, Andrew Fink acquired 
a public school education and remained at 
home until he was sixteen years of age. As 
iie was the eldest of the family many bur- 
dens devolved upon him. Leaving home 
he worked as a. farm hand for R. N. Elder 
for nine seasoais, managing' his property. 
He then came to- Springfield, where he en- 
gaged in the butchering business and man- 
aged a meat m.arket for abcmt two. years. 
In 1883 h^ began the butchering business 
on his own account at the corner of East 
and Pleasant streets and in 1896 he built a 
home and place of business at the corner 
of East and Kenton streets. Here he con- 
ducts a general nieat market and grocery. 
He began with the earnings he had saved 
and gradually he has increased his stock 
to meet the growing dem.ands of his trade. 
In 1900 he added a line of groceries and he 
now has a large and well kq^t store, a good 
business being accorded him. 

Mr. Fink was married in Springfield in 
1884 to Miss Minnie L. Marshall, who was 
born in Cedarville, Greene county, Ohio-, in 
1S65. They have two children: Jesse Wal- 
ter, born in 1886; and Glenna Marie, born 
in 1889. M-'- Fink's study of the political 
questions of the day has led him to give 
his support to the Republican party, in 
which he takes a deqj and active interest, 
hax'ing served as a delegate tO' city, county 
and congressional conx-entious. Partv hon- 
ors and anoluments, however, have no at- 
tractions for him. He has a practical busi- 
ness education, but attended school only in 
the winter months, working on the home 
farm in the summer season, for aided by 
his brother, he supported the family until 

32 



the younger children were able tO' care for 
themselves. He has lived a quiet and hon- 
orable life and has gained success b)' hard 
work. 



DANIEL S. WATKINS. 

Daniel S. Watkins is the foreman of the 
setting-up department in the plant of the 
P. P. Mast Manufacturing Compau}-, with 
which he has been connected since Febru- 
ary 8, 1875. He comes of a family of 
English ancestry that was established in 
America at an early day, the grandfather 
of our subject having been born in Vir- 
ginia. He was the patentee and manufac- 
turer of various implements and it \\'as he 
who evolved the idea of a windmill, which 
was afterw ard built and put upon the mar- 
ket by his sou. Richard Watkins, the grand- 
father, reached a very advanced age. 

Richard Watkins, the father o>f our sub- 
ject, was born on the eastern shore of Mary- 
land, acquired his education in the subscrip- 
tion schools and became well known in the 
business world as an inventor and manufac- 
turer. He was the patentee and manufac- 
turer of the Watkins windmill. He made 
his home upon the pike extending from Ha- 
gerstown to Williamsport, Maryland, and 
there lie died in 1848 at the age of thirty- 
seven A-ears. He was the only member of 
the fan:ily whoi passed away at an early age. 
The others all reached advanced years. He 
married Rosa Ann Startzman, whoi was 
born of German ancestry in Maryland in 
1819, and died in 1853. After their mar- 
riage they started overland for the west, 
making their way to Illinois, where they re- 
mained for a year. They then went to St. 
Louis, and from there proceeded by steamer 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to Wheeling, West Virginia, thence return- 
ing by coach to their old home in Alary- 
land, this trip being made aboiit 1S37. In 
their family were nine children, of wliom 
two died in early childhood : Mary E., born 
in Illinois, died in Maryland in 1899, wh.en 
about sixty-one years of age; Horatio J. is 
a Lutheran preacher, of Lockport, New 
York: Margaret became the wife of David 
Beckley and died in Akuryhuid in 1900'; 
Richard Perry, who was a soldier of the 
Civil war, is now a baker and confectioner 
01 Fairbury, Nebraska; John died in Mary- 
land in i8f;4; Daniel S. is the next younger; 
Luther is an undertaker of Hagerslown, 
Marj'land. These children were all reared 
in Washington county, Maryland, and edu- 
cated in the early subscription schools, whicli 
were held in log houses. The father died 
in 1848, leaving a family of small cliildren 
to the care of his widow, who kept tliem to 
gether until they were able to care for them- 
selves. She died in the old house in her 
native state which was erected by her hus- 
band on their return from the west. 

Daniel S. Watkins of this review was 
born in Washington county. Maryland, De- 
cember 7, 1S46, and acquired his education 
in the subscription schools, which he at- 
tentlcd through the winter months, while in 
tlie sun-mer seasons his attention was given 
to farm w()rk. He made his home with his 
sister and at the age of sixteen he was ap- 
prenticed to learn the carpenter's trade, 
which he completed at Williamsport, Mary- 
land. He worked as a journeyman in Ha- 
gerslown, of that state, and in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania. At Altoona, Pennsylvania, 
he was employed at car building for the 
Pennsylvania system, and in Wilmington, 
Delaware, was in the employ of the Jack- 
5on-Shaq") Company. He also worked at 



his trade in Prince George county, Mary- 
land, after the panic of 1873, and then re 
turned to ^\'iln■.ington, Delaware, where he 
remained until the spring of 1875, when he 
came to Springlield, having some intimation 
that he could obtain a position with the P. 
P. Mast Alanufacturing Con-pany. He 
started in the setting-up department, be- 
came familiar with ever}- detail of the busi- 
ness and in 1885 was promoted to the posi- 
tion of foreman. iia\ing under his supervis- 
ion forty men. 

In 1872, in Hagerstown, Maryland, Mr. 
Watkins was married to Zella B. Lepley, 
who was born in Frostburg. Alleghany 
county, Maryland, in 1851. Her father. 
Rev. Christian Lepley, was born in Marietta. 
Ohio, December 5. 1811. and was a preach- 
er in the Lutheran church, in the active work 
of the ministry for over fifty years. Fur 
seventeen years he was located at Frostburg, 
Alleghany county. His first pastorate was 
at Lewistori, Pennsylvania, and subsequently 
lie was at Cumberland and Williamsburg, 
while during the Civil war he spent five 
years on the Potomac. At length he was 
forced to abandon pastoral work on account 
of ill health, though later he resumed his la- 
lK)rs at Hempstead, Maryland, and various 
other places for several years. Since 1885 
he has been retired, living with his daughter. 
He is a well preserved and intellectual man 
for one of his age and during the past few 
years he has occasionally filled the pulpil. 
He married Margaret R. Rupley, who was 
the oldest daughter of Simon and Sarah 
Rupley, of Greencastle, Pennsylvania, lliere 
were five children in their family, of whom 
two died in early childhood, and Lutlier 
passed away at the age of seventeen years. 
Tlie living daughters are: Sarah Eva; and 
Mrs. Watkins. The former is the wife of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



613 



F. P. H. Heminghausen, D. D., who has 
been pastor of St. Stephen's Lutheran 
churcli of Baltimore, Maryland, since 1862. 
Mrs. Watkins was educated in Keemar Col- 
lege at Hagerstown, Maryland, and was en- 
gaged in teaching in tlie public schools at 
Smithsburg, Maryland. By her marriage 
she has become the mother oif three chil- 
dren : Harry L., whoi was horn May 11, 
1874, and died in 1875; Nellie, born in 
Springfield, January 7, 1877; and Keller, 
who was Ix)rn November 19, 1883. and is 
now a student in Wittenberg College. 

Mr. Watkins has invested his earnings 
in a farm at the end of Lagonda avenue. 
He had one hundred and thirty-nine and 
one-half acres of land, but sold to the city 
about thirty-two acres for the entension of 
its water works system. He superintends 
the operation of the remainder of his land, 
carrying on general fanning and stock rais- 
ing. At one time he purchased a lot and 
erected a home at No. 123 South Plum 
street, making it his place of residence for 
twenty-twoi years, but now he resides on his 
farm. He was a member of the city coun- 
cil of Springfield for six consecutive years, 
from 1894 until 1900, having been elected 
on the Republican ticket from the fourth 
ward, and during that period served as 
chairman of important committees and as 
president of the council for one year. He 
has also bea: a delegate to< co-unty conven- 
tions. He belongs to the Third Lutheran 
church, ^vas for ten years a member of the 
official toard, and is identified socially with 
the Junior Order of Annerican Mechanics. 
His is an ideal home life, provided with all 
the comforts that he can secure, and he 
puts forth ever}- efifort in his power to pro- 
mote the welfare of his wife and family. 
His is an untarnished familv name and his 



own record adds luster thereto, because he 
has always been true tO' duty, loyal in citi- 
zenship and straightforward in all his deal- 
ings. 



ROBERT H. BOTLEY. 

Robert H. Botley, a florist of Spring- 
field, who for thirteen years has resided 
in Clark county, was born near London, 
England, December 17, 1862, and is a son 
of John Botley, whose birth occurred in 
that country in 182S, and who is now liv- 
ing retired. Throughout his life the father 
lia.s folio-wed farn;ing. He represents an 
old family O'f England, of the middle class, 
is a man o-f good education, and for his suc- 
cess in life desei-\^es great credit, as it has 
been woo thro-ugh his own efiforts. He has 
two brothers, George and William, who are 
now more than eighty years of age. He 
married Sarah Bateman. whoi was born in 
England in 1830, and .they becan:e the par- 
ents of five sons and three daughters, but 
two of the sons have passed away, Aaron 
having died in early childhood and \\\\\- 
iam in infancy. The others are: Elllen, 
who is married and lives in ^^'ales : Sarah, 
who is inarried and resides m England ; 
Charles, who is married and is engaged in 
the boot and shoe business in England; 
John, a business man of London, England; 
Alice, a widow, who is residing near Lon- 
don : and Robert H., of tliis review, who is 
the eldest son of the family. The children 
w'ere all born and' reared on the old home 
farm. The sister, Ellen, has been exten- 
sive traveler, having married a Mr. Miller, 
who held a goverjument position which 
caused him tO' visit many portions of the 
world. 



6i4 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Robert H. Botley was educated in the 
public scliools of his native land, pursuing 
his studies there until he was fourteen years 
of age, when as an apprentice he began 
leaining the florist's trade at Beaufront cas- 
tle, working under an experienced landscai>e 
gardener and florist. He was thus engaged 
until he was twenty-one years of age. In 
1883 he came to America, locating in Erie, 
Pennsylvania, where he was in charge of 
the grounds owned by W'illian: L. Scott, one 
of the wealtliy men of that city." For near- 
ly two years he occupied that position and 
then went to Paynesville, Ohio, where he 
remained for three years. He next came 
to Springfield and found employment with 
C. A. Keeser, with whom he remained for 
about seven years. \\'hen he arrived in 
this country he had some n.oney, which, sup- 
plemented by his savings during several 
years in America, enabled him to embark 
in business on his own account in 1894. He 
formed a partnership with C. W. Schmidt, 
under the firm name of Schnidt & Botley, 
their place of business being located soutli 
of Springfield, where they purchased prop- 
erty, building thereon greenhouses at the 
coi'uer of Southern and Western avenues. 
Operations were begun on a small scale and 
gradually they extended the field of their la- 
bors and now they ha\e fifty thousand 
square feet of glass. Tlieir hothouses are 
being constantly enlarged in order to meet 
the increasing demand of their trade. They 
conduct a mail order business, making a 
specialty of various kinds of roses. They 
employ twenty men in conducting the dif- 
ferent departn.ents of their business, and 
they have one of the liest modem equipped 
plants in the city. 

Mr. Botley was married in l'a\ nesville, 
Ohio, in August, 1887, to Miss Emma Dun- 



can, who was born in that city in 1867 and 
was educated in the public schools there. 
Their union has Iseen blessed with four chil- 
dren, but one daughter, Annie, died at the 
age of three years. The others are : Edith, 
born in 1889; Robert, born in 1896; and 
Helai, bom in 1899. The family home is 
at Xo. 364 \\'est Southern avenue. 

In his political views ilr. Botlej- is a 
Republican and has'served as judge of elec- 
tions and as a delegate to the county con- 
ventions, but the demands of his business 
leave him but little time for active political 
work. He lielongs to the Society of Ameri- 
can Florists and he is an occasional contri- 
butor to florist journals uix>n topics connect- 
ed with the conduct of a greenhouse and the 
care of plants. He is also a member of Red 
Star Lodge, K. P., and he and his wife hold 
n-.emljership in the Church of Christ. In 
1901 he made a trip to England to visit 
his parents and found pleasure in viewing 
again the scenes amid which his boyhood 
was passed and renewing the friendships of 
his youth. He has no desire, however, to 
again l^ecome a resident of the mother coun- 
tr}-, for he has formed a strong attachment 
for America and her institutions. His ol>- 
ject of bettering his financial condition has 
also been realized here and he is in control 
of an extensive business, to which he gives 
his personal attention, while annually he de- 
ri\-es therefrom a good income as a de- 
served reward of his close application and 
thorough understanding of the work which 
claims his time and energies. 



CH.VRLES E. PATRIC. 
The name of Charles E. Patric is one 
well known in agricultural circles through- 
out the length and breadth of this land be- 




C. E PATRIC. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



617 



cause of his inventive genius which has given 
to the world devices of great vahie to the 
farming- community. Within the last half 
century America has demonstrated her right 
to the leadership of the world in the realm 
of invention. At first by the brilliancy of 
her achievements she won the attention of 
the old countries, then commanded a respect 
which rapidly developed into a wondering 
admiration. She has provided unexcelled 
lalxjr-saving and cost-reducing machiner}- 
and her workers have practically revolution- 
ized agricultural methods because of the im- 
proved machinery and inventions which they 
have placed upon the market. In this regard 
Charles E. Patric is certainly worthy of con- 
sideration, for the Superior drills are the out- 
come of his thought, investigation and ex- 
periment. He is to-day one of the stock- 
holders and a director in the Superior Drill 
Company, an industry which with one ex- 
ception is the largest in Springfield and its 
success may well be attributed to his work 
as an inventor. 

Mr. Patric was born in Poughkeepsie, 
New York, September 6, 1837, and is a son 
of Richard F. and Bethiah (Patric) Patric. 
Hie comes of Scotch ancestry, the first rep- 
resentative in America having located in 
Connecticut about 1635. His paternal 
grandfather, William Patric, was a soldier 
of tlie Revolutionary war and was taken 
prisoner by the English, being incarcerated 
in the second story of an old house. Near 
his window stood a large apple tree loaded 
with fruit and it was not until that tree was 
again in blossom that he succeeded in mak- 
ing his escape. In the meantime he had suf- 
fered from an attack of varioloid. When 
spring had come he and a comrade planned 
an escape, and while creeping along the bank 
of the creek through the tall weeds the senti- 



nels of the British army challenged them and 
fired, killing his comrade instantly. William 
Patric, however, escaped. He waited quietly 
for some time and then slowly crept along 
through the weeds at the edge of the water 
and by daybreak he had reached the Con- 
tinental lines in safety. He lived to see the 
victorious close of the war and died at a ripe 
old age in eastern New York. 

Richard F. Patric, the father of our sub- 
ject, was born in Connecticut and with the 
famil}' removed to eastern New York and 
was there married to Miss Bethiah Patric, 
after which he located on a farm near Pough" 
keepsie. He was one of the active and prom- 
inent Whigs of the county and a man of con- 
siderable influence there. During his later 
life he removed to Wayne county. New 
York, and engaged in the manufacture of 
lumber at Williamson for a number of years. 
His last days were passed in Monroe county. 
New York, where he died in 1855. His wid- 
ow, surviving him for about eight years, 
passed away in the same county in 1863. 
They were members of the Baptist church, 
living earnest, consistent Christian lives and 
putting forth every effort in their power to 
advance the church work. They left a fam- 
ily of ten children, of whom Charles E. was 
the ninth in order of birth. 

In the district schools near his boyhood 
home Charles E. Patric began his education 
and afterward continued his studies in the 
academy at Hornellsville, New York, from 
which he returned to Wayne county and was 
there associated with his father in business 
for a few years. Later he removed to Vic- 
tor, Ontario county, New York, where he 
engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors 
and blinds and to some extent he was con- 
nected with the conduct of flouring mills. 
In 1864 he removed to Shortsville, New 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



York, where he continued his manufactur- 
ing business, but, in the meantime, he had 
given much thought and study to the ques- 
tion of improving machinery and implements 
used in planting grain, possessing much nat- 
ural mechanical ability which had been de- 
veloped through his business interests and 
his research. He began giving his attention 
to experimental work with the result that in 
1865 he invented what is known as the 
double force feed grain distributor for grain 
drills. In the fall of 1866 he removed to 
Macedon, New York, where he devoted his 
energies to the further improvement of grain 
drills and from that time to the present has 
engaged in the business uninterruptedly, 
having taken out about forty patents on 
grain drills and seeding machines. 

In May, 1867, j\Ir. Patric removed from 
Macedon to Springfield where he succeeded 
in interesting a number of well known and 
prominent citizens in his invention with the 
result that a company was formed for the 
manufacture of the grain drills for the cen- 
tral and western markets, this being the be- 
ginning of the manufacture of the Superior 
drill. In 1878 Mr. Patric returned to Roch- 
ester, New York, and while there invented 
an entirely new grain drill embracing some 
of the most meritorious features that have 
ever Ijeen produced for a machine of this 
kind. In the fall of 1883 he again came to 
Springfield and organized the present Su- 
perior Drill Company, which was then in- 
corporated with a capital stock of two hun- 
dred, and fifty thousand dollars. Something 
of the growth and extent of the business 
may be indicated by the fact that the invest- 
ment at the present time is five times the 
original amount of the capitalization. ^Ir. 
Patric became one of the heavv stockholders 



served in this position. He has given his 
attention entirely to improvements, patents, 
pattern drawings and general construction, 
and to his ability and inventive genius is due 
to-day the perfection found in the Superior 
drill. It has often been said that invention 
is the result of chance or inspiration, but ex- 
amination into the life of an invaitor shows 
that his work comes as the result of eirnest 
thought, investigation and research as well 
as experiment. Such w^s the case with Mr. 
Patric. Every improvement which he has 
made in connection with mechanical con- 
struction has been as the outcome of earnest 
efifort and untiring labor combined with a 
comprehensive and accurate knowledge of 
mechanical principles and a thorough appre- 
ciation of the needs of agriculture. The suc- 
cess of the Superior Drill Company is cer- 
tainly largely due to the excellence of the 
products which have been placed upon the 
market as the result of his inventive skill. 
He has not confined his attention wholly to 
one line, for he is now the vice-president of 
the Foos Gas Engine Company, extensively 
engaged in the manufacture of the celebrated 
gas and gasoline engines that find a ready 
sale throughout the greater part of the civil- 
ized world, being used for various purposes 
where power is required, including electric 
lighting. Mr. Patric is the jjresident of the 
Springfield Metallic Casket Company, which 
has a very large and fine plant located in 
Springfield for the manufacture of all kinds 
of funeral caskets and funeral hardware. Its 
business has likewise reached mammoth pro- 
portions. Of the Springfield National Bank 
he is a director and through many years he 
has been recognized as one of the strongest 
co-operant forces in the business and es- 
pecially the industrial development of 
S[)rintrficld. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



619 



Tn August, 1887, Mr. Patric was mar- 
ried to Miss Esther Adele Burlew, of New 
York, and has erected a fine home at No. 
566 East High street. He and his wife are 
members of the Fourth Lutheran church and 
he is serving as a member of the board of 
directors of the Wittenberg Lutheran Col- 
lege and belongs to the general synod. In 
politics he is a strong Republican although 
not an active participant in political work or 
a seeker after political honors. His entire 
attention has been given his Ijusiness affairs. 
It is a noticeable fact that when he first be- 
came interested in Springfield manufactures 
there w-as a very small number of men em- 
ployed in this department oi activity here, 
but to-day the companies with which he is 
directl}' connected give employment to 
twelve hundred men. It would be trespass- 
ing on the domain of history to recount the 
industrial dex-elopment of the city, and yet 
it is but just to say that Charles E. Patric 
has been a liberal promoter of development 
along these lines in Clark county, and his ef- 
forts, while bringing to him success, have 
had also a far wider scope, proving of im- 
mense l:)enefit to the agricultural world. 



THE BRAIN FAMILY. 

Through many years the Brain family 
has been represented in Clark county and 
its members have been prominent here in 
public affairs and in promoting material ad- 
vancement through the conduct of success- 
ful business enterprises. The ancestry can 
be traced back to William Brain, who was 
born at Donnington in the parish of Stow, 
Gloucestershire, England, in 1734. He 
first married Hannah Dorsell, bv whom he 



had two children : Ann, born in May, 
1763, and Hannah, born May 18, 1767. On 
the 31st of July, 1769, he married Ann 
Proctor, who was born at Bradfordton, near 
Evesham, April 18, 1746, and to them were 
born the following children : W^illiam, Janu- 
ary 20, 1771 : Elizabeth, December 14, 1772 ; 
Mary, March 4, 1774; John, August 28, 
1775; Sarah, March 4, 1778;. Joseph, Janu- 
ary I, 1781 ; Dinah, April 14, 1783: George 
October 21, 1784; Lydia Ann, March 31, 
1788; and Thomas, October 30, 1790. After 
the death of his second wife William Brain 
was married to Phrebe Caddick in 1794. He 
came of a sturdy race, was a farmer by occu- 
pation and served as superintendent of some 
large estates in England owned by the nobil- 
ity. His sons followed in the business foot- 
steps of their father, working with him on 
old estates in their native land. 

George Brain was liorn in England, was 
a malster and followed that business in his 
native land until 1829, when he came to 
America accompanied by his family. He 
was successful in business, and was a well 
read man and in the community where he 
lived had considerable influence. The voy- 
age across the Atlantic consumed six weeks, 
but eventually he landed safely at Phila- 
delphia. He thence proceeded by way of the 
Albany canal to Buffalo, by the lakes to San- 
dusky, Ohio, and thence across the country 
by wagon to Springfield, which at that time 
was a village of five hundred population. 
The family residence stood just north of the 
present site of the courthouse. George Brain 
purchased one hundred and sixty acres of 
land, boimded on the west by what is now 
Oak street, and for this paid seven dollars 
per acre. From time to time he added to his 
property until about three hundred acres 
v.-ere comprised within the boundaries of his 



620 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



farm. He made a close study of agriculture 
and had a large library of books on the sub- 
ject. His many other volumes on current 
topics also indicated his literary tastes and 
love of learning and a large number of the 
works from his lilirary shelves are now in 
the possession of his descendants. He 
brought with him to America about twenty- 
five hundred dollars in gold which was placed 
in a box that is now in the possession of 
Lydia Brain, who is living at the advanced 
age of eighty-two years. He also left con- 
siderable money in gold in England when he 
crosed the Atlantic to the new world. It 
was on the 2d of January, 1814, that George 
Brain was united in marriage to Mary 
Whitehead, who was born in Gerforth, 
Yorkshire, England, May 12, 1792. The 
wedding took place in Tipton, Stafford- 
shire, England, and they had eight children : 
Mary, the eldest, born December 4, 18 14, 
was married October i, 1839, to Robert 
Strain and after his death she was married 
in 1S52 to Levi Willard. Her death oc- 
curred .April 22, 1900. She has one surviv- 
ing daughter, Mrs. John L. Plummer. Jo- 
seph James W'., the second member of the 
family, was born June 3, i8i6,and died May 
12, 1855. Anna, born March 25, 1818, be- 
came the wife of David Green and died Sep- 
tember zfi, 1867. She left three children: 
William B., of Springfield, John H. and 
Lucy E.. both of Xewton Falls, Ohio. Ly- 
dia, born February 26. 1820. is living at the 
home of Mrs. George Brain, Sr., and is the 
only member of the family residing in Clark 
county, of that generation. Martha, born 
May II, 1 82 1, died March 15. 1895. Lucy, 
born September 23. 1823, became the wife of 
Dr. John C. Stoddard, who was a surgeon in 
the Union army during the Civil war and 
was killed during his service. She now lives 



in Ottumwa, Iowa, and with the exception 
of Lydia is the only surviving member of 
the family. She has two children — Mrs. 
William McXett and John A., a preacher. 
George was the next of the family. William 
G.. born June 2, 1830, in Springfield, died 
March 2, 1902, leaving three children: 
Belle M.. Robert D. and Amy L. of this city. 
George Brain, Jr., became a prominent 
and influential resident of Springfield. He 
was the seventh in order of birth in his fa- 
ther's family and first opened his eyes to the 
light of day in Staffordshire, England, 
March 2, 1827. In early life he accepted a 
clerkship in a drug store, but on account of 
ill health he returned to his father's farm and 
carried on agricultural pursuits for many 
years. On his father's death, in 1851, he 
took charge of the home farm, which he 
cultivated and improved continuously until 
1880. In 1858 he purchased land, compris- 
ing eighty-three acres, upon which the homes 
of the present representatives of the Brain 
family are located. After the farm was 
taken into the city by the_extension of the 
corporation limits of Springfield, he turned 
his attention to the real estate business, lay- 
ing out additions and handling property here- 
He sold one hundred acres of the old home 
farm to the \\'hiteley Manufacturing Com- 
pany as a site for its shops. His brother. 
\\'illiam G. Brain, who had been educated 
here and entered the drug business as a clerk, 
afterward embarked in business on his own 
account, conducting a store for twelve years. 
In 1870 he turned his attention to the lumber 
trade and, in connection with George Simp- 
son, the firm of Ray, Brain & Simpson was 
organized. Later William G. Brain became 
sole proprietor and thus continued until Jan- 
uary I, i8<S9, when his brother Cieorge Brain 
was admitted to the jiartnershi]) .-md subse- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



quently the latter's sons became interested in 
the enterprise and William G. Brain then re- 
tired. The firm of George Brain & Sons was 
formed in 1889 and this continued until the 
death of the senior partner, when the firm 
style was changed to George Brain's Sons 
& Company. 

On the 22d of May, i860, George Brain 
was united in marriage to Sarah M. Willard, 
a daughter of Levi and Sarah (Allen) Wil- 
lard, the wedding taking place in Decatur, 
Georgia, where the lady was born July 6, 
1839. -"^t^ the time of their marriage they 
settled upon the home farm and ]\Ir. Brain 
began operations as an agriculturist on an 
extensive scale. Unto him and his wife 
were born seven children : Willard, of the 
firm of George Brain's Sons & Company; 
Jessie A. ; George H., also a member of the 
firm; Mary; Elizabeth W. now Mrs. Charles 
B. Beach, of Dubuque, Iowa; Grace, the wife 
of Robert McGregor, of the Patric Furnace 
Company ; and Alice, who died at the age of 
six months. 

George Brain was a very successful busi- 
ness man, enterprising and progressive. He 
carried on his farm work along most modern 
lines and when he became interested in real 
estate dealings handled his property in a 
manner in keeping with the progressive spirit 
of the times and in the lumber trade he was 
equally wide-awake and alert to note oppor- 
tunities and to advance his business inter- 
ests. He was noted for his integrity and 
trustworthiness, as well as for his success, 
and his course was one which reflected great 
credit upon an untarnished family name. In 
his home he was a devoted husband and fa- 
ther, cherishing his success because it en- 
abled him to provide well for his wife and 
children. 

Tlie sons of Mr. and Mrs. George Brain 



have carried on the work instituted by their 
father and have enlarged and extended its 
scope. After the death of the father the 
present firm style of George Brain's Sons & 
Company was assumed and under this name 
a retail lumber business is carried on. The 
heirs in the father's estate are also inter- 
ested in the real estate business, with George 
H. Brain as the manager and attorney of the 
company, which has been incorporated un- 
der the firm name of the Brain-McGregor 
Real Estate Company. They do a general 
real- estate business, buying, building and 
selling. \\'illard Brain devotes his time to 
the lumber interests and thus the brothers 
have apportioned the duties and work con- 
nected with the lumber trade and real estate 
operations and in both lines of activity suc- 
cess is assured because the members of the 
firm follow correct business principles. 

Willard Brain was married to 1895 to 
Adella H. Bosart, a daughter of L. \\'. 
Bosart, and they have five children : Dor- 
othy Willard ; George Louis ; Allen Halsey ; 
Martha Jeanette; and Sarah Virginia. 
George H. Brain wedded Mary King, a 
daughter of Colonel David* King, in May, 
1899, and they have one son, Charles King 
Brain. Mrs. Robert R. McGregor, their sis- 
ter, has two children, Robert Ross and 
Douglas. 

Tlie family has long been identified with 
the Republican party and with the Presby- 
terian church. The father left to them an 
untarnished name and the record of his sons 
has reflected credit upon the family historv. 
In social circles the representatives of the 
name have ever occupied an enviable posi- 
tion where true worth and intelligence are re- 
ceived as the passports into good society. 
From early pioneer times down to the pres- 
ent the name of this honored familv is in- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



separably interwoven with the history of 
Springfield, and throughout the intervening 
years the w'ork of progress, advanceirent 
and upbuilding has been promoted by one 
or more members of this respected and hon- 
orable familv- 



JOHN RAUCH. 

John Rauch. a baker and grocer of 
Springfield, whose successful conduct of his 
business interests is alike gratifying and 
creditable, was born in Bavaria, Germany, 
December 19, 1858. He is a son of John 
Raucii, whose birth occurred in the father- 
land in 1824, and who followed farming in 
that country until 1892, W'hen he came to 
America. He now lives with his son John 
and assists in the bakery. His wife, who 
bore the maiden name of Barbara Strehl and 
was born in 1823, is also living. They have 
seven children: Amarin, a farmer of Ger- 
many : Margaret, the wife of George Rat- 
cer, a locksmith and malster of Bavaria: 
Barbara, the wife of Michael Mantl, of Ger- 
many; John, of this review; Annie is mai- 
ried and lives in Germany; Ursula is the wife 
of Joseph Foster, of Buffalo, New York ; 
and Wencil, who is a professor in a high 
school of Bavaria. The father had one hun- 
dred and sevent\-three acres of land in his 
native country and conducted a tavern there. 
After his children had attained mature years, 
however, he sold his business interests and 
divided the profits among his children, giv- 
ing each one thousand dollars. 

Like the other members of the family, 
John Rauch attended school until about thir- 
teen years of age and then learned the 
baker's trade at Munich, serving two years' 
apprenticeship. He was afterward in the 



employ of bakers until twenty years of age, 
when he entered the army, being connected 
with military service for two years. On re- 
ceiving a furlough he came to this country, 
landing at New York on the ist of January, 
1881. He was a stranger with jittle knowl- 
edge of America, its people or its customs. 
Making his way to Philadelphia he there se- 
cured work at his trade, remaining in that 
city for two months, after which he came 
direct to Springfield and obtained a position 
on Clifton street. Subsequently he entered 
the employ of Charles Renssaler, with whom 
he continued until June, 1881. He then 
opened up business on his own account at 
No. 541 East Main street, but remained only 
a short time, when he built the oven at his 
present place of business. No. 300 East 
Pleasant street. He succeeded in securing 
a large and growing patronage, but after 
a time he sold out and went to Washington 
Court House, where he remained until 18S5. 
He then returned to this city and again be- 
gan business here at No. 541 East Main 
street, the property belonging to his wife's 
mother. In 1890 he purchased his present 
property and enlarged the plant, put in mod- 
ern machinery and now does a general whole- 
sale business, selling principally to retail 
dealers in this city and in adjoining towns. 
From a small beginning he has built up an 
extensive trade, to which he has given his 
personal attention. He employs four men 
and he has one son who assists him in the 
business, attending to the wants of custo- 
mers. 

In June, 1881. Mr. Rauch was married 
to Philopena Barth. who was born in Spring- 
field in i860. Their son, John A., is a 
graduate of the public schools of Spring- 
field, was graduated in Nelson's Business 
College in 1897. and since that time has 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



623. 



been associated with his father in the con- 
duct of the bakery and grocery. He was 
born May 8, 1882, and is a bright, enterpris- 
ing- young man. The family are identified 
with St. Bernard's CathoHc church and since 
1898 Mr. Rauch has been a member of the 
church board. He also belongs to the Ger- 
man Catholic Benevolent Society and was 
an officer in the local lodge. His political 
views connect him with the Democracy. He 
has never had occasion to regret his deter- 
mination to come to America, for here he 
has found a comfortable home, has gained 
many friends and has won prosperity in his 
business ventures. 



WILLIAM E. BANTA. 

William E. Banta is an expert watch 
maker of Springfield, whose residence in the 
city dates from 1878, and his ancestral his- 
tory traces back to a pioneer epoch in the 
settlement of America by the white race. In 
1658 there were five brothers of the name 
\vho came to this country. They belooged to 
the Waldensians, of Italy, who went to Hol- 
land on account of religious persecution and 
from there came toi America, being here 
allowed to worship according to the dictates 
of their conscience. Their home was estab- 
lished in New Jersey arid from one of these 
brothers the subject of this review is de- 
scended. As the time passed the Banta fam- 
ily increased in numerical strength and when 
the country resolved to throw off the yoke 
of British oppression, representatives of the 
name became participants in the Revolution- 
ary war, being engaged in service in the Mo- 
hawk valley. Isaac Banta, the grandfather 
of our suljject, resided in the east, and pros- 



pered in his undertakings, becoming a well- 
to-do man. He lived to the advanced age 
of ninety-two years. At the time of the 
war of :8i2 he served as one of the minute 
men. 

Jacob I. Banta, the father of our sub- 
ject, was born in the Mohawk valley of New 
York in 1810 and died in Urbana, Ohio, in 
1886. For many years he was engaged in 
railroad contracting and because of this re- 
moved to various places. He and his broth- 
er Albert built the Albany & Schenectady 
Railroad, the second road established m 
America. He was living in Wisconsin at 
the time of the Black Hawk war and when 
the Indians rose up against the white set- 
tlers he joined the army that suppressed 
the insurrection of the Indians. Mr. Banta 
was united in marriage to Lydia Van Brunt, 
who was born in New Jersey in 18 13 and 
died in Urbana in 1893. She came of an o\(\ 
Holland family and her people were a long- 
lived race. At the time of the Revolutionary 
war some of the family were taken prison- 
ers and held in captivity on the old prison 
ship Jersey, because they were faithful ad- 
herents of the cause of liberty. Her father 
lived to the very advancd age of ninety-five 
years and died at the home of his daughter 
in LTrbana. During the period of the Revo- 
lution he made his home in New Jersey 
in the midst of much of the hostility which 
occurred. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Banta, the 
parents of our subject, were born two chil- 
dren, John A., the elder, being a resident of 
Urbana and a printer by trade. He is mar- 
ried and has four sons and one daughter. 
The father was a Republican in his affilia- 
tions from the time of the organization of 
the party. He was a well educated man and 
read broadly, keeping in touch with the ad- 
vanced thought of the day. He also desired 



"624 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tliat his sons should have good educational 
privileges and both were students in the 
high school. 

William E. Banta, whose name intro- 
duces this record, was born in Beloit, Wis- 
consin, February 3, 1847, ^"d in 1852 ac- 
companied his parents on their removal to 
Urbana, Ohio, where he pursued his educa- 
tion, which included study in the high school 
there. At the age of sixteen he was appren- 
ticed to a jeweler, with whom he remained 
for three years, becoming familiar with the 
business in all of its departments. He af- 
terward went to Fostoria, Ohio, where he 
remained for a year, and in 1867 he 
came to Springfield where he entered 
the employ of John P. Allen, with whom 
he remained for six \-ears. He is now an 
expert watchmaker and retailer. He has 
traveled quite extensively over various por- 
tions of the United States and has been em- 
ployed in fourteen different cities of the 
country, working in all branches of the jew- 
eler business. In his travels he has gained 
a wide knowledge of the United States and 
its people, acquiring much valuable informa- 
tion and storing his mind with many anec- 
•dotes which render him an entertaining com- 
panion. For five years he continued his 
travels and in 1878 returned to Springfield 
and accepted an excellent position which 
was offered him. He began business at his 
present location, at No. 40 \\'est Main street, 
as an expert watchmaker and repairer and 
has here carried on business continuously 
since. 

Mr. Banta votes with the Republican 
party, but has never taken an active part in 
political affairs or sought office of any de- 
scription. He is a meinber of New Albany 
Lodge, No. 39, F. & A. M.. and Springfield 
Council. R. & S. M.. in which he has filled 



the position of thrice illustrious master. He 
has held other offices in Masonry here and 
has been a worthy exemplar of the frater- 
nity since he was received as a Master Ma- 
son in Springfield Lodge in 187 1. He has 
advanced steadily in the order, his brethren 
delighting to honor him because of his faith- 
fulness to the teachings of the craft and his 
thorough understanding of its tenets. Out- 
side of business Mr. Banta has given con- 
siderable attention to the study of and ex- 
periments in electricity. The subject has 
greatly fascinated him and he finds, it a 
source of pleasure and recreation. 



WILLIAM H. GRAHAM, M. D. 

Dr. William H. Graham, who is en- 
gaged in the practice of medicine and sur- 
gery in South Charleston, was born on a 
farm near Circleville, in Pickaway county, 
Ohio, June 18, 1875. His parents were Hi- 
ram and Emma (Dyer) Graham. Soon af- 
ter his birth his people removed to a farm in 
Fayette county, near Mount Sterling, Ohio, 
where the father carried on agricultural pur- 
suits and also dealt in stock. In 1900 he 
and his wife removed to Clark county and 
are now living near South Charleston. 

The Doctor was reared to manhood in 
Fayette county and attended its public 
schools until sixteen years of age, when he 
entered the business college at Columbus, 
Ohio, being graduated in that institution 
about 1892. He later attended the National 
Normal University at Lebanon. Ohio, for a 
year, and then having determined to make 
the practice of medicine his life work he 
began studying in the office of Dr. Davis, of 
New Ildlland, Ohio. After one year of pre- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



625. 



paratory reading he entered the Eclectic 
jMedical Institute of Cincinnati and was 
graduated at the completion of a four years' 
course with the class of 1901. This was four 
years of careful study, earnest thought and 
practical work and he was thus well equipped 
to enter upon the important duties of the 
profession wdien he left that school. In 
I'jfjO he also took a course in the Bennett 
Medical College, of Chicago, and in Au- 
gust, igoi. he opened an ofiice in Spring- 
field. In ]\Iarch, 1902, howe\'er, he removed 
to South Charleston, where he is now lo- 
cated. He is comparatively a }-oung man, 
hut he has made most thorough preparation 
for his chosen work and he posseses a na- 
ture that can never content itself with me- 
diocrity, but will press forward to a place 
of success and prominence. He is contin- 
uall}- studying when not attending to the 
demands of his practice and is thus always 
broadening his knowledge and increasing his 
efficiency. He is a member of the Eclectic 
Medical Alumni Association and also of the 
State Medical Association, and he keeps 
thoroughly abreast with the times. He man- 
ifested special aptness in his studies and his 
thorrnigh qualifications and studious habits, 
combined with close conformity to the eth- 
ics of the profession have already gained for 
him a fa\-orable reputation as a member of 
the medical fraternitv of Clark countv. 



DAVID KING, Sr. 

David King, Sr., was one of the early 
merchants of Springfield, whose enterprise 
and energy contributed to the 'business ac- 
ti\ity and consequent prosperity of the city 
at an early day. He was born in Baltimore, 



Maryland, in 1896, and when only four 
years of age was left an orphan by the death 
of his parents. He Avas then taken to Penn- 
svlvania and was reared and educated in 
the village of Shippensburg. He afterward 
engaged in teaching school through the 
winter months in Pennsylvania, but when a 
young man left the Keystone state for Ohio, 
locating in Portsmouth, this state, where he 
secured a clerkship. He had also been em- 
ployed as a clerk in Shippensburg, so that 
he had some experience when he became 
identified with mercantile life in Ohio. Af- 
ter a short time spent in the employ of others 
he engaged in business for himself in Tarle- 
ton, Pickaway county, where all his chil- 
dren but two were born, and where he car- 
ried on merchandising until 1841 — the year 
of his arrival in Springfield. Opening a 
dry goods store in this place, he carried on a 
large and profitable business at the south- 
east corner of Main and Limestone streets 
for a number of years in a large brick build- 
ing owned by him, known at the time as the 
Lyon property, where the Gotwald block 
now stands. At the time of his removal to 
Springfield this place was but a small town 
and he became a factor in its upbuilding. He 
invested his money in land and upnn this 
erected buildings used for mercantile pur- 
poses. He cnvned the valuable tract on the 
corner of South Fountain avenue and High 
street, with two hundred feet front on each 
street. His investments were carefully made 
and brought to him a good financial re- 
turn, and at the same time his building in- 
terests proved of benefit to the city in the 
upbuilding of its business district. 

While residing in Tarleton, Ohio, Mr. 
King was married November 9, 1826, to 
Almena Caldwell, of Portsmouth, Ohio, her 
parents being Alexander and Hannah 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



(Hamlin) Caldwell. On the maternal side 
she came of a distinguished family that has 
furnished men of prominence to the nation, 
including Hannibal Hamlin, vice-president 
of the United States. The family are de- 
scendants of Giles Hamlin, who emigrated 
from Great Britain about 1639 and several 
members of the family have become dis- 
tinguished in military circles. Eleazer Ham- 
lin, the great-grandfather of Mrs. King, 
married Lydia Bonney and settled at Pem- 
broke, Massachusetts. He died December 
I. 1807, at the age of seventy-five years. 
One of the eldest sons was a lieutenant in 
the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment and 
also an adjutant in the Revolutionary war. 
He died in Waterford, Maine, and one of 
his sons inherits memljership in the Cincin- 
nati Society. Two other sons were distin- 
guished in their children, the son of one be- 
ing the Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, vice-presi- 
dent of the United States, and a son of the 
other being the Rev. Cyrus Hamlin, of 
world-wide fame as a missionary sent out 
by the American Board, who was at the head 
of Roberts College at Constantinople. 

To Mr. and Mrs. David King were born 
nine children, of whom five are now living, 
two daughters and three sons. The daugh- 
ters are: Mrs. Mary E. K. Gotwald, the 
widow of the late Rev. Dr. L. A. Gotwald ; 
and Miss S. Jennie King, both now living in 
Springfield in the old homestead on Xorth 
Fountain avenue, built by the mother imme- 
diately after the father's death. His death 
was occasioned by cholera in Augtist, 1849, 
when that scourge prevailed in Springfield, 
and was undoubtedly due to his devotion to 
those who suffered or died from that dread 
pestilence. The three sons are Robert Ouig- 
ley. .Samuel Xoble and David, Jr. 



Robert Q. King was the eldest son, and 
his first years in business life were engaged 
in a hardware store with his partner, Mr. 
Me.x Runyon, now of Newark, New Jersey. 
Later he turned his attention to the real es- 
tate business and to-day handles considera- 
ble residence and farm property, at the same 
time supervising his private interests. In 
1857 he married Harriet A.- Danforth, who 
was born in New Albany, Indiana, and they 
had five children. Thomas D., born in 1859, 
was a graduate of the medical department 
of the University of Pennsylvania, at Phila- 
delphia, and was also a graduate of Prince- 
ton College. He was practicing at the time 
of his death, which occurred in 1889. The 
living children are D. Ward, a farmer of 
Holt county, Missouri; Almena, the wife of 
H. J. Warrick, who follows farming near 
Corning, California ; and R. Lefiler, a farm- 
er of Hancock county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. 
King have' nine grandchildren. They hold 
membership in the Presbyterian church of 
Springfield. 

Samuel Noble King spent his boyhood in 
the paternal home, but preferring farm life 
went to Illinois, becoming one of the leading 
agriculturists of the northern part of that 
state. He married Miss Mary Reid, of Ot- 
tawa, Illinois. Mr. King has given his at- 
tention largely to raising the standard of 
live stock, notably horses, to a high degree 
of perfection. He and his wife are much 
interested in the elevation of standards in 
the farm home, giving their time and influ- 
ence to instruction in domestic science in all 
its varied departments as it is now persever- 
ingly taught in northern Illinois. Mr. King 
enlisted jn the army as a private at the be- 
ginning of the Civil war. He served for 
three vcars in the 'J'wentv-sixth Illinois 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



627 



Regiment, and during that time was pro- 
moted to the office of first lieutenant. He 
is still Hving near Bloomington, Illinois. 

David King, Jr., first launched in busi- 
ness in Springfield, but at the first call for 
troops made by President Lincoln to serve 
for three months in defense <if the Union, 
he entered the service as a first lieutenant and 
was promoted to the captainc}'. At the close 
of his term he immediately assisted in re- 
cruiting the Ninety-four Ohio Infantry, and 
soon after went back into active service in 
the army as a major, while later he was pro- 
moted to the rank of lieutenant colonel. lie 
participated in the first battle of Bull Run 
and during his second enlistment in the bat- 
tles of Perryville, Kentucky, and Stone Riv- 
er, Tennessee. His regiment saw very se- 
vere service. After the close of the war 
Da\-id King was for several years a paper 
manufacturer. At length he discontinued the 
making of paper but has been a dealer in 
that commodity and is proprietor of a whole- 
sale paper store that is now an important 
factor in the business of Springfield. In 
1864 David King married Miss Mary M. 
Danforth, of New Albany, Indiana. They 
have two children, Noble C. and Mary J. 
The former married Miss Belle Munson, of 
Springfield, and their home is in Plainfield, 
New Jersey, while the latter is the wife of 
George H. Brain, of Springfield, Ohio. Da- 
vid King and his wife belong to the First 
Presbyterian church, in which he has served 
as trustee, deacon and elder. He is also a 
trustee of the Children's Home, of Clark 
county, and a member of Mitchell Post, No. 
45, Ci'. A. R. 

Of the four deceased children of 'Mr. 
and Mrs. David King, Sr., liut one lived to 
maturitv, namelv, Almena Caldwell Kin";, 



who was well known and esteemed in this 
community and who died in 1878. 

In his political affiliations David King, 
Sr., was a Whig but never sought or held 
office. He belonged to the First Presbyte- 
rian church of Springfield, and served as 
one of its trustees and was at his death 
chairman of the building committee erect- 
ing the original house of worship. He died 
in this city August 8, 1849, at the age of 
fifty-four years, and his wife, who long sur- 
vived him, passed away in 1878. He was a 
very prominent and successful business m.an, 
whose influence was a potent element in the 
material and moral progress of this com- 
munitv. 



JOHN SEGGERSON. 

John Seggerson is engaged in dealing in 
groceries and provisions at No. 224 East 
Main street and has been a representative 
of the business interests of Springfield for 
eleven years. He was born in Paris, Ken- 
tucky. February 22, 1858, and the public 
schools of that city provided him with his 
educational privileges. His father, Patrick 
Seggerson, now deceased, was a stone ma- 
son by trade and was born in County Kerry, 
Ireland, in the year 1820. On leaving the 
Emerald isle he was united in marriage to 
Margaret Cahill, whose birth occurred in 
1824. Having crossed the Atlantic to Amer- 
ica they became residents of Paris, Ken- 
tuck}-, whence they removed to Springfield 
in July, 1875. Here the father followed 
the stone mason's trade until his retirement 
from active Ijusiness life about twelve years 
prior to his death. He was a member of St. 
Raphael's church of this city and was a 



62 8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Democrat in his political affiliations, but had 
no aspirations for office. His educational 
privileges in youth were limited, but by hard 
work he made his way and steadily ad- 
vanced in the business world. He was called 
to his final rest on Christmas day of 1897, 
and is still survived by his wife, who yet 
resides in Springfield. They were the par- 
ents of thirteen children, but six of that 
number died in Kentucky in early childhood. 
One son, George, died in Springfield at the 
age of twenty-nine years. The others are : 
Alary, the widow of John Donahue, of this 
city; Edwaifd, a plasterer of Springfield; 
Ellen, the wife of James R. Doyle, of this 
city; John; Margaret, the wife of Anthony 
Gallagher, of Lexington, Kentucky; and 
Thomas, a molder by trade, living in Spring- 
field. The children were educated in the 
public schools of Kentucky and Margaret 
and Thomas were students in parochial 
•schools of this city. 

John Seggerson came to Springfield 
when about .seventeen years of age and 
found employment in a foundry as core 
maker. Later he was employed as a molder, 
working as a journeyman in that capacity 
until 1 89 1, when, with the capital he had ac- 
quired through his industry, perseverance 
and economy, he embarked in the grocery 
business on his own account at the corner of 
Columbia and Water streets. There he 
opened a new stock of goods. He had no 
experience, but the same resolute purpose 
which had enabled him to acquire capital 
sufficient to begin business has enabled him 
to conduct his enterprise in a way that has 
gained for him public patronage. In 1896 
he removed to his present location. He l)e- 
gan with a stock worth four hundred dol- 
lars and this he gradually increased to meet 
the growing demand* of his trade until he 



now carries a stock valued at fifteen hundred 
dollars and handles goods of the finest qual- 
ity. He carries a full line of staple and fan- 
cy groceries, provisions, canned goods and 
smoked meats, and to the business he has 
given his personal attention, gaining tlie 
confidence of his patrons by his straightfor- 
ward business methods. 

In 1880 Mr. Seggerson was married in 
this city to Margaret OXeil. who was born 
in Springfield in 1858, a daughter of Daniel 
O'Neil, who died in 1859. They had four 
children, but three of the number died in in- 
fancy. The surviving son, Edward, born 
January 3, 1882, is a graduate of St. Raph- 
ael's parochial school, also of Nelson's Bus- 
iness College, and is now a clerk in his fa- 
ther's store, having charge of the books. Mr. 
Seggerson and his family are identified with 
St. Raphael's Catholic church. In politics 
he is a Democrat and takes an active part in 
local political affairs. He is now serving as 
a member of the central committee of his 
ward. He belongs to the Knights of Colum- 
bus, the Young Men's Institute, and the 
Ancient Order of Hibernians. He is like- 
wise identified with the Springfield Grocers 
Association. Through broad reading he has 
educated himself and his success in business 
has Ijeen made by personal application and 
reliable methods. 



lOHX RAXKIX. 



Hcmored and respected by all there is no 
man who has occupied a more envial)le posi- 
tion in financial circles in South Charleston 
than John Rankin, who has long been con- 
nected with banking interests here but is 
niiw urncticallv livinar a retired life. He has. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



629 



passed the ninetieth milestone on hfe's jour- 
ney and is one of the veneralile men of Clark 
county, having for more than nine decades 
been a witness of the history of the nation 
as it has progressed in civilization, in cul- 
ture and in all departments of acti\'ity until 
it now ranks among the great powers of the 
world. 

Air. Rankin was born December 16, 
iSii, in Berlin. \\"orcester cjunty, ]\Iary- 
land, and was the second born of a numer- 
ous family whose parents were James and 
Margaret (Truitt) Rankin. Rev. John 
Rankin, D. D., the head of this branch of the 
family, of which our subject is a representa- 
tive, was of Scotch-Irish descent — a native 
i)f Pennsylvania — and was distinguished for 
his unbounded zeal and successful labors in 
planting and establishing Presbyterian 
churches in the lower part of the Mar\-land 
peninsula, of which Worcester county was 
the center of his field of labor. James Ran- 
kin, the youngest of his five children, mar- 
ried ]\Iargaret Truitt, of Newark, \\"orces- 
ter county, and about 181 5 they removed 
with their family to Aladison county, Ohio, 
locating on a farm near London. John 
Rankin was then but a little child. His early 
life was not exempt from the toil, hardships 
and disadvantages of the pioneer. The la- 
bor of the farm was so exacting that it left 
but little time for mental culture, but never- 
theless he utilized the meager advantages that 
pioneer life afforded and accpiired a sufificient 
knowledge of the rudiments of practical ed- 
ucation, upon which he continued to btiild 
A\ith excellent results. He early discovered 
that industry, economy and integrity were 
tlie secrets of success, and adopted them as 
his motto — his beacon star, which he has fol- 
lowed in every transaction through his long 
and busy life. His methodical manner of 
33 



living and total abstinence from all intoxi- 
cants and nerve stimulants have contributed 
largel}- to the longevity of his life. When 
}et a bo}- he began dealing in cattle on 
his own account, going west to Indiana and 
Illinois to buy stock, which he drove across 
the country to the eastern markets. In the 
spring of 1845, i" connection with his broth- 
er, Albert G., he opened a dry goods store 
in South Charleston, successfully conduct- 
ing this mercantile enterprise until 1865. In 
1863, in connection with other well known 
business men, he organized the First Na- 
tional Bank of South Charleston, of which 
he became the vice president, while L. W. 
Haughey was chosen president. From the 
beginning the new enterprise was attended 
with success, a safe, conservative business 
policy being inaugurated which won the pub- 
lic confidence and made the bank what it 
has remained — one of the solid financial in- 
stitutions of the co'unty. The tank was 
made the "designated depository and finan- 
cial agent of the United States" in this sec- 
tion, and all internal revenue and other gov- 
ernment moneys collected in the congres- 
sional district were deposited here. The in- 
stitution continued as a national bank until 
1877, when owing to the high price of gov- 
ernment bonds, it seemed advisable, from a 
financial standpoint, to relinquish its charter 
and withdraw its circulation, which was 
done; and it was immediately reorganized 
as a private bank, under the name of the 
Bank of South Charleston, with Mr. Rankin 
as its president. He has since remained in 
this position, although the management of 
the business is now largely in the hands of 
his sons, and the same safe policy at first in- 
augurated has always been maintained. The 
success of this enterprise is attributable in 
no small degree to his efforts, to his sound 



630 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



jiulgnient, to his conservative policy and 
honorable dealing. When ]\Ir. Haughey 
withdrew from the bank he made invest- 
ments in real estate and in many of these Mr. 
Rankin was associated with him and through 
long years the business as well as social re- 
lations of these two venerable and honored 
men have been continued. 

In 1855 ^'■''- Rankin was married in 
South Charleston to Miss Qiarity A. Ful- 
lerton, and for forty-seven j-ears they have 
traveled life's journey together. The lady 
was born in Summerford, Ohio, daughter 
of James Fullerton, and three children were 
born of this marriage: Stacy B., James F. 
and Ella M., but the last named died in early 
womanhood. 

In his political affiliations Air. Rankin 
was a \\\\\g in early life, and upon the dis- 
solution of that party he joined the new Re- 
publican party. He has never been an active 
politician in the sense of office seeking, yet 
has filled some minor positions, to which he 
has been called liy the vote of his fellow 
townsmen. lie has long been a member of 
the Presbyterian church, which his father 
aided in organizing, and of which he was 
long a valued member. His life has ever 
been in consistent harmony with his Chris- 
tian principles and his business career has 
been characterized by honorable dealing, 
while at all times he has been true and faith- 
ful to the obligations of citizenship and of 
upright manhood. His life record of more 
than ninety years should serve as an inspira- 
tion to his associates and an e.Kample to the 
young. 

» » » 

S. B. R.AXKIX. 

S. B. Rankin, the elder son of John Ran- 
kin, of South Charleston, was born in this 



town and attended school here until about 
seventeen j-ears of age, when on account of 
impaired eyesight he had to put aside his 
text-books. Later he became his father's as- 
sistant in the banking business and has since 
bear identified with financial interests of the 
county. Since 1882 he has been cashier of 
the Bank of South Charleston, which is 
owned by the father and his two sons, Stacy 
B. and James F. 

S. B. Rankin was married in South 
Charleston to Miss Fannie Kemper, who was 
born and reared in Dayton and was a daugh- 
ter of the Rev. James S. Kemper, D. D. 
and Frances (Gasper) Kemper. They now 
have two children. Marquis Kemper and 
Stacy Barcroft. In his political affiliations 
S. B. Rankin has always been a stanch Re- 
publican, giving a helpful and unswerving 
support to the party, and has been a delegate 
to various county, congressional and state 
conventions. His fellow townsmen, recog- 
nizing his worth and abilit)', have frequently 
called him to public office and in the fall of 
1897 he was elected to the legislature and on 
the expiration of his first term was re-elect- 
ed. After fntering the house of reprsenta- 
tives he was made a member of the commit- 
tee on taxation, corporations and federal re- 
lations, and during his second term he was 
chairman of the committee on taxation and 
served on the committees on railroads and 
telegraphs, on libraries and on others ap- 
pointed to expedite the work of the house. 
He has been appointed by Governor Xash 
executive commissioner from Ohit) to tlie 
St. Louis Exposition in 1904. 

I\Ir. Rankin is a member of Fielding 
Lodge. No. 56, F. & A. M., of South 
Charleston, with which he has been identi- 
fiekl since 1900. He was one of the organ- 
izers of the Ohio Bankers Association in 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



631 



1 89 1, was elected its first secretary and lias 
since held that position, while at this writ- 
ing he is the president of the Secretaries' 
Organization of the State Bankers Associa- 
tions of the United States. He has also been 
the O'hio vice president of the American 
Bankers Association, and has a wide ac- 
quaintance among the bankers of the coun- 
try. In the field of political life and business 
I'.ctivity he has won distinction and to-day 
is numbered among the leading, influential 
and honored citizens of Ohio. 



JAMES F. RANKIN. 

James F. Rankin was boa'n in Somth 
Charleston, Xovember 24, 1861, a son of 
John Rankin. Having acquired his prelim- 
inarv education in the public schools he en- 
tered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Del- 
aware, Ohio, and when his education was 
completed he began his business career in 
the banking house of his father, being made 
assistant cashier, which position he still 
holds. With his father and brother he owns 
the bank and the brothers now practically 
have control of tlie institution, the father 
li\-ing in retirement from business. 

On the 5th of June, 1894, James F. 
Rankin was married tO' Nettie Kemper, a 
daughter of the Rev. James S. Kemper, of 
Da}-ton, Ohio, and they have one son, John 
IMillington, born February 3, 1896. Mr. 
Fvankin has always been a pronounced Re- 
publican and has held various offices, while 
by Governor Nash he was appointed trustee 
of the combined normal and industrial de- 
partment, at Wilberforce, Ohioi, in 1900 to 
fill out an unexpired term, and in 1902 was 
reappointed. He has taken an active part 
in the erection of the new Normal building 
at Wilberforce, and is doing evervthing in 



his power to promote the interests of this 
center of learning. A stanch Republican in 
politics he has served as a delegate to the 
county and state conventions and is a val- 
ued member of the Masonic fraternity, hav- 
ing been made a Mason in 1890, in Fielding 
Lodge, No. 192, F. & A. J\I., in which he 
has since been honored with various offices, 
serving as its master for two terms and also 
as representative to the grand lodge. 



I. WARD FREY. 

Splendidly conducted business affairs of 
magnitude and importance ha^■e placed I. 
Ward Frey with the capitalists of Spring- 
field. His operations, too, have made him 
a valued resident of the city, for he has la- 
bored along lines proving of general bene- 
fit, while at the same time his individual suc- 
cess has been extended along other lines 
which have brought to him a good return. 
He has also put forth his efforts in behalf 
of the city of his nativity. He commands 
uniform -respect here and no history of Clark 
county would be complete without the record 
of his life. 

His birth occurred on the 22d of No\'em- 
ber, 1852, in Springfield, his parents being 
George H. and Jane O. (Ward) Frey. From 
pioneer times the Ward family has been con- 
nected with Clark county, for Isaac Ward, 
the maternal grandfather, came with his 
family to Clark county in 1833, removing to 
the west from Cumberland county, Pennsyl- 
vania. Upon a farm near Springfield he 
took up his abode and there spent his re- 
maining days. He wedded ]\Iary Rodgers, 
a daughter of James Rodgers, also a native 
of Pennsylvania, and among their children 
was a daughter, Jane O., who became the 



632 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



wife of George H. Frey and the mother of 
our subject. A complete history of the par- 
ents a]>pear elsewhere in this work. 

I. Ward Frey of this review was one of 
a family of twelve children, of whom only 
five are yet living. At the usual age he en- 
tered the public schools of Springfield, pur- 
sued a high school course here and later be- 
came a student in the Highland Military 
Academy at Worcester, Massachusetts, 
where he continued his studies for three 
years. On putting aside his text-books he 
returned to his native city and became con- 
nected with business interests controlled by 
iiis father, George H. Frey. In 1877-8 he 
was connected with The Springfield, Jack- 
son & Pomeroy Railroad Company, and la- 
ter engaged in the quarrying business. He 
also devoted his attention to the manufac- 
ture of lime and controlled an extensive lo- 
cal trade, shipping the product to various 
states and continuing actively in that line of 
business industry until 1882, when failing 
health compelled his retirement. After a 
rest of se\eral years, he became a member of 
the Champion Machine Company in 1886, 
and so continud until 1888, since which time 
he has given considerable attention to his 
farming interests. He has to-day valuable 
city property and fanning lands, having 
judiciously placed much of his capital in the 
safest of all investments — real estate. 

In 1S74 Mr. Frey was married to Miss 
Anna M. A\'ilson, a daughter of William W. 
\\'ilson, the vice president of The Champion 
Machine Company, also the Qiampion Bar 
and Knife and Champion Malleable Iron 
Companies. The home of Mr. and Mrs. 
Frey has been blessed with one daughter, 
Helen Wilson. The Frey household is one 
of the most hospitable in the city, its social 
functions being enjoyed by iTic best resi- 



dents of Springfield. In his political views 
a strong Republican, Mr. Frey has never 
wavered in his allegiance to the party to 
which he gives earnest and able support 
without desire of ofiicial reward. His career 
has ever been such as to warrant the trust 
and confidence of the business world, for he 
has ever conducted all transactions on the 
strictest principles of honor and integrity. 
His devotion to the public good is unques- 
tioned and arises from a sincere interest in 
his fellow men. 



WILLIAM M. HARRIS. 

William M. Harris is an honored vet- 
eran of the Civil war and is now secretary 
and curator of the Clark County Historical 
Society. In this capacity he is serving most 
capably and efiiciently and his labors have 
resulted in securing an excellent exhibit in 
the society rooms. His residence in Clark 
county covers more than the allotted span 
of three score years and ten. and therefore 
he is familiar with its history as it has pro- 
gressed from early i)ioneer conditions, an<l 
has bec<ime imbued with the life that arises 
from agricultural, industrial and ci>mn:er- 
cial activity. He was born in Springfield. 
February 10, 1832, the son of William M. 
and Lydia (Mayne) Harris. 

The father, William Morrison Harris, 
was lx)rn February 22, 1806. in New Jersey, 
of Welsh descent. In the early '20s he came 
to Ohio and conducted a sawmill on Mill 
creek in Springfield township, Clark county. 
He died in January, 1839, his remains iieing 
interred at Emory Chapel, four miles south 
of Springfield. His wife. Lydia (Mayne) 
Harris, was born in Frederick countv, Marv- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



633 



land, September 12, 1807, and lived with 
her parents, Adam and Catherine A. 
( Kemp) Mla3-ne, until she was married to 
William Morrison Harris, June 14. 1827. 
She died in Springfield August 19, 1879, 
aged nearly seventy-two years. She is bur- 
ied beside her husband at Emory Chapel. She 
was a woman of very wide acquaintance, be- 
ing generally known at Aunt Lydia and was 
much beloved by all who knew her. She 
was, at tlie age of seven years, in what is 
known as the Bladensburg races and could 
tell of that and the btn-ning of the capitol. 

Adam ]^Iayne was born on South Moun- 
tain, Frederick county, Maryland, August 8, 
1783, and was married to Catherine A. 
Kemp in 1804. He was a farmer until 1809, 
when he removed to Georgetown, D. C. 
There he first conducted a brick yard, then 
a fishing landing, and afterward a grocery 
and general store. During the war of 1812 
he was on President James Madison's 
mounted body guard and was with the presi- 
dent August 24, 1 8 14, the day Washington 
was evacuated. His family spent that night 
on Arlington Heights and saw the national 
capitol and much of the city destroyed by 
fire. In i8ig Adaiu Mayne again turned 
farmer, this time in Montgomery county, 
Maryland. In 1825 he came to Ohio. The 
trip was made overland in a wagon and it 
was necessary to tie a large tree to the rear 
end of the wagon to act as a brake when 
they were coming down the Alleghany 
mountains. With his family he settled on 
the boundary line between Green and Spring- 
field township, Clark county, the division line 
crossing a farm of one hundred and ten 
acres of partially improved land. To the 
further development and cultivation of this 
place Adam Mayne gave his attention with 
good success and became one of the well-to- 



do farmers of his community. From 1830 
to 1840 he conducted a tavern four miles 
south of Springfield on the stage road be- 
tween this city and Cincinnati. Here the 
stage stopped for meals, and also along 
this road the drovers took their hogs to 
market at Cincinnati and purchased corn of 
Mr. Mayne, so that he found home con- 
sumption of his product. In his political 
views Adam Mayne was a A\'hig, prominent 
in the ranks of the party, and was a strong 
high, tariff man. He was also active and in- 
fluential in the church. It was largely 
through his efforts that the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, Emory Chapel, was built, and 
also the first church of that denomination at 
Enos, Ohio, Mr. Mayne serving on the build- 
ing committee. He died in 1857 and was 
buried at Emory Chapel. His wife, Cath- 
erine A. Kemp, was born in Frederick, 
Maryland, October 30, 1783, and died at tlie 
old homestead Jul}' 14, 1869, aged eighty- 
six years. She is buried by the side of her 
husband at Emory Chapel. 

When the subject of this sketch was but 
seven years of age his father died, leaving 
the \\-idow witli four children, namely : Co- 
lumbia Ann, who is now the widow of J. 
L. Petticrew, of Springfield ; ^^'illiam ]\I. ; 
Adeline, an invalid who died in 1880, aged 
forty-five years; and Fannie A., now the 
wife of Josiah Black, of Carthage, Missouri. 
At the death of her husband Mrs. Harris, 
with her children, went to live with her fa- 
ther, Adam Mayne. After a period of four- 
teen years she was united in marriage to 
Anthony Leffel. who died in 1869. 

William Mayne Harris began his edu- 
cation in what Hvas called the "Possum" 
school. It was a log structure, built and 
furnished after the primitive manner of the 
times. There he pursued his studies during 



634 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the winter' months for a few years, while in 
the summer he worked upon the farm, con- 
tinuing to assist his grandfather in the culti- 
vation of tlie land until he was eighteen years 
of age. He then came to Springfield and 
learned the wagonmaker's trade, manufac- 
turing all kinds of wagons, both heavy and 
light, together with farm implements. The 
materials for the work were obtained in the 
forest, the native trees being cut down and 
converted into timber and then into lumber 
and shaped for their purposes in the shops, 
for there was no machinery to construct the 
different parts of the wagon. Mr. Harris 
served a three years' apprenticeship to the 
trade, after which he went to West Liberty, 
Logan county. Ohio, where he opened a car- 
riage shop, which he conducted for two 
}-ears. He next went to Minnesota and spent 
four years at St. Paul. During a part of 
that time he was engaged in the operation 
of some wild land. In 1859, however, he 
returned to Springfield and worked at his 
trade and just prior to the Civil war he 
opened a wagon shop of his own in a build- 
ing just opposite the present site of the 
grand opera house, on South Limestone 
street. There he carried on his work until 
after the inauguration of hostilities between 
the north anrl the south. 

At the president's call for troops to aid in 
crushing out the Rebellion in its incipiency, 
Mr. Harris enlisted in Company E of the 
Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry for three 
months. This command was known as the 
Jefferson Guards, the command being under 
Captain Philip Kershner, and when attached 
to the regiment it became Company E, of the 
Sixteenth Ohio \'olunteer Lifantry. Later, 
the adjutant general of Ohio, Mr. Carring- 
ton. presented this company with a magnifi- 
cent silk bamier and it was thereafter known 



as the Carrington Guards. Mr. Harris 
joined the army as a private, and was later 
promoted to corporal. After the expiration 
of his three months' term he re-enlisted in 
the regular army as a member of Companv 
D, First Battalion of the United States Li- 
fantry for three years, and was made ser- 
geant. Li February, 1862, he was detailed 
as a regimental postmaster, and afterward 
as. brigade postmaster, serving in that posi- 
tion until he received an honorable discharge, 
on the crest of Lookout mountain, at the end 
of his three years' term. 

Mr. Harris was the first man in the army 
detailed for the mail service. The army post- 
master carried a pass that would enai)le him 
to pass in or out any lines of the army day 
or night. He was always busy. First in 
camp, and then in a few hours far away, 
trying to reach the nearest railroad, where 
the mail could be sent north, and where he 
could receive the mails for the boys in camp. 
Sometimes the distance would be short: 
sometimes thirty or forty miles; often out- 
side the Union lines; over the mountains 
or down through the valleys ; fording rivers 
swollen out of their banks by the heavy 
rains; sleeping at night without shelter in 
all kinds of weather; with no comrade ex- 
cept his horse — they traveled, ate, slept to- 
gether and "drank from the same" mud pud- 
dle. Such was the life of the army post- 
master. 

Returning to Springfield Mr. Harris 
once more Ijegan work at his trade, which 
he followed here for a year and then re- 
moved to Osborn, Oliio. where he was en- 
gaged in the grain business for about three 
years. Later he was a resident of Daven- 
port, Iowa, living there twelve years, the 
most of which time he was employed by the 
government at the Rock Island arsenal. In 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



635 



1882 he again came to his native city and 
was for two years in the service of the A. 
C. Evans Manufacturing Company. On the 
expiration of that period he became circula- 
tion manager of the old Globe, then one of 
the leading newspapers of the city and for 
fourteen years he was manager of the cir- 
culation department of the Cincinnati Com- 
mercial Tribune. In October, 1900, he be- 
came the secretary and curator of the Clark 
County Historical Society, which at that 
time had no exhibit save a few relics and his- 
torical papers ; but since ]\Ir. Harris has 
taken hold of the work, a large hall in the 
Bushnell building has been obtained, and a 
fine collection of valuable curios from all 
parts of the world is now on exhibition. 

In i(}0[ Mr. Harris was elected to the 
position of superintendent of Associated 
Charities. He is also sergeant-at-arms of 
the city council, and has been assessor of 
tlie fourth ward for many years. He ex- 
ercises his right of franchise in support of 
the men and measures of the Republican par- 
ty, and in politics has ever been an earnest 
Republican. 

In 1853 Mr. Harris was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Seriff R. Guy, who was born 
at Mount ^Morris, Livingston count}-, Xew 
York. The}- ha\-e four cliildren : Freder- 
ick Gilbert; Martha Elizabeth, wife of S. 
F. Smart; Clifford Guy; and Charles St. 
Clair. Mr. and Mrs. Harris- hold member- 
ship in the First Baptist church, of which 
Mr. Harris is a deacon. He belongs to 
Mitchell Post, G. A. R., is a past commander 
and is now quartermaster. He is a genial, 
kindly gentleman of seventy years, and al- 
though the snows of many winters have fal- 
len upon his head, yet he seems to possess 
much of the vigor of a man in his prime. He 
has a keen interest in the affairs of the world 



and its progress, and especially in Clark 
county, which is the place of his nativity and 
\\-hich has been his home through so many 
vears of his life. 



D. U. COBERLY. 

D. U. Coberly is now serving for the 
second term as mayor of Vienna and is a 
progressive, public-spirited gentleman and a 
valued citizen whose interest in the town is 
manifest by active and earnest support in its 
behalf. He is also well known in educa- 
tional circles, having for a number of years 
been successfully engaged in teaching. He 
was born in Newport, Madison county, 
Ohio, October 6, 1852, and is a son of Sam- 
nel and Elizabeth (Simpkins) Coberly. His 
father was also torn in Madison county, 
followed the occupation of farming, and was 
about fift}--four 3'ears of age at the time of 
his death, which occurred in 1884. In poli- 
tics he was a stanch Republican but was ne\'- 
er an office seeker. His wife was born in 
Clark county, where she was reared and still 
makes her home, having now reached the 
age of sixty-three years. In the family of 
this worthy couple were four children, of 
whom Mr. Coberly, of this review, is the 
eldest. The others are : Mary, the wife 
of James Andrews, of Springfield, by w-hom 
she has three children; Dora, the wife of 
Da\-id Sutherland, also of Springfield^ by 
whom she has six children ; Watson, who 
married ^letta Shoomaker and li\-es on the 
old home farm in IMadison county. 

ilr. Coberl}- of this review spent his 
boyhood days on the home farm. As soon 
as old enough to' handle the plow he began 
work in the fields and ^^-as thus engaged 



6i6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



through the months of summer. During the 
winter months he attended school and when 
only se\-enteen years of age he began teach- 
ing at Midway, Madison county, receiving 
forty dollars per month. Since that time 
he has largely devoted his energies to edu- 
cational work and is regarded as a most ca- 
pable instructor. For two years he was em- 
ployed by a cousin in a sawmill, accepting 
this position because of the failure of his 
health in school work. 

On the 20th of May. 1875. Mr..Coberly 
was united in marriage to Miss Laonie 
Clark, of Vienna, where she was born and 
reared, her parents being William and Re- 
becca (Tavner) Qark. Her father was 
born in Cambridge and her mother in Vir- 
ginia, their marriage being celebrated in the 
Old Dominion. Mr. and Mrs. Coberly now 
have eight children : Oliver, who was born 
Feliruary 26, 1877, in Vienna, and is now 
working at the carpenter's trade; Harvey, 
who was born in Summerford, IMadison 
county, Xovember to, 1879; Frank, born 
in Summerford May 7, 1882; Florence, 
born in Summerford January 8, 1887: Ber- 
tie and Bertha, twins, who were born in that 
town September 17, 1889: Carl, born in \'i- 
enna, November 15, 1895; and Joe, \)oyn 
in Vienna July 11, 1897. 

Mr. Coberly's study of the political is- 
sues and questions of the day has led him to 
give an earnest support to the Republican 
party and its principles. He was township 
clerk in Summerford f(jr twelve years and 
assessor for four years in Harmony. He 
has recently been elected for the second term 
as town.ship clerk and for the second term 
is filling the office of mayor of Vienna, be- 
ing the first person ever chosen to that of- 
fice. In the discharge of his official duties 
he is ])ronipt, ni)t;ibly reliable ami public- 



spirited, putting forth every efifort in his 
power to promote the general welfare. He 
belongs to the Independent Order of Odd 
Fellows, is a charter member of the Knights 
of Pythias fraternity and is also identified 
with the Junior Order of American Mechan- 
ics. In the first two he has filled all of the 
chairs. Mr. Coberly is one whose influence 
has ever been exercised for the good of his 
community, his name stands as a synonym 
for all that is honorable and straightforward, 
his acts are manly and sincere, and his sali- 
ent cliaracteristics are those which command 
respect and esteem in every land and in 
everv clime. 



WILLIAM H. SIE\'ERLIXG. 

William H. Sieverling has been a resi- 
dent of .Springfieltl for only a comparatively 
Ijrief period, having located here in 1894, 
but during that time he has demonstrated 
his right to be classed among the resolute 
and representative men of the city and to- 
day he is capably filling the position of city 
engineer, discharging his duties in a man- 
ner which has made his services of value. 
He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 29, 
1865, a son of Frederick Sieverling, who 
v.as an architect and builder, born in Bruns- 
wick, Germany, in 18 17. In the schools of 
the fatherland he pursued his educatirm and 
for some time carried on business in the line 
of his chosen calling in his native country, 
but believing that better business opportuni- 
ties might be enjoyed in the new world he 
came to the United States in 1846, making 
his way to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1850. There 
h.e followed the profession of an architect 
and also took contracts, being thus a repre- 
sentative of the business interests of Cin- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



637 



cinnati for a number of years. He was a 
very well educated man and came from a 
wealthy famil)', owning a large estate in 
Germany. He never sought office, but de- 
sired to gain advancement along the line of 
his profession rather than in political circles. 
He was the third supervising architect on 
the government Iniilding at Cincinnati, Ohio. 
His skill and ability won him splendid suc- 
cess and he became an extensive builder as 
a sub-contractor and supervisor. In early 
manhood he wedded Mary Nieman, whose 
birth occurred in the year 1832, in the por- 
tion of Germany where he was born. They 
were married in their native country and the 
father of our subject died in Colorado, in 
1884, but the mother is still living, now- 
making her home with a daughter, in Barnes- 
ville, Ohio. They were the parents of eight 
children, of whom two daughters died in 
early girlhood. The others are : Gustave, a 
baker and confectioner of Hamilton, Ohio; 
Eleanor, the wife of R. Gamenthaler, of 
Barnesville, Ohio ; ■Mary, who is living in 
Cincinnati; \Mlliam H. ; Charles, a letter 
carrier of Cincinnati; and Adolph, a jeweler 
of \\'ashington, D. C. The children all re- 
ceived the advantages of a public school ed- 
ucation in Cincinnati, and Charles and Will- 
iam were educated in the University there. 
The subject of this review, having mas- 
tered his elementary studies in the public 
schools, matriculated in the University, 
where he pursued the elective course, after 
which he entered upon his business career in 
the employ of Anderson & Hobby, the larg- 
est engineering firm in the city. He became 
connected with the house in order to learn 
civil engineering and remained for two years, 
after which he then entered into business re- 
lations with Ciilonel L. Anderson, with 
whom he continued for nine years, having 



charge of his office. He familiarized him- 
self with all the details of his business, as 
well as the principles upon which it is gov- 
erned. He was \\\x\\ ]\Ir. Anderson when 
the firm put in the sewer of Avondale and 
(if T\-orydale, and he did work in various 
parts of the county, ha\'ing an engineer in 
local charge. ]\Ir. Sieverling was chief as- 
sistant and also did considerable govern- 
ment work. In 1892 he left the employ of 
Mr. Anderson and closed up his affairs, 
which required about eighteen months, and 
then opened an office in Cincinnati as a prac- 
tical engineer and surveyor. He was also 
engaged in the fruit commission business in 
Anderson, Indiana, for a year, when seeing 
that there was a favorable business opening 
in Springfield he came to this cit}-. Here 
Mr. Sieverling became connected with the 
Lima Northern Railway, and in April, 1896, 
accepted the position of assistant civil engi- 
neer on the Ohio Southern Railroad, with 
which he was connected until March, 1897. 
He then left the employ of the corporation 
and worked for John Jacob Astor, conduct- 
ing a railroad from Fort Wayne to Kan- 
kakee, Illinois, but in the fall of the same 
year he returned and became employed in 
graveling the road in the southern part of 
the country. Thus his time was occupied 
for a period, after which he became chief 
engineer for the Detroit Southern Railroad 
Company, building all of its new extensions 
to Detroit. On the nth of July, 1901, he 
was appointed by the board of public affairs 
of Springfield as city engineer, and in this 
capacity has charge of surveys and improve- 
ments carried on in the city, his varied and 
extensive experience in pre\'ious years well 
equipping him for the important work which 
he has undertaken. He is one of the best 
posted civil engineers in the county, his 



638 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



.'cbility being recognized by all who are at all 
conversant with this line of work. 

On the i/th of January, 1894, Mr. Siev- 
erling was united in marriage to Miss 
Katherine H. Stoll, who was born in Piqua, 
Ohio, in 1864, a daughter of John Stoll, 
who was a tradesman and who pursued his 
education in the public schools. Unto our 
subject and his wife have been born two 
sons : Walter J. and Paul. The parents 
hold membership in the Center street Meth- 
odist Episcopal church and Mr. Sieverling 
votes with the Republican party. Since he 
entered the emjjloy of the city he has la- 
bored earnestly and faithfully in its behalf, 
has systematized the work of the office and 
has saved considerable money by investi- 
gating claims against the city, thus prevent- 
ing litigation by arriving at the true state 
of affairs. He takes an aggressive stand in 
behalf of Springfield and her welfare and if 
every public officer were as loyal to the pub- 
lic good and the general welfare Springfield 
would have an ideal public service. 



r.EXJAMlX WOOSLEY. 

Benjamin W'oosley. deceased, was for 
many years a prosperous and prominent 
farmer of Clark county, where his entire life 
was spent. He was born near South Charles- 
ton in Madison township October 30, 181 5, 
and was a son of James W'oosley, who came 
to this state from A'irginia and for a time 
lived in Ross county. Subsequently he re- 
sided in the vicinity of Chillicothe and thence 
came to Clark county. There is no doubt 
th.at the family is of English origin, but the 
line of descent can not be traced back to any 
remote jK'rioil- Tlie f:niiiK- i-; n .listiivmi^liod 



one in England, and that the American 
branch is known to the royal house of that 
country is beyond dispute, for on the 28th 
of May, 1902, William S. Woosley, a son of 
Benjamin, received an elaborately printed 
invitation to attend the coronation of King 
Edward VH, which reads as follows : 

"The royal family of Great Britain and 
Ireland, imperial India and the British ay- 
lonial possessions bej-ond the seas greeteth 
thee and commandeth thy presence at the 
abbey of Westminster in the ancient city of 
London, on the twenty-eighth day of June. 
Anno Domino 1902, Anno Regini 1002, 
on the occasion of the solemn ceremony, the 
coronation of the son and heir of the reign- 
ing house and prince of the royal blood, Al- 
bert Edward George Plantaganet, William 
St. Leger Henry Guelph, James Bittinger 
Gowcs Wettin, Fitz Morris, Knight of the 
Golden Fleece, Knight of the Garter, Knight 
of the Bath and possessor of numerous and 
various other most noble and exalted titles, 
as Edward Yll, by the grace of God, of the 
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire- 
land, defender of tlie faith and emperor of 
India." 

Benjamin Woosley was reared in the 
county of his nativity, and after reaching 
manhood was married December 4, 1838, to 
Miss Keturah S. Hunt, who was born in 
Xew Jersey, December 10, 1817, and the fol- 
lowing year was brought to Ohio by her par- 
ents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah Hunt. By this 
union were born six childrei'i, namely : Sar- 
ah, the wife of diaries Briggs, whose sketch 
appears elsewhere in this work ; Lavina, who 
married Jesse Stroup and lives near South 
Charleston; Emma, the wife of Edward 
Florence, of Madison township; James, who 
died at the age of sixteen years; Isaiah, who 
died in infancx-; and William .'>.. whose 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sketch appears below. The mother of these 
children died on the loth of October, 1881. 
Throughout his active Imsiness Hfe Mr. 
\\'oosley followed farming. When he be- 
gan agricultural pursuits on his own ac- 
count he removed to a place two miles west 
of South Charleston, his father having there 
given him one hundred acres of land. Event- 
ually he extended his landed possessions un- 
til he was one of the large land owners of 
the county, and at his death was cjuite a 
wealthy man. having about one hundred and 
tifty thousand dollars in moneys and stocks, 
in addition to twelve hundred acres of land. 
After a useful and well spent life he died 
;\[ay 20, 1887, honored and respected by all 
who knew him, and his remains were in- 
terred in the South Charleston cemetery. Al- 
though not a member of any church, he was 
n.iost generous in his support of churches and 
each year gave one hundred dollars to the 
work. In all movements and measures per- 
taining to the general good he was deeply in- 
terested and his co-operation was active and 
earnest. 



^^1LLIA.AI s. ^^•oosLEY. 

^^'illiam S. ^^"oosley, an esteemed and 
honored resident of Harmony township, 
was born two miles east of South Charles- 
ton August 22, 1864, and is a son of Ben- 
jamin and Keturah S. (Hunt) \\'oosley, a 
biography of whom precedes this. His boy- 
hood days were spent on the home farm 
and at the usual age he entered the pui^lic 
schools, thus acquiring his education. He 
worked with his father until after he had at- 
tained his majority. On the 12th of Feb- 
ruary, 1885, he was tmited in marriage to 
-Miss Josephine E. Clark, a daughter of Da- 



vid 'M. and Frances M. (Creamer) Clark, 
both of whom are living in this county. 
Three children grace this union: Frances 
M., born in Harmony township March 28, 
1886; Grace Geneva, born November 13, 
1887; and Harry Snyder, born September 
22, 1890. 

For three years after his marriage Mr. 
Woosley resided on a farm near Lisbon, 
where he had two hundred acres of land 
\\hich he had inherited from his father and 
which he still owns. He also inherited one 
hundred and sixty acres, which he traded in 
partial payment for his present farm in Har- 
mon}' township, where he has fixt hundred 
and fifty acres, upon which he has made his 
home since 1889. In 1892 he erected his 
present fine residence and has made other 
substantial improvements upon the property, 
including a fine barn erected in 1902, with 
all modern conveniences and covered with a 
slate roof — the first to be used on a farm 
barn in this part of Ohio. This is one of 
the finest country seats in Clark county. Mr. 
^^'oosley also owns two other farms, one 
comprising one hundred acres and the other 
fifty acres. His landed possessions are val- 
uable and in the control of his farm property 
he displaj's excellent business ability. 

Mr. Woosley is a Republican who keeps 
well informed on the issues of the day, but 
has never been an office seeker. He and his 
wife and their two older children belong to 
the Methodist Episcopal church, in'which he 
is recording secretary, and in church work 
they take a deep and active interest. Isir. 
\\(:os\t\ has a very wide acquaintance in 
Clark county, where his entire life has been 
passed, and that he' has ever been honorable 
and upright in his career is indicated by the 
fact that many who have known him from 
boyhood are now numbered among his 



640 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



stanchest friends. His success, too, is most 
creditable and, althougli he inherited some 
property, he has greatly increased his hold- 
ings and ha? displayed excellent manage- 
ment, sound judgment and indefatigable in- 
dustry in carrying on agricultural pursuits. 



ROBERT C. RIXD, M. D. 

Successfully engaged in the practice of 
medicine and surger}- in Springfield. Dr. 
Robert C. Rind has many friends in the city 
Avho will be glad to receive this record of his 
life. He is a native of Virginia, having been 
born in the Old Dominion on the 8th of Au- 
gust, 1872, his parents being Robert G. and 
Lily (Conrad) Rind. For ma'ny years the 
father was engaged in 'business as a whole- 
sale merchant in Richmond, Virginia, antl 
prospered in his undertakings, conducting 
an extensive trade. He continued to reside 
in that city until his death, which occurred 
in the }ear in which the Doctor was born. 
The widow is still living and is now a resi- 
dent of Baltimore, Maryland. 

Reared in his mother's home. Dr. Rind 
began his school life in a private school in 
Blocksburg, Virginia, where he prepared for 
college and then entered Blocksburg Col- 
lege, of which, his uncle, lliomas M. Conrad, 
was the president. There he prosecuted his 
studies for a time and later matriculated in 
Charlotte Hal! Military Academy, which is 
one of the oldest military schools of the Uni- 
ted States, having been established in 1774. 
He was there graduated in 1891, after which 
he entered Johns Hopkins University, 
at Baltimore, ^laryland, and for one year he 
occupied the chair of physiology and higher 
mathematics in that institution. On the ex- 



piration of that period he became a student 
in the University of ^laryland, with the in- 
ention of preparing for the practice of med- 
icine, and was graduated in the medical tle- 
partnient with the class of 1896. 

After his graduation Dr. Rind was ap- 
pointed resident surgeon of the St. Joseph 
Hospital, as assistant to Dr. L. M. Tiffany, 
of Baltimore, and when one year had passed 
in that way he became superintendent in the 
University of Maryland, in the lying-in hos- 
pital. He filled the latter position for eight 
months, after which he entered the United 
States regular army as acting assistant sur- 
geon, being stationed at different points. 
Upon his return to \'irginia he became as- 
sistant chief surgeon of the Xorfolk & 
Northwestern Railroad Company. 

In April, 1900, Dr. Rind removed to 
Springfield, where he opened an office and 
already he has attained distinction as one 
of the leading and capable members of the 
profession in this city. He came here par- 
ticularly well equipped, his experience has 
been unusually broail, and he is thus e.xcep- 
tionally well prepared for the important 
work to wliich he devotes his time and en- 
ergies. He makes a specialty of surgery. 
His success in this direction is largely due to 
his wonderful minute and accurate ac- 
quaintance with anatomy, combined with ex- 
quisite power of diagnosis, a cool head, 
steady muscles and great mechanical genius. 
His efforts to relieve the ailments of suffer- 
ing humanity have been attended with splen- 
ilid success and as a member of the Clark 
County Academy of ^ledicine and also of 
the State Medical Society and the American 
^fedical Association, he has opportunities 
of broadening his knowletlge. keeping in 
touch with the advanced thought and nieth- 
I'ds of the profe<>;ion, and h\< pmvcrs for 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



641 



liealing the sick are thus greatly augmented. 
In 1899 the Doctor was happily married 
to Miss Jessie Chance, daughter of J- C. 
Chance, of the regular army, and in their 
new hcime in Springfield they have already 
gained manv warm friends. 



JAMES ANDERSON. 

To the interested oibser\'er it would be 
a pleasure to note the many well kept and 
splendidly improved farms which enrich the 
landscape o^f Green township, which is 
among the most beautiful locations of the 
state of Ohio. James Anderson, a resident 
of this favored district, has more than a 
passing feeling of interest for this township, 
for in it he has made his home since 1825, 
when his father removed here from Greene 
county. He is now living a retir&d life, 
having spent many years in operating a 
fine farm and in stock raising, making a spe- 
cialty of the breeding of Aberdeen and 
Angus cattle. 

He was born July 2, 1815, in Angus, 
near Dundee, Scotland, and is a son of 
James and Elizabeth (Ogilvey) Anderson. 
The father was both a weaver and miller 
by trade and brought his family to .Vmerica, 
the time consumed in crossing the Atlantic 
being two months. The}' came by way of 
Oueljec and Montreal to Buffalo and thence 
to Sandusky, Ohio, this journey occupying 
the time fromj May tmtil Xo\'ember. From 
Sandusky they went to Greene county, Ohio, 
where they made their home for five years 
and then rem.O'Ved to Clark count}-. In the 
latter county the father bought one hun- 
dred acres of land of a Mr. Funston. a rela- 



of General Funston, of Philippine fame. His 
son now has in his possession the first tax 
receipt for the tax paid by the father on the 
one hundred acres of land. The tax was less 
than one dollar. He subsequently became 
the owner of one hundred and eighty-seven 
acres of land, and on his farm he spent the 
years oif his life, following the weaver's 
trade and conducting his farm, placing ini'- 
provemaits thereon from time to time and 
de'.-eloping the tract into a well cultivated 
fami. He was a meir.ber of the Presbyter- 
ian church, but would not accept afiice in 
either church or state, although taking an 
earnest interest in the welfare of both. He 
was born in the year 1780 and died in 1856. 
He was the father o:f six children, five of 
whom grew to years of maturity, and three 
mai'ried and had families, but the subject 
of this revicAv is the only one now living- 
near Springfield. John married Harriet 
Truesdell, by whom he had four sons and 
two daughters. William, who is engaged 
in the insurance business in Indianapolis, 
first ma;rried Lydia Knott, and for his sec- 
ond wife married Lutheria Paige, by whom 
he had two^ children, George, and Ella, who 
became the wife of George T. Gilmore. Ed- 
ward another brother of our subject, resifles 
in Cincinnati and is a salesman for the firm 
of Chatfield & \\'oods. Alonzo is in the post- 
office department at Columbus. Benjamin 
carries on agricultural pursuits in Greene 
cO'imty. 

Our subject remained with his father un- 
til the latter's death, his boyhood being spent 
upon the home farm, and during the winter 
months he pursued his studies in a little log 
schoolhouse, of which he now- has a picture 
on the walls of his home. Later he attended 
school near tlie present site of Clifton. Aft- 
er his father's death he succeeded to the o'd 



642 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



homestead,, which he still owns, and to it he 
has added until he is now the owner of eis^iit 
hundred and thirty acres of lajid in Clark 
and Greene comities, besides property in 
Spring-field. 

Mr. Anderson was the originator of the 
Clark County Insurance Association and 
during its entire existence has served as its 
president, covering a period of nearly twen- 
ty A-ears. Although this company has no 
traveling agents and never solicits patrons, 
it has at present one million, three hundred 
thousand dollars' worth of property insured 
and takes in from forty to fifty thousand 
dollars' worth at each meeting. Mr. An- 
derson has conducted to a successful issue 
this enterprise, of which he is the promoter, 
and in so doing has contrilxited largely to 
the welfare of the community, as the com- 
pany is far-reaching in its scope and does 
a safe business, protecting its patrons in ev- 
ery way. 

As his father never took out naturaliza- 
tion papers, I\Ir. Anderson had to be natur- 
alized on attaining his majority, and cast 
his first presidential vote for W. H. Harri- 
son in 1840. For twelve years he efficiently 
served as township clerk, and filled the of- 
fice of justice of the peace for the sam.e 
length of time, as many as four hundred 
cases having been tried before him, and his 
decisions were always fair andl impartial, 
winning for him the commendation of all 
concerned. He has l>een for many years a 
member of the Presbyterian church, has 
ser\'ed as elder for cn'er twenty years and 
has also been superintendent of the Sunday- 
school. 

George Braley, who lives with the sub- 
ject of this review, married the latter's niece, 
Margaret Anderson. He was torn in Greene 
county, December 22, 183 1, and is a son of 



Lewis and Caroline (Knott) Braley. The 
parents were born in Xew Jersey and came 
to Ohio as children with their parents, about 
iSio. They were married in Greene coun- 
ty. Mr. Braley received a fair common 
school education. \\"hen about sixteen he 
went toi the home of his uncle and remained 
with him, learning the tanner's trade. After 
his uncle's death he conducted the business 
until he was about thirty years of age. He 
\\as married on Thanksgiving day, 1862, 
to ]iliss Alargaret Anderson. After his 
marriage he removed to Springfield, where 
he engaged in the coal business. The mar- 
riage of Mr. and Mrs. Braley has been 
blessed Mnth six children, as follows : Frank 
is in the United States mail sen-ice; Agnes 
married Robert Babb and resides in Colum- 
bus, Ohio; Caroline resides at home; Will- 
iam is a dealer in coal in Springfield; Ed- 
ward is a staiographer in Columbus; and 
Anna is at home. ^Mr. Braley has been and 
is a prominent man in his township. He 
has served as assessor and justice of the 
peace for six years each. He tried with 
perfect fairness the many cases that were 
brought to him, only few cases of which 
were appealed and only one reversed. Dur- 
ing his incumbaicy he was called upon to 
perform the marriage ceremony man}- times. 
A stanch Republican in his political views, 
he has ever been an active advocate of the 
principles of the party. He is a member ol 
the Presbyterian church, and is of a family 
who have long been Presbyterians, as were 
also the Anderson familv. 



JA^IES C. LYOX. 
James Lyon inaugurated a new business 
enterprise in Springfield and for a numlier 
of vears he figured prominently in C(in'n,er- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



643 



cial circles in this city. He was born on 
Walnut Hill near Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 
Sth of October, 1826, his parents being 
James and Myra (Carder) Lyon. The fa- 
ther was a native of New Jersey and was a 
soin oif James Lyon, whO' was an ofticer iri 
the Revolutionary war, and his discharge 
I^apers show that he was a captain of arti- 
ficers. He served for four years, giving 
valuable aid to his country which was en- 
gaged in seeking liberty, and was one of a 
party that landed at the mouth of the Little 
Miami river in 1788, thus carrying civiliza- 
tion into the wilds of Ohio. He afterward 
purchased a section of land, a part of which 
is now included within the corporate limits 
of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the postoffice is 
on a part of that land now. James Lyoai, 
the grandfather of our subject, died at the 
advanced age of eighty-six years, a respect- 
ed and honored pioneer who left the impress 
of his strong nature for good upon the de- 
velopment Oif this portion of the state. The 
land which he purchased was handed do'wn 
to his children, his grandchildren and his 
great-grandchildren and Mr. Lyon of this 
review owned considerable of it at the time 
of his death, it being situated on beautiful 
Walnut Rill. The original cost of the tract 
was eleven cents per acre, but it rose in 
value and they sold fifty acres for sevent)-- 
two thousand dollars. As. the state has 
grown in poipulation and promience it is now 
classed with the most desirable portions of 
city property in Ohio. 

James Lyon, the father oif onr subject, 
\\as the second in order of birth in a family 
of four sons. He spent his boyhoood days 
under the parental roof and became a Bap- 
tist minister, being widely and favorably 
known throughout southwestern Ohioi. He 
was the first missionary appointed by the 



Baptist state convention and he labored in 
behalf of Christianity throughout a large 
district in the state, his influence being wide- 
ly felt. He is still remembered by many 
who were children in his day but ha\-e now 
grown to manhood or wom.anhood. 

James C. Lyon, whose name introduces 
this review, was born and reared upon the 
family homestead and early Tjecame familiar 
with the work oi the farm, assisting in 
the duties of field and meadow. He lived 
there until 1870, at which time he took up 
his abode near the city of Springfield, in 
Clark county, and was here engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits until 1872. In that year 
he abandoned the work of the farm and 
removed to the city in order to give his chil- 
dren better educational advantages. After 
he became a resident of Springfield he be- 
gan to deal in hay, which he purchased and 
sold. He also engaged in baling this com- 
modity and was the first man hy establish 
a hay business in this place. His eft'orts 
proving remuneratixe, he found a market 
for the product and his sales constantly grew 
in volume and importance tmtil the business 
was a very extensive and paying one. 

Li 1853 ^IJ"- Lyon was united in mar- 
riage to Amanda Dunseth, a native of Ham- 
ilton county, Ohio, and their marriage was 
blessed with four children: Flora is the 
wife of E. L. Barrett, wdio is represented 
on another page of this work; Mamie E. 
is at home with her mother; Carrie is the 
wife of Theodore Hohl, a resident of Cleve- 
land, Ohio; and Har\-ey C, whose sketch 
appears below, completes the famil)'. The 
parents wei-e members of the Baptist church, 
.taking a very active part in its work and 
contributing liberally to its support, and for 
many years Air. Lyon served as deacon. He 
died June 3. 1884. and was laid to rest in 



644 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Ferncliff cemetery. He was a well known 
business man. having a wide acquaintance 
in trade circles throughout this portion of 
the state. He sustained an unassailable rep- 
utation l>ecause he was straightforward and 
reliable in a]l his dealings. His friends, too, 
enjoyed his pleasant companionship, appre- 
ciating his kindly natme. his courteous de- 
portment and his genial disposition. It was 
thus that his death was deeply mourned and 
when he was called to the home beyond 
Springfield lost one of her best and most 
highly honored citizens. His widow still 
survives him and resides at Xo. 479 South 
Limestone street, in Springfield. 



HARVEV C. LYOX. 

Harvey C. Lyon, who is now acting as 
salesman for The Steele, Hopkins & }.lerc- 
dith Cmrpany, wholesale grocers of Spring- 
field, was born February 4, 1864, in the 
same house on Walnut Hill, near Cincinnati, 
in which his father, James C. Lyon, was 
born. He was brought by his parents to 
Clark county and pursued his education in 
the old Kenton school on Xorth Limestone 
street and the public schools of Spring- 
field. Later he spent two years as n student 
in Wittenberg College and afterward en- 
tered Xelson's Business College, in which 
he completed a course that well prepartd him 
for the practical and responsible duties of 
life. 

In 1S84 he entered upon his business 
career in the employ of Brown & McCord, 
the pioneer hardware firm of Springfield. 
He remained with them as a clerk lor two 



years and afterward for a short time en- 
gaged in keeping' books for the Gazette 
Printing Company. He next entered into 
partnership with T. F.. Harwood in the con- 
duct of a grocery store under the firm name 
of T. E. Harwood & Company. They pro.s- 
pered in the enterprise and after the connec- 
tion was maintained for a year Mr. Lyon pur- 
chased his partner's interest in the business, 
which he carried on alone until 188.}.. In 
that year he sold his store and bought the 
store of Cyrus Ward on Center and Main 
streets, conducting the same until 1892, dur- 
ing which tin.e he enjoyed a large patron- 
age. In that year. howe\-er, he again dis- 
posed of his store and accepted a position 
as salesn-.an with Tlie Steele, Hopkins & 
Meredith Company, wholesale grocers, in 
whose employ he has since remained. co\'er- 
ing a peri'Kl of ten years, which fact indi- 
cates that he is must efticient, capable and 
trustworthy. 

Harvey C. Lyon was married on the 
6th of Octoljcr, 1887, to Miss Sallie P. 
Clark, a native of Springfield and a daugh- 
ter of Charles M. Clark, whose sketch ap- 
pears on aiiother page of this work. This 
union has been blessed with three children : 
Jessie C, Xellie A. and Mary C. The fami- 
ly home is on South Limestone street and 
its hospitality is greatly aijoyed by the 
many friends of mu" subject and his estin:a- 
ble wife. He is a memljer of the Xational 
Union and gives his political support to tlie 
Republican party, believing firmly in its 
principles. He is a wide-awake, enteqjris- 
ing and progressive business man, well 
known and highly esteemed in the trade cir- 
cles of this city, where he takes an actue 
part in promoting commercial prosjierity and 
improving the business interests of the city. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



645 



THOMAS MILLS HESS. 

A recoi-d of the prominent and substan- 
tial agriculturists of Green tO'wnship would 
not 'be coniplete without mention of Thom- 
as ^lills Hess, who is one of its native 
sons, ha\'ing been burn December 9, 1841, 
in the township which still claims his as a 
re'^ident. Here he is successfully and cxten- 
?i\ ely engaged in farming, stock raising and 
the breeding of thoroughbred polled Angus 
cattle. He is a son of John and Sibbia 
(Mills) Hess. The father was a native 
of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and with 
his mother came to Ohio when a young man, 
his father having died in Pennsylvania. He 
was married in Clark county, Ohio, to Sib- 
bia AJills. Fie became the owned of a farm 
and followed farnnng and also carpentering 
as an occupation. He was a very energetic 
and industrious man and lived to be seventy- 
seven years '>i age. He was the fatlier of 
eight cihldren, the subject of this review- 
being the second in order of birth. Their 
names are as follows : Sarah J. m.arried 
Jacob Lott, has three children and resides 
in Cedarville: Thomas Mills is the next in 
the fan.ily ; [Martha died unmarried at about 
liity years of age; Nancy was first married 
to Calvin demons, by whom she had two 
children, and is now the wife of George Ur- 
quliart, who lives in Springfield ; Mary mar- 
ried Harry Shepherd, but is noav deceased ; 
Maria married William Evans, of Spring- 
field township, and is the mother oi three 
ciiildren; Sibbia married James D. Temple- 
ton, liy wiiom she had twO' children, Mary 
and Emma, and for her second husband 
narried Joseph Brotherton, whose honie is 
in Cedarville; John was first married to Sal- 
lie Hempleman, by whom he had three chil- 
dren, and his second union was with Anna 



Jones. By this marriage two children were 
born. He is now deceased. 

In the common schools of Iiis native 
toviHship the subject of this review received 
the advantages of a fair education, thus fit- 
ting him for life's practical duties. He re- 
mained with his father and assisted him 
in the duties of the home farm, performing 
the work of field and meadcnv until the 
country became involved in civil war. He 
was then a young man and with a spirit of 
patriotism he enfisted as a member of the 
One Hundred and Forty-sixth Ohio Volun- 
teer Infantry for one hundred days' service 
in West Virginia. During his service he 
was not sick or under fire. 

When his term of enlistment expired Mr. 
Hess returned home and remained witli his 
fatlier until his marriage, which iniportant 
event occurred January 11, 1870, Miss Ca- 
lis^a A. StrattoH', a daughter of Isaac and 
Sarah (Leffel) Stratton, becoming his wife. 
For se\-eral years after his marriage Mr. 
Hess rented a farm upon which he lived, 
but subsequently bought his present home 
of eighty-nine acres. On this he has placed 
good improvements, making his farm oaie 
of the well kept places of the communit;>, . 
He bought twent_\--fi\-e acres additional in 
Springfield township, and had seventy-five 
acres across the road from his place, which 
he sold to his son-in-law, Jesse E, Garlough, 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hess have been born 
tin-ee children: Cora, who married Jesse 
Garlough, February 20, 1894, and has three 
children, Xelhe. Robert and Fern C. ; War- 
ren, who is in the insurance business in 
Springfield; and Jessie, at home. 

In hi.s political \-iews Air. Hess is a 
stanch Republican. He voted for Abraham 
Lincoln in 1864 and has ever taken a deep 
interest in the growth and success of his 



646 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



party. His influence in this, respect has been 
extended in a quiet way, as he has never 
sought or desired oflke. He has served as 
a delegate to conventions and has aided ni 
the non.ination and election of those whom 
he deemed worthy of office. He is a n-,ein- 
ber of the Methodist church, is parsonage 
trustee and an active worker in the Sunday- 
school. A member of Mitchell Post, G. A. 
R., he attends encampments frequently and 
thus keeps up pleasant relations with his 
old army comrades who wore the blue upon 
southern battlefields. A good soldier, ready 
to defend his country's cause in times of 
war, when his c(xintry no longer required 
his aid lie was ready to take his place 
among the n:en of i>eace who are today pro- 
moting the best interests of their country' 
along industrial and commercial lines. He 
has gained a comfortable competence for 
himself and is highly respected in the com- 
munit\- where he resides. 



J.V.ME.S JOIIXSOX. 

James Johnsnn had passed the eighty- 
first milestone on life's journey when called 
to his final rest, June 10, 1902, and his was 
an honorable old age, in which he lived re- 
tired from labor in the midst of friends who 
honored and esteemed him for his great 
uorth' and what he had accomplished. 
Thnnigh a long period he was one of the 
leading contractors and builders of Spring- 
field and probably no resident of Spring- 
field erected more of the sui)Stantial struc- 
tures here. As the years passed his fellow 
townsmen gave him their confidence and 
go<i<l will as well as their patronage, because 
thev found him to be reliable and trust- 



worthy, and his life record should serve as 
a source of inspiration and encouragement 
to the young. 

Mr. Johnson was born in County Done- 
gal, Ireland, on the 4th of December, 1821. 
His parents weie James and Ellen (John- 
sou) Johnson, an<l in the \ car 1828 the 
father emigrated with his family to the 
United States, taking passage on a sailing 
vessel bound for the port of Xew York. In 
those days of slow travel their voyage, cov- 
ering only twenty-one days, seemed a re- 
markably brief ime and at the end of a three 
weeks" trip they landed in the eastern me- 
tropolis. Thence thej' made their way by ca- 
nal to Bufifalo and around the Great Lakes 
to Upper Sandusky, Ohio, where the father 
secured teams and wagons and started witli 
his family on their way to Springfield, this 
trip also consuming three weeks. There 
was much to in-.pede progress at that time, 
for the W'lrk of iniprovemtni and de\-elop- 
ment bail been scarcely Ix-gun in many sec- 
tions of the state: the streams had to be 
forded, the land was undrained so that the 
black swan^ps were deep and muddy and 
when one wagon l>ecame stuck in the mud 
the others of the party traveling at that tin:e 
were called uix>n to assist in extricating the 
tean\ At length, however, Mr. Johnson 
and his family arri\cd in Springfield, where 
they remained for a few months ;ind then 
located on a farm of four hundred acres of 
land. The father turned his attention to 
the raising of cereals l:)est adapted to tliis cli- 
mate and to the production of g-ardai prod- 
ucts. His children, consisting of four sons 
and four daughters, w ere trained to habits 
of industry and ectmomy on the home fanu 
and proved of much assistance to the father 
in the operation of his land. His sons were 
fames. Robert, Isaac and Jobn : the daugh- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



647 



lers. Isabella, Elizabeth, Alargaret and Cath- 
erine, and all are 3-et lix'ing with the excep- 
tion of our subject. The mother, however, 
passed away in 1865, about the close of the 
Civil war, and the father's death occurred 
in 1872. 

James Johnson ol this review was only 
about seven years of age when he became a 
residen.t of Springfield. Uiwn the home 
farm he was reared, having few advantages. 
He had scarcely attended school at all when 
he reached the age of sixteen years, but 
after that time he spent a three months' 
term in school and continued the puisuit 
of his studies in the winter seasons until 
about the time he attained his majority. He 
then 'began, learning the carpenter's trade 
and \\as later employed as a journeyman by 
a number of contractors until he began 
business on his own account, taking small 
contracts until liis skill and enterprise were 
recognized by the public and his business 
grew both in volume and importance. .*\s 
the years passed it became necessary for him 
to employ a large force of \\orkmen in the 
execution of the contracts w hich were 
av.-arded to him, in the biiilding of churches, 
schoolhouses and residences. Many of the 
mcs* substantial structures of the ctamty 
ftand as monuments tO' his handiwork, tie 
was employed on many of the finest resi- 
dences of the city, also built many factories 
and v.;as the lankier of ihe Arcade Hotel 
and the W'illiam Whiteley shops, which, at 
the time of their completion, were the larg- 
est of their kind in the world, but this im- 
irense plant was destroyed by fire on the 
10th of February, 1902. Mr. Jolmson con- 
tinued to actively engage in building inter- 
ests in Springfield for many years, but at 
length retired to private life witl. a well 



earned competence that supplied him with 
many comforts and luxuries. 

In 1846 occurred the marriage of Mr. 
Johnson and Miss Catherine Eby, a daugh- 
ter of William and Jane (Grybe) Eby, na- 
ti\es of Jeliferson coiunty, Virginia. Mrs. 
Johnson was alsoi born in the Old Dominion 
in the year 1824, but at the time of her 
marriage she was living in Springfield. Si.x 
children graced the union of our sub- 
ject and hisi wife: Louis; James, who is an 
attorney at laws' Bert; William; Emily, wdio 
is now a widow ; and Anna B., who is a 
successful teacher. After graduating in the 
Springfield high school and also in the 
Springfield Seminary she entered Vassar 
College at Poughkeepsie, New York, where 
she pursued a special course of study, re- 
maining in that instittition for six terms. 
On her return froan college she organized 
the Springfield Seminary, of which she is 
the principal. 

During his long residence here Mr. John- 
son was prominent in public alTairs, hold- 
ing positions of honor and trust. For two 
years he was a member of the school board 
and for a similar period he served as a men:- 
ber of the city council. Twice he was ap- 
pointed postmaster of the city, receiving the 
first appointment from Andrew Johnson in 
1865, and- the second from General Harri- 
son. After the latter appointment he ser\ ed 
for three years and was then reino\'ed for 
political reasons. He was a man of c\'en 
temperament, calm, self-poised, of refined 
character, in whom nature and culture had 
vied in making an honored and interesting 
gentlenmn. Flis erect form and clear-cut 
features gave no suggestion of the fact that 
he had already passed the Psalmist's span of 
life of three-score vears and ten. Nature 



648 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



deals kindly with the man who aba.ises not 
her laws, and thoug;h his business cares 
were extensive, age rested lightly upon hin:. 



THK STEWART FAMIT.V. 

Closely and inseparably interwoven w ith 
the annals of Clark county is the history of 
the Stewart family. For almost a century 
this family has been established in central 
Ohio, and throughout the entire period 
representative> of the name have been promi- 
nent in molding public thought and action. 
They liave contributed a large share to- the 
mateiial development and improvement of 
tliis poition of the state and have ever been 
known as reliable and piogressive citizens, 
honorable and honored in all life's relations. 
The ancestors of the family can be traced 
back to John Stewart, a Scotch Covenance;- 
of the seventeenth century, who fled from 
Scotland to County Down, in the north of 
Ireland, at the time when Charles II of 
England was trying to force Episcopac}' 
upon the Scottish nation between the years 
1660 and 1685. The north of Ireland be- 
came a refuge for persecutetl Presbyterians 
and condemned Covenanters. Thither Johij 
Stewart fled. He died in 1720, leaving but 
one son of whom we have record. 

This son was Robert Stewart, who was 
bom in Scotland, near Glasgow, in the year 
1665. It appears from the records that wiien 
his father, John Stewart, of Drumorc, went 
to Ireland, Robert remained in Scotland, but 
after the death of his father he went to the 
Emerald isle in that year ( 1720) and locat- 
ed in Drumore township, in County Down, 
twelve miles from Belfast, among the Scotch 
settlers who had fled there from religious 
persecution. lie died in the year 1730, 



leaving two sons of whom history speaks. 
These were Sanmel and Hugh, and it is 
from the former that the representatives of 
the family in Clark county are descended. 

Samuel Stewart, of the third generation, 
;i son of Robert Stewart, was born near Glas- 
<.;(jw, .Scotland, in if^yS and in 1720 emi- 
grated to the north of Ireland with his fa- 
ther. In 1735, with his only Ijrother, who 
was his juni.jr, he emigrated to America, 
landing in Philadelphia. He settled in 
Drumore township, Lancaster cou.nty, Penn- 
sylvania, near a settlement of the desceml- 
ants of those Scotch refugees who had pre- 
viously fled to Ireland and had become 
known as Scotch-Irish people. Samuel 
Stewart was a large and well proportioned 
man, being six feet in height. He was mar- 
ried in Ireland to Mary ^McClay, who was 
noted for her dark complexion, which she 
imparted to her second child, Samuel. Sam- 
uel Stewart, Sr., the representative of the 
family of the third generation, died in Lan- 
caster cpunty, Peimsylvania. in 1770. He 
had ten children, his son Samuel being the 
direct ancestor of the Stewarts of fliis 
county. 

This Samuel Stewart, of the fourth gen- 
eration from John, of Drumore, was born 
in County Down, Ireland, and with his fa- 
ther's family came to America in 1735. Af- 
ter he had attained his majority he located 
u.pon a farm in Hanover township, Lancas- 
ter county, Pennsylvania, about 1730. He 
ceived a warrant for one hundred acres c)f 
land, dated May 17, 1754. and was taxed 
five shillings for the King's use. He served 
as a private in a battalion commanded by 
Colonel Tim Greene, in the defense of the 
frontier, and in 1776 he became a member 
of the company commanded by Captain 
Ian.es Rogers, of Lancaster, which was des- 



^HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



649 



tilled fur cairp in the Jerseys. He thus 
aided the estaWishment of American inde- 
pendence. Later he served on the first 
girand jury of Dauphin county, Pennsyl- 
\'ania, in 1785; and took an active part in 
tlie establishment of the neAv form of gov- 
ernment in his locality, after American free- 
dom had been won. He was a Presby- 
terian by birth and was a supporter of the 
Hanover church, which was established in 
1735 and was situated eleven miles east of 
Harrisburg. The records show that on No- 
vember 2, 1788, he and his wife. Nancy 
(Ten;pleton) Stewart, were admitted to the 
Lord's table. He first married Nancy Tem- 
pleton, a daughter of Robert and Agnes 
Templeton, and they became the parents of 
eight children. His second wife was Agnes 
Calhoun, a daughter of William and Han- 
nah Calhoun, by \\hom there' were four 
children. Samuel Stewart, the father, was 
a large man, weighing twO' hundred and 
thirty pounds. His height was six feet, and 
he had lilue eyes and a dark con'.plexion, 
which he had inherited from his mother. 
He died September 16, 1803, and was 
buried in Hanover churchyard. Of his 
twelve children John Templeton Stewart 
became the father of Perry Stewart, oi 
Clark county, Ohio, the oldest living repre- 
sentative of the family here. 

John Templeton Stewart was born in 
Hanover township, Dauphin county, Penn- 
sylvania, in 1 78 1. With his eldest brother. 
Samuel E. Ste\\-art, he rem.oved to Clark 
county, Ohio, in 1805 and settled on the 
bank of the Little Miami river. He was 
destined to take an important and prominent 
part in the work of development, im.prove- 
ment and progress in this section of the 
state and he left the impress of his in- 
dividualilv uiinn tlip historv of the com- 



munity. In 18 1 3 he was elected justice of 
the peace and continuously served in that 
capacity until 1838. He was the first clerk 
oif Green township, Clark county, and he 
served for one term as associate judge of the 
court of comn:on pleas, from 1837 until 1840. 
On the 2d of March, 181 5, he was united 
in marriage to- Ann Elder, who^ was born 
in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, in May, 
1798, and was a daughter of Robert and 
Ann Elder and a sister of his brother Sam- 
uel's wife. She ha.d come to' Ohio with her 
parents in 181 2 and was seventeen years of 
age at the time of her marriage, while her 
husband was thirty-four years years of age. 
.At that time Clark county was a part of 
Greene county. John T. Stewart, in com- 
pany with his brother Samuel, purchased 
land on section 15, Green township, having 
altogether about five hundred acres. This 
purchase exhausted all O'f their ready money 
and they had to. clear and build a log house 
and plant crops in order tO' provide for their 
fan-.ily. Upon the homestead farm which 
he there developed, John Templeton Stew- 
art spent his remaining days and as the 
years passed he prospered in his undertak-^ 
ings and became an extensive land owner as 
well as an influential and active factor in 
public circles. He died on the i6th o.f 
.\pril, 1850. In their family were ten chil- 
dren, of whom Harriet, the yonngest, died 
at the age of two years, but nine of the fan> 
ily, eight sons and a daughter, reached adult 
ag^e. Juliana became the wife of David 
.\nderson, a man of Scotch birth, and had 
a large family of twelve children. She died 
in 1 90 1, at the advanced age of eighty-six 
}-ears. Perry is the next younger. Elder 
Robert is now a resident of Springfield and 
has five children. Samuel died near Canton, 
Hardin countv, Ohio, in 1888, leavins: si.x 



650 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



children. Charles resided at No. 57 Clifton 
avenue, in Springfield and by his first mar- 
riage he liad two children, while six chil- 
dren were born of his second marriage. He 
died at Springfield October 26, 1902. 
James is a prominent citizen of Xenia, Ohio, 
and has four children. Thomas resides in 
Green township, Clark county, and has five 
children. He was a inember of Company 
E, One Hundred and Forty-sixth Ohio Vol- 
unteer Infantiy. Oscar N. lives in Har- 
mony township. William C. resides at No. 
425 Limestone street in Spring'field and has 
one child. 

Perry Stewart was born in Clark coun- 
ty, Ohio, June 6, 1818, alx)ut six months 
after the county was formed, and is proteb- 
ly the oldest native living son of the county 
now residing within its borders. His birth 
occurred on the bank of the Little Miami 
river in what is now Green township, and 
he was reared amid the wild scenes of fron- 
tier life, spending his boyhood days upon 
the home farm and acquiring a gfX)d com- 
mon-school education. He continued under 
the parental roof until he was twenty-six 
years of age, at which time he was married, 
on the 15th of Octoter, 1844, in Green 
township, to Miss Rhoda Ann \\'heeler, 
who was also born in Green township, her 
natal day being December 30, 1824. She 
is a daughter of Ebenezer and Joanna (Mil- 
ler) ^\'hecler. 

.\t the time of his n.arriage Perry Stew- 
art located u])on a part of his father's land 
and with the exception of a period of four 
years resided there continuously until he 
joined the army in July, 1862, becoming a 
member of Con:pany A, Ninety-fourth Oliio 
Volunteer Lifantr\-. He had organized the 
con:pany and was appointed its captain. In 
the lattle of Chickamauga, in which he par- 



ticipated, he was struck by a spent ball. Wo. 
took part in a numljer of skirmishes and 
other engagements and remained in service 
until November. 1863. when on account of 
ill health he was forced to resign, but al- 
though he could not remain at the front he 
never wavered in his loyalty to the Union 
and his influence and efforts were ever 
given in behalf of the maintenance of the 
government's supremacy at \\'ashington. 
After leaving the army he returned home 
and followed farming during the remainder 
of his active business career, l>eing for miany 
years one of the leading agriculturists of 
this portion of the state. He has also been 
prominent in other lines of business. He 
aided in organizing the Farmers Mutual 
Aid and Protective Association, an insur- 
ance order protecting for fire losses in 
Clark and surrounding counties. He was 
long one of the directors of this company 
and was also one of tlie men who organized 
a company to build the toll pike from Selma 
to Springfield, and was the first president. 
He was induced to co-oijerate in this in order 
to make a road passable for school children, 
in whose welfare he has always taken a deep 
interest. This was the first pike, with the 
exception of the national pike, constructed 
in Clark county. Mr. Stewart has ever 
favored good roads and in:provements alniig 
all substantial lines of progress. In his 
jx^litical views he was first a Whig and cast 
iiis ballot for William Henry Harrison, in 
1840. Upon the organization of the Re- 
publican party he joined its ranks, voting 
for Fremont in 1856, and since that tin'e 
he has never wavered in his allegiance to 
the party. He was township trustee and 
school director for a numil)er of years and 
for eighteen months was justice of the peace, 
but resigned that position when he went to 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



651 



the army. No case which he tried was ever 
appealed. Soon after his return from the 
army lie was elected county commissioner 
and served for about eighteen months, 
when lie resigned, liaving been nominated 
for the office of rqjresentative toi the state 
legislature. He was elected to that position 
in i8(')pr and served for one tern\ To each 
question which came up for settlenient he 
gave his careful consideration, earnestly 
supporting all m.easures which he believed 
would contribute to; the general good. In 
1872 he was sent toi the national Republican 
convention at Philadelphia as a delegate 
and aided in nominating General Grant for 
a second term. He has long been a mem- 
ber of the Christian church of Springfield 
and for many years has served a;s one of 
its trustees. He belongs to Mitchell Post, 
Xo. 45, G. A. R., and although now well 
advanced in years he still retains an active 
interest in all matters pertaining to the gen- 
eral good and upbuilding of his county. 
There is no more honored or worthy citizen 
in this portion oi the state than-Perry Stew- 
art. His life has indeed been a useful and 
active one. He has not only won success 
in business, but has found time and oppor- 
tunity to capably serve his fellow men in 
public office and to co-operate in all measures 
calculated to promote public prosperity and 
substantial upbuilding. He has ever sus- 
tained an unassailable rqiutation by reason, 
of his fidelity to duty and his allegiance to 
the principles of Christianity. 

Untoi Mr. and Mrs. Perry Stewart were 
Ijorn ten children, of whom nine are yet liv- 
ing: Harriet is the wife of James Hatfield, 
.wliose sketch appears on another page of 
this WDrk. Julia Aim is the wife of Robert 
X. Elder. David Wilniot is mentioned 
later on in this sketch. Jolin T. is ne.xt of 



the family. Alary E. is the widow of S. 
H. Kerr, of Troy, Ohio, and now lives in 
Washington, D. C. Charles F. is also men- 
tioned on another page. Jane Ellen is the 
wife of George Nicholson. Jessie Isabella 
died at the age of four years. Perry Morton 
is now serving as county treasurer of Clark 
county. Ebenezer Wheeler is living in 
Green township. 

D. Wilmot Stewart is widely and favor- 
ably known as an enterprising farmer and 
stock-raiser of Green township, having the 
northwest comer farm, comprising one hun- 
dred and eighty-five acres. He was liorn 
near his present home, his natal day being 
December 19, 1848, and is the third in the 
family of Perry and Rliocla (Wheeler) 
Stewart. At the usual age he entered the 
public schools, accpiiring a good practical 
knowledge to aid him in the performance 
of life's duties. He followed in the foot- 
steps of his father, an honored veteran of the 
Civil war, and when only fifteen years of 
age enlisted in 1864, for one hundred days' 
service, as a member of Company D, One 
Hundred and Forty-sixth Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry, serving from the 2d of May until 
the 7th of September, a little more than four 
months. He was engaged in doing guard 
duty in West Virginia and although but a 
bo\- he did his duty together with men of 
twice his years, and proved his hiyalty to 
his native land. When twenty years of 
age he began farming on his own account, 
i_^perating a portion of his father's land, and 
throughout his entire business career he has 
engaged in the tilling of the soil, meeting 
with creditable and well merited success. He 
is to-day the owner df a valuable tract of 
land and in his farming operations is pros- 
perous. 

On the 1 2th oi February, 1874, D. Wil- 



652 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



mot Stewart was united in marriage to Miss 
Amanda McClintick, a native of Springfield 
township, Clark county, and a daughter of 
John and Roxy ( Melvin) McGlintick. At 
the time of his marriage he removed to his 
present home, his nrother owning there one 
hundred acres of land, which David Wil- 
mnt Stewart has since cleared and improved 
and since that time he has purchased eighty- 
five acres. His husiness career, has Ijeen 
characterized by close application and unre- 
mitting diligence and thus he has gained suc- 
cess. His home has been blessed with the 
presence of six children: Carrie McClin- 
tii-k. IxMii in June, 1S75; Edna, who died at 
the age of ten months; Myrtle; Delmer; 
Ruth and Harry. D. W'ilmot Stewart holds 
in the political faith of the family, being a 
stanch Republican, and has served as a dele- 
gate to the conventions of his party, but has 
never sought or desired ofike. preferring to 
give his entire attention to his business 
affairs. 

Charles F. Stewart, tlie son of Perry and 
Rhoda (^\'heeler) Stewart, is devoting his 
attention to the tilling of the soil and the 
raising of stock in Green township. He was 
born on the old family homestead. .August 
2, 1856, and it remained his playground 
through boyhood and his training ground 
for the duties of later life. He, too. ac- 
quired a common school education and spent 
one winter as a student in the business col- 
lege of Springfield and one winter as a stu- 
dent in Lebanon, Ohio. When twenty years 
of age he entered upon his business career 
by operating part of his father's land on 
shares. ."Ks a companion and helpmate on 
life's journey he chose Miss Clara Gar- 
lough, their wedding being celebrated March 
II, 1880. The lady was born in Green 
townslii'i and is a daughter of Tanies T. 



and Sarah ( Hause) Garlough, wdio are still 
living. Five children grace the marriage cjf 
Charles F". Stewart and his wife: Josie .\.. 
born on her father's farm June 16, 1881, be- 
came the wife of Stephen Kitchen, March 
II, 1902. The others are: Fred Garlough. 
born June 2, 1884; Howard H., born June 
15, 1888; Samuel N., born October 9, 1893; 
and Stephen W.. born July 20, 1896. 

In the year 1884 Charles F. Stewart 
purchased his present farm of one hundred 
and thirty-five acres and has made excellent 
improvements upon it since that time. He 
has Iniilt a large barn and has transformed 
a one-story lirick house into a pleasant two- 
stoi-y residence. Other modern equipments 
and accessories have been added to his place, 
which in its neat and attractive appearance 
indicates his careful supervision. Reared 
in the faith of the Republican party, since he 
has studied the questions and issues of the 
day he has seen no reason to change his po- 
litical allegiance, and his first presidential 
vote was cast for Garfield in 1880. In 1884 
he was elected township trustee and served 
continuously in that office until 1889. when 
he- was appointed township clerk, in which 
capacity he has since remained, a fact which 
indicates that in ofiice he is mi^st loyal and 
faithful. He served for six years as a mem- 
ber n)f the county election board and has been 
a delegate to various county and state con- 
ventions of his party. He is also a popular 
and valued member of Clifton Lodge, No. 
669. K. of P.. in which he has filled all the 
chairs. 

E. \\'heeler Stewart is another repre- 
sentative of the farming interests of Clark 
county, with which the Stewart family has 
lieen so closely identified through almost a 
century. He lives upon the old Perry Stew- 
art homestead, where be was born on the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



653 



27th of October. 1868, being the youngest 
child of Perry and Rhoda (Wheeler) Stew- 
art. Upon this farm he was reared to man- 
hood, early becoming familiar with the work 
of field and meadow. He assisted in the la- 
bors of the farm during the summer months 
and in the winter season attended the com- 
mon schools, his preliminary education be- 
ing later supplemented by one winter's study 
in Lebanon, while he also spent one winter 
as a student at Antioch. In the former place 
he received a diploma upon completing the 
business course. 

The lady who now bears his name was 
in her maidenhood Miss Nettie Shobe. who 
became his wife on the 26th of October. 
1893. She was born in Green township, a 
daughter of Martin and Kate (Nave) Shobe. 
Prior to his' marriage E. Wheeler Stewart 
l.ad been operating the home farm, and after 
that important event in his life he brought 
his bride to the old homestead, while his 
parents removed to the town, and he has 
since managed the property, comprising two 
himdred acres of valuable land. In addition 
to the' cultivation of the fields he is engaged 
in stock raising and makes a specialty of 
raising early lambs for the market. 

Unto E. Wheeler Stewart and his wife 
have been born two interesting little daugh- 
ters. Edna and Lois, the former born August 
12, 1894, and the latter September 26, 1897. 
The parents hold -membership in the Meth- 
odist Protestant church at Pitchin, take an- 
active interest in its work and contribute 
generously to its support. Mr. E. Wheeler 
Stewart is one of the class leaders and stew- 
ard of the church, is also assistant superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school and is secre- 
tary of the Catawba circuit conference. In 
his political \-iews he is a Republican and 



his presidential vote was cast for Benjamin 
Harrison. 

To return to the older generation of the 
Stewart famih^, we take up 'the history of 
Judge James M. Stewart, who is to-day one 
of the most honored and respected citizens 
of Xenia, Ohio, where he is living a retired 
life. He is a brother of Perry Stewart and 
a son of John and- Ann (Elder) Stewart. 
He was bom in Greene, now Clark, county, 
on the 30th of March, 1828, and spent his 
boyhood days on his father's farm, attend- 
ing the common schools of the neighborhood. 
In the year 1857 he removed to Yellow 
Springs, Greene county, where he estab- 
lished a general mercantile store. He was 
quite successful in his undertakings and fol- 
'owed that pursuit for ten years. In 1867 
he began farming and was thus engaged un- 
til 1884, when he was elected probate judge 
of -Greene county and removed to Xenia in 
order to enter upon the duties of the office. 
He served for two terms of three years each 
.iiid- no more capable incumbent has ever 
filled that position. His decisions were strict- 
ly fair and impartial and in the discharge of 
his multitudinous delicate duties he showed 
that he was a man of well-rounded charac- 
acter, finely balanced mind and of splendid 
intellectual attainments. Since his retire- 
ment from office he has led a c^uiet life, be- 

ng identified with no business pursuits save 

he management of his property interests. 
He is. however, a director in the Citizens 

National Bank of Xenial, and is one of its 
stockholders. 

Judge Stewart was united in marriage 
to Miss Rebecca J. Jacoby, a daughter of 
Henry Jacoljy, one of the leading and influ- 
ential citizens of Greene county. The wed- 

'.ing was celebrated in Octnlier. 1854, and 



6S4 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



unto them were born four daughters, of 
uhom two are living: Ida M., the wife of 
S. B. LeSourd. a wide-awake business man 
of Xenia ; and Leila, now the wife of Will- 
iam D. Cooley of Xenia. The Judge and 
his wife have a very pleasant home at No. 
P24 East Second street. They are devoted 
and zealous members of the Presbyterian 
church and he is identified with the Masonic 
fraternity. He gives his political support 
to tlie Rq:)ublican party and is a man of dis- 
tinctive ability and his character is one which 
is above a shadow of reproach. He has been 
faithful in the high offices in which he has 
been called to serve, and is widely known 
and respected by all who iiave been at all 
familiirr with his honorable and useful ca- 
reer. 

Oscar X. Stewart, another representa- 
tive of the older generation of the family 
and a brother of Perry Stewart and Judge 
Stewart, of Xenia. is a farmer and stock 
raiser of Harmony township. He was l)orn 
in Creen township, Clark county, February 
5, 1833, being the seventh son and eighth 
child in the family of ten children born unto 
John Templeton and Ann (Elder) Stewart. 
His boyhood days were spent upon the home 
farm in the acquirement of an education and 
in the enjoyment of the pleasures of the play- 
ground, also in mastering the work incident 
to the cultivation of the fields. When about 
twenty-two years of age he started out in 
life on his own account. His father had be- 
come an e.xtensive land owner and he in- 
herited one hundred and forty acres of land. 
Entering into the possession of the property 
he began its further development and im- 
provement and devoted his attention to his 
farm work until the 23d of April, 1861. 
Hardly had the smoke from Fort Sumter's 
guns cleared awnv and President Lincoln 



issued his call for volunteers, when Mr. 
Stewart offered his services to the govern- 
ment, becoming a member of Company E, 
Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under 
(Japtain Philip Kershner. He was in the 
army about four months, with the division 
that was at Phillippi and Carrick's Ford. At 
the close of his army services he returned 
home and on the 28th of January, 1862. was 
married to Miss Rachel Xicholson, of Har- 
mony township, Clark county, where she 
was born, her parents being Andrew and 
Rachel (Hammond) Xicholsoii. They be- 
gan their domestic life upon the farm in 
Green township, and there lived until 1884, 
during which time he and his wife acquired 
possession of over eight hundred acres of 
land. In the year mentioned they removed 
to their present home iiv Harmony township, 
where Mr. Stewart has built a fine residence. 
They have three living children, Herbert P., 
who married Miss Remina Tuttle, by whom 
he has four boys, Ira, Roy, Walter and Ar- 
thur, and their home is in Green township; 
Ralph, who is secretary of the Mutual Aid 
Society and lives in Springfield, married 
Grace Carlton and they have one son, Oscar 
Carlton ; and Frank, the youngest member 
of the family, is at home. 

In his political views Mr. Oscar X. Stew- 
art has been a Republican since casting his 
first vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, but 
has never been an ofiice seeker. He belongs 
to the Christian church of Plattsburg and is 
serving as one of its deacons. He is also a 
member of Wilson Post. Xo. 602. G. A. R., 
at Vienna, has filled all of the chairs and has 
attended the national reunions in Philadel- 
phia and Columbus. In 1876 he visited the 
Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia and 
in 1893 the World's Columbian Exposition 
in Chicago. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



65^ 



It would be difficult to find a family of 
such numerical strength elsewhere in Ohio, 
that has a more creditable or honorable rec- 
ord than the Stewart family. The name fig- 
ures upon the business statistics, the military 
records and the official archives, and in no 
case is darkened by a stain of dishonor. 
While its representatives have not sought 
notoriety, they have ever manifested the 
sterling traits of character which form a 
part of good citizenship and their efforts in 
behalf of all that pertains to the general 
good have ever been effective, far-reaching 
and beneficial. It would therefore be im- 
possible to compile a history of Clark county 
without giving due mention of the members 
of the Stewart familv. 



RALPH NICHOLSON STEWART, 

Ralph Nicholson Stewart resides at No. 
67 East Pleasant street, in Springfield, 
where he has a good residence and his office 
is at No. 711/2 East Main street. He is the 
secretary of the Clark County Farmers Mu- 
tual Protection and Aid Association, having 
acted in this capacity since 1901. A native 
son of Clark county, he was born in Green 
township, April 12, 1868, his parents being 
Oscar Nesbit and Rachel (Nicholson) Stew- 
art, whose history is given on another page 
of this work. He was about sixteen years of 
age when his people removed to Harmony 
township and in addition to the educational 
privileges afforded by the country schools he 
pursued a course in a business college at 
Antioch and was graduated there when 
eighteen vears of age. He likewise spent 
about six months as a student in Antioch 
College and was thus well fitted for 



life's practical duties. For a number of 
years he followed farming and was a pro- 
gressive and enterprising agriculturist, his 
well tilled fields returning to him rich har- 
vests for the care and labor which he be- 
stowed upon the land. At length, on account 
of ill liealth, he was forced to retire from 
farm life aftd in 1901 came to Springfield, 
where he has since occupied the position of 
secretary for the Clark County Mutual Pro- 
tection and Aid Association, the welfare and 
success of which has been increased in a ma- 
terial degree through his efforts. 

On the 19th of February, 1896. in Preble 
county, Ohio, in the town of Eaton, Mr. 
Stewart was united in marriage to Miss 
Grace G. Carlton, who was born in Coolville, 
Athens county, Ohio, June i, 1875, and is a 
daughter of Dr. Edwin and Martha Carlton. 
She is a graduate of the high school of Sel- 
ma and has attended normal school. They 
now have one child, Oscar Carlton, born 
August 27, 1 90 1. From his boyhood days 
Mr. Stewart has been an earnest advocate 
of the Republican party and its principles 
and has voted for its men and measures since 
he cast his first presidential ballot for Ben- 
jamin Harrison in 1892. He has always re- 
sided in this county and belongs to one of 
the leading and distinguished families that 
throughout the years of development and im- 
provement here has been active in the work 
of progress. 



DAVID ANSON FERREE. 

The agricultural interests of Green town- 
ship are ably represented by David AnsiMi 
Ferrec. a general farmer and stock raiser, 
who was born in Springfield, Ohio, July 6. 
1S49, ^"cl is ^ son of David and Lizzie 



•65b 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



(Conard) Ferree. I'he parents were 'cX)th 
natives of Pennsylvania, where they were 
reared and married. The father was a saij- 
dler by trade and with his family removed 
to Ohio some years Ixrfore the birth of liis 
son. David A., locating in Springfield. In 
that place he and his wife botli died on the 
same day in August, 1849, of cholera. They 
left a family of four small children, the old- 
est being about nine years of age, while 
David A. was an infant but six weeks old. 
He, with his eldest sister, Laura, was taken 
into the home of Elijah and Elizabeth Stew- 
art, where they were kindly and comforta- 
bly reared until they were grown. This 
sister married William Wilson and now lives • 
in Springfield. Sarah Ellen lived with her 
uncle, Peter Ferree, married William Pence, 
a resident of Springffield, and they have five 
children, Elizabeth was reared by her aunt, 
Marian Baker, but died in early girl- 
hodd. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were very 
kind tt) the young or])hans whom they had 
taken in charge, and gave them a gcKxl home 
and all educational privileges which they 
could desire. 

In due course of time David Anson Fer- 
ree attained man's estate and was married 
to Miss Elida T. McClintoak, of Spring- 
field township, where she was l)orn April 
16, 1853. She was a daughter of John and 
Mary fMelvin) McClintock, and liy her 
marriage she became the mother of five chil- 
dren, three of whom died in infancy. Those 
living are: Jessie Elizabeth, who was born 
March 7. 1886, and Elvin McClintr,ck. Imni 
Decemljer i, 1888. 

With the exception of two years which 
he spent in Springfield, Mr. Ferree, since 
the death of his parents, has resided on the 
farm in Green township where he now lives, 
ffMirerlv owned bv Mr. and Mr<. Stewart. 



his benefactors. Mrs. Stewart survived her 
husband for some years and at her death 
willed the property to Mr. Ferree, of this re- 
\iew. Here he has lived and reared his 
family. In 1901 he was called upon to 
mourn the loss of his wife, whose death oc- 
curred on the 14th of March of that year. 
Mr. Ferree supports the men and neas- 
ures of the Republican party, but has never 
Ijeen a jiolitician in the sense of 'office seek- 
ing. For fifty-three years— -practically all 
his life — he has been a resident of (jreen 
township. His interests therefore are deep- 
ly centered in the community in which he 
lives, and his efiforts have ever been directed 
toward its welfare and improvement. He 
is a public spirited man, takes an eanlest 
interest in the questions and issues of the 
day, and his friends always know where to 
find bin: — for he is ever on the side t)f right 
and truth. 



ASA RUXVON ALDKKil. 

Asa Runyon Aldrich is a farmer and 
florist of Springfield, who traces his ances- 
trj' Ixick to the little "rock-ribbed" ci)untry 
of Wales, whence representatives of the 
name came to America. The paternal great- 
grandfather, AVales Aldrich, was l)orn 
among the Welsh peoi^lc. in their native 
country, and with his brother and sister he 
crassecl the Atlantic to the new world, es- 
tablishing his home in Vermont, where he 
engaged in farming. Subsequently Wales 
.\ldrich came to Ohio, locating first in 
Cincinnati and thence remwing to Clark 
county. The journey was made with ox 
teams, and ]iioneer conditions existed 
throughout the state. Indians were more 
nunienius than white settlers in many re- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



657 



gions, deer still roamed through the forest 
and wild turkeys could be killed in abuud- 
ance. The nearest market to the pioneer 
home which Air. Aldrich established was 
Cincinnati. He hauled his goods overland 
from that place and sold there his cheese, 
honey, butter and grain. In the midst of 
the green woods he cleared and developed a 
farm. In his family were nine children, 
of whom Aaron Aldrich, the father of our 
subject, was the eighth in order of birth. 
The grandfather prospered in his undertak- 
ings, l>ecan'-e the owner of valuable and ex- 
tensive tracts of land and gave to eacb of his 
children forty acres. All of the children at- 
tained to a ripe old age, none passing away 
before the sixtieth milestone on life's jour- 
ney had been reached. 

Aaroai Aldrich, the father of Asa R. 
Aldrich of this re\'iew, was born in Clark 
county, Ohio, near Fletcher Chapel, in 1826, 
and was reared an: id the scenes of pioneer 
life. His brother, Abraham, became a physi- 
cian and lived to be over eighty years of 
age. In the practice of his profession he 
rode extensively over the country, travers- 
ing this section of the state when it was 
little more than a swamp, for die land had 
not been drained. He m.ade his way, too, 
through dense forests and thus reached pio- 
neer cabins where he put forth his efforts to 
alleviate human suffering. Like the other 
members O'f the family, Aaron Aldrich pur- 
sued his education! in an old log sclioolhoiise, 
which was supplied with slab benches. He 
followed farming for many years and then 
cane to* Springfield, where he conducted a 
i)oarding house, continuing in that business 
until his death, which occurred in 1900. He 
held the office of supervisor oi his township, 
while one of his brothers, Wales Aldrich, 
Jr.. was for n ?,nv vears justice of the ne^ce.. 



All of the representatives of this generation- 
of the family have now, passed away. . The 
mother of our subject bore, the maiden nan:e 
of Sarah A. Bell and was bo^rn in Cham- 
paign county, Ohio, her parents. having re- 
moved to this state from Kentucky about the 
time that the Aldrich family was founded in 
Clark county. The Bells were of English 
ancestry and Mrs. Aldrich was one of a 
family oi nine children, all of whom reached 
advanced ages and were connected with agri- 
cultural pursuits. She was born in 1827 
and died in 1878. By her marriage she 
becam.e the mother O'f five children : A. R. 
of this review; Ella, tlie wife of Thomas 
Wraight, who is living in St. Louis, Mis- 
souri; and three who' have passed away. 
Mrs. Susanna E. Martin, who -died in 
Springfield, leaving two daughters, who are 
now living- on Belmont avenue, this city, was 
about thirty years of age at the time of her 
demise; Elijah was accidentally shot Augiist 
10, 1862; and Marley died in Springfield 
in 1901. These children were educated in 
the old district schools, the ten: pies of learn- 
ing being log structures. The sons re- 
n'-ained upon the home farm until of age 
and assisted the father in the culti\-ation and 
development of his land. The parents 
were both members of the Christian church 
of Vienna and were very active in church 
and charitable work. Tlieir many excellen- 
cies of character won for them high regard 
and they were widely recognized as people 
of the highest respectability. 

In the public schools of an early period 
Asa Runyon Aldrich accpiired his education. 
When five years of age he saw the first rail- 
road train that ever run over the Miami 
road into Springfield. From a hr*y he as- 
sisted in the arduous task of clearing the 
land upon the home place. Forty acres had 



658 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



been given to the father, who afterward 
added a twenty-acre tract to his land. Tlie 
grandfather had purcliased the original 
land widi gold, wh.ich he carried in saddle- 
bags to Ohio, anil he was considered one 
of the wealthy men of this portion of the 
state. Mr. Aldrich of this review remained 
with his father and with him carried on farm 
work. He was only a year old when the 
family removed to Clark county, settling 
near Oxtoby station. His early educational 
pri\-ileges were supplemented to same extent 
in Vienna. When twenty-two years of age 
he left the parental roof and went to live 
with his uncle, Edson Aldrich, who was a 
farmer and butcher, and with him removed 
to Logan county, Ohio. There he spent 
seven years, devoting his attentinn largely 
to farming in that locality. 

In March, 1869. he was married to Stt- 
san A. Porter, the widow of John Pollock. 
She had three children, two of whom are 
now living: Laura, of Mexico; and Mrs. 
Mary R. Haviland, who is living in Quito, 
South America. The son, Elmer, has passed 
away. Mrs. Aldrich was liorn in 1842 and 
pursued her education in the public schc«ls 
of Hardin county. The children of Mr. and 
Mrs. Aldrich are as follows: Clarence E., 
bor!i in 1870, was married and has one liv- 
ing child, Lester A. Two of his children 
died in early childhf)od. He is now acting 
as foreman in his father's greenhouse. Qyde 
was accidentally drowned Jime 21, 1891, 
when fourteen years of age. Blanche is the 
wife of William Curry, who is living at the 
corner of Plum and Main streets in Sjiring- 
field, and is employed in Carson's wholesale 
grocery house. Mrs. Curry was Ixirn in 
1874 and is a graduate of the Springfield 
high school. 

Mr. Aldrich continued to make his home 



in Logan county, Ohio, for some years, or 
until 1875, when he returned to Clark coun- 
ty and for one year resided upon his father's 
old homestead.- In 1876 he purchased a 
farm near Oxtoby station and still owns that 
property. His first purchase brought to him 
twenty acres, but the boundaries of the 
farm have since been extended until it is 
now a tract of sixty acres of well improved 
land. He has tiled some of his fields, has 
erected good buildings upon his place and 
has made it a rich and valuable property, 
from which he now derives a good income. 
He remained upon that farm for about ten 
years, and in the meantime embarked in the 
florist business there. He built a greenhouse 
and did a retail business in Springfield, rais- 
ing all of his plants and flowers upon the 
farm. About 1888, however, he reiroved his 
greenhouses to the city, enlarged them, and 
now has an excellent plant for conducting 
the business on Belmont avenue, just outside 
the corjx)ration lines. By study and ex- 
perience he has, gained a thorough knowl- 
edge of the florist's business, and in this 
connection he is meeting with excellent suc- 
cess. In his greenhouses are many kinds 
of rare and beautiful blossoms, and he makes 
a specialty of cut flowers, which find a ready 
sale upon the market l^ecause of their beau- 
ty and excellence. From a small beginning 
his trade has grown to its present large pro- 
portions. ma;king the enterprise a paying 
one. In addition to this line of activity. 
Mr. Adrich is engaged in general farming, 
having the supervision of his farm projierty. 
He has a flower stand in the market place, 
where he serves his many customers, and 
also a store on South Limestone street. 

In his political views Mr. Aldrich is a 
Republican, having been a stanch advocate 
of the party since he cast his first [.residen- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



659 



tial vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864. He 
has never sought or desired office, hoiwever, 
preferring to give his time and attention tO' 
his business affairs, which, being capaWy 
conducted, have brougiit to him creditable 
and desirable success. He is a worthy rep- 
resentative of one of the hoaiored pioneer 
families O'f the county and has been active 
m continuing the work of improvement and 
progress which was begun by his grand- 
father in pioneer times and which was car- 
ried (in by his father. The name of Al- 
drich has ever been an honored one in the 
count}- because its rq>resentatives have been 
loyal to the best interests of the community 
and have been found reliable ant! trust- 
worthy in business. 



WILLIA^I WISE. 



When the tocsin of war sounded and 
men from all walks of life flocked to the 
standard o-f the country to take part in the 
battles for the preservation oi the Union. 
William Wise also joined the boys in blue 
uniform and went to the south, where he 
proved himself a loyal soldier. His patri- 
otic devotion toi his country is equally n:ani- 
fest in his prompt and faithful service as a 
civic officer. For thirty-six years he has 
served as justice of the peace and no higher 
testimony of his efficiency and fidelity could 
be gi\-en than the fact of his long retention 
in office. 

INlr. Wise was born in Montgomery 
county, Ohio, in 1840, a son of Felix and 
Martha (Leeper) Wise. His maternal 
grandfather. James Leeper, was a native of 
Steuhenville. Ohio, and died duiing the 
early childhood of his daughter. CTCorge 



Wise, the paternal grandfather, was !)orn 
in 'Cumherland county, Pennsylvania, in 
1784 and in 1S40 removed to Pike township, 
Clark County, Ohio. In 181 1 he became a 
captain of the Third Company of the 
Eighty-seventh Regiment of the Militia of 
the Commonv.ealth of Pennsylvania and 
served with that ral^k for several years. In. 
his family were twelve children : Felix, 
the father of our subject; Mary, Joseph, 
George and Mrs. Johanna Sturges, all now 
deceased : Mrs. Rebecca McGeehan, and 
John, who have also passed away; David, 
who is living in St. Louis, Missouri; Mrs. 
Catherine Leffel, deceased ; Mrs. Sarah Mill- 
er, a resident of Bloomington, Illinois ; Ja- 
cob and 'Mrs. Margaret Hance, who- are also 
deceased. By their marriage the parents 
0(f our subject had five children. Mary, the 
eldest, became the wife of Jc4in Black, a 
farmer, now deceased, and they had four 
children — Edna. Jennie, Josephine and 
John. William is the second in order of 
birth, George W. wedded Mary Brown and 
is now living in Dayton, Ohio, with their 
two children. Burton and Mabel. He is con- 
nected with the Barney & Smith car sb.ops 
and served for one hundred days in the 
Civil war. Jan:es L.. who n;anied Almarin- 
da Spangler, by whom he had two children, 
Harry and Cora, is now a resident of Day- 
ton. Frank, the youngest member of the 
family, m.arried Alice Stockstill and they 
are alsoi living in Dayton. They reared 
three children, Walter, Bertha and Roy. 
Felix ^^'ise, the father of our subject, passed 
away in 1875. 

In the schools of Medway, Ohio, Will- 
iam Wise pursued his education, spending 
his boyhood days in his parents' home. 
He was twenty-one }-ears of age when 
in 1862 he enlisted in his countrv's ser- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



\ice as a member of Company I, One 
llundied and Tenth Ohio Infantry. He 
was n.ustered out with the rank of sergeant 
at Washington, 1). C, June 9, 1865, and re- 
turned home witli a most creditable n.iUtar)' 
record. He participated in the battle of 
Winchester, Virginia, under General Melroy, 
on the 13th 14th and 15th of June, 1863, 
W'apping Heights, Locust Grove. Mine 
Run. the battle of the Wilderness, Spottsyl- 
\ania Courtliouse, Gains Alills, Cold Har- 
bor, Monocacy, Charleston, Smithfield, 
Winchester, Flint Hill, Fisher's Hill, Cedar 
Creek, and the engagements in the vicinity 
of Petersburg, where he was wounded. He 
also sustained a wound at Cold Harbor. At 
the close of the war Mr. Wise returned to 
his home in Medway. He experienced all 
the hardships and rigors of war and was 
always found at his post of duty whether 
upon the picket line or the firing line. He 
never wavered in his allegiance to the old 
flag and the cause it represented and like 
the other Ixjys in blue he deserves credit and 
gratitude of the nation for his share in pre- 
serving the Union. 

For fifty-six years ]\Ir. Wise has resided 
in Medway and is one of the honored and 
representative citizens here. He was 
united in marriage to Martha V. McKinney, 
a daughter Cyrus B. and Melinda E. 
( Lamn e) McKinney. Her father was 
lx)rn in Bethel township, Clark county, in 
1813 and in his family were four children: 
James: William F., a resident of Spring- 
field: Mrs. Wise; and Frank E., who is liv- 
ing in this count}-. Unto ovw subject and 
bis wife have lieen born three children. 
Willis Mcl\.i:mcy, the eldest, wedded ^lar- 
garet Glen:i. of Springfield, and they have 
three children — Ester L.. Arthur \'. and 
Heli-n M. Grnrc G. i< the wife ..f William 



C. Wallace, a farmer of Bethel township, and 
they have two children— Donald M. and 
Roscoe. Roscoe D., the youngest member 
of the fan ily of William Wise, is now eni- 
plrned as a bookkeeix-r liy O. S. Kelly, in 
Springfield. 

In hisix>litical views ^Ir. Wise has always 
Ijeen a stalwart Republican, feiirless in de- 
fence of his convictions and untiring in 
his fidelity to the party in which he lielieves. 
For thirty-six years he has held the oftice 
of justice of the peace and his decisions 
have been strictly fair and impartial, neither 
fear nor favor influencing him in his opin- 
ions. He has alwavs Ijeen true to what he 
believed to be his duties of citizenship and 
the l>est interests of the countiy, and is a 
n'an of genuine worth who has many friends 
in his section of Clark countv. 



THOMAS SW.\XC;ER. 

l"nr seventeen years Thomas Swanger 
has engaged in th.e grocer}- business in New 
Carlisle and the large patronage accorded 
him is an indication of the high standing 
which he has in the public regard. He is a 
native of the neighboring state of Pennsyl- 
vania, bis birth having occurred in Cumber- 
land county in 1840. His parents were 
George and Catherine (Fo.x) Swanger, who 
with their family left Pennsylvania in 1844 
and established their home in Xew Carlisle, 
Ohio. They became the parents of but two 
children, the elder being Thomas of this re- 
\iew. The daughter, Mary Ellen, is the 
wife of J. W. (jiildsbott and they reside in 
Dayton, Ohio. They have two living chil- 
tlren. to whom they have given the names 
-I Flnri.h. an.) Alabama. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Thomas Swanger of this review was a 
Httlc lad of only four years when hrought 
by his parents to Ohio and in the town which 
lie still makes his home he was reared, his 
education being acquired here in the public 
schools. About the time he attained his ma- 
jority he offered his services to the govern- 
ment as a defender of the Union cause in the 
Civil war. He had studied with interest 
the attitude of the south, had noted the 
threats, of secession and had resolved that if 
an attempt was made to overthrow the Union 
he would strike a blow in its defense. Ac- 
cordingly, wdien Fort Sumter was fired upon, 
he enlisted in April, 1861, as a member of 
Company C, First Kentucky Volunteer In- 
fantry, in which he served until June, 1864. 
In February, 1865, he re-enlisted, becoming 
a member of the Second United States Vet- 
eran Regiment, attached to Hancock's Corps 
From this command he was mustered out in 
February, 1866. He had participated in a 
number of battles and skirmishes, the prin- 
cipal engagements being at Shiloh, Stone 
Ri\er and Chickamauga. After being mus- 
tered out of the volunteer service Mr. 
Swanger enlisted in February. 1867, in the 
regular army and was assigned to the First 
United States Cavalry, with which he served 
in California, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona and 
New Mexico, sharing in the usual experi- 
ences of military life on the frontier. In 
December, 1871, he received an honorable 
disch.arge.and returned to New Carlisle. 

In 1882 he became an active factor in 
mercantile life here, establishing a drug- 
store, which he conducted for about three 
\cars. He then sold out in that line and 
ijpened a grocery store, which he still con- 
ducts. From the beginning he has enjoyed 
a good patronage and he carries a large and 
well selected line of staple and fancy gro- 



ceries. He is straightforward in his busi- 
ness dealings and his earnest desire to please 
his patrons has secured to him a profitable 
trade. 

Mr. Swanger was united in marriage to 
Caroline Elizabeth Pence, of Pike township, 
Clark county, a daughter of Valentine Pence, 
who is a millwright and farmer. She is 
the elder of two daughters, her sister being 
Mrs. Elmira Stafford, the wife of A. S. 
Stafford, a lumber buyer of New Carlisle. 
The home of ]Mr. and Mrs. Swanger has 
been blessed with one child. Pearl Fair. 

In his political views Mr. Swanger is an 
earnest Republican and for six years he has 
ser\-ed as trustee of Bethel township, having 
just completed his second term of three years 
He belongs to the Odd Fellows Society and 
to the Methodist church and it will thus be 
seen that his membership relations are such 
as indicate a high moral character and gen- 
uine worth, classing him with the best citi- 
zens of his part of the country. 



ALENANDER McCONKEY. 

]\Iany a lesson may be gleaned from the 
experience of Alexander McConkey by the 
younger generation, and none more vital 
than this — that absolute honesty is the es- 
sential cornerstone of character on which the 
entire superstructure must depend. Per- 
sistence and courage in the face of difficul- 
ties also are necessary factors to success, and 
energ}' and determination must likewise lend 
their aid. These are the cjualities which harv'e 
brought prosperity to Mr. McConkey, so 
that he is now enabled, after years of active 
connection with agricultural pursuits, to live 
a retired life, his home being in the village 
of New Moorefield. 



662 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



His birth occurred in Pleasant township, 
near Catawba, December 5, 1832, his par- 
ents being Daniel and Matilda (Xeer) Mc- 
Conkcy. His father was a son of Archibald 
and Nancy (Micha) McConkey. Archibald 
McConkey was a native of Belfast, Ireland, 
and after coming to America remained in 
New York for a time. On leaving the Em- 
pire state he removed to Kentucky, where 
he married Nanc}- Micha, a daughter of Cap- 
tain Micha, who was an officer in the Revo- 
lutionary war, belonging to a New England 
regiment. Daniel McConkey was l)orn in 
Kentucky, and in 1805, when about a year 
old, was brought to Ohio by his parents, the 
family locating one mile south of Catawba, 
where his father lived until eighty-five years 
of age. The farm on which he settled is still 
the property of his descendants. He was a 
soldier of the war of 1812. Throughout life 
Daniel McConkey followed agricultural pur- 
suits, operating the old homestead farm until 
called to his final rest April 5, 1856, when 
fifty-two years of age, his death being the 
result of an injury occasioned by a horse. 
His wife was a native of Loudoun county, 
Virginia, and in early life came to Ohio with 
her parents, Nathan and Jane Neer, settling 
on a portion of the present site of Catawba. 
She died in 1885, at the age of seventy-six 
years, and her remains were interred by the 
side of her husband in the McConkey ceme- 
tery, on the old home farm near Catawba. 

In the family of this worthy couple were 
eleven children, five sons and six daughters, 
of whom Alexander McConkey is the fourth 
in order of birth and the only one now liv- 
ing. His brother, Nathan McDonald, be- 
came captain of Company G, of the Ninety- 
fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served 
nntil the close of the war. He was with 
Sherman on the famous march to the sea 



and also participated in the grand review 
in Washington. At the time of his death 
he was serving as superintendent of the Chil- 
dren's Home in Springfield, and he had also 
been a county commissioner and for two 
terms represented his district in the state 
legislature. A very prominent and influen- 
tial citizen, he left the impress of his indi- 
viduality upon public life. Archibald mar- 
ried Sarah Skillman and died in 1856, leav- 
ing three children. Enos was a wagonmas- 
ter during the civil war and a member of 
Companj- F, Eighth Ohio Cavalry. He mar- 
ried ]May Young and at his death left five 
children. Alexander was the next of the 
family. Hiram L. was a soldier of Com- 
pany G, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer In- 
fantry, held the rank of orderly sergeant 
and was with Sherman throughout his cam- 
paigns. None of the four brothers who were 
in the army were ever wounded. Hiram was 
captured but was iiaroletl before being 
taken to prison. 

Our subject was reared in the township 
of his nativity, acquiring a good education 
in the common schools and worked by the 
month for a brother une year. His father 
died about that time and he and his brother 
then operated the home farm for a few years, 
or until 1856. Mr. ]\IcConkey was married 
• April 14, 1857, to Miss Emeline Cartmell, 
who was born and reared in Pleasant town- 
ship, a daughter of Thomas and Amanda 
(Fisher) Cartmell. Our subject then en- 
gaged in farming in Pleasant township until 
the fall of 1 861, when, in the month of Sep- 
tember, he donned the blue uniform of the 
nation and became a member of Company 
F, Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer InfaiUry. 
He was soon afterward promoted to the 
rank of sergeant and served until January, 
iS'n. wlicn he veteranized. He was then 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



663 



commissioned second lieutenant in the 
Eiglitli Ohio Cavalry and later was pro- 
moted to first lieutenant of Company D, 
ser\'ing in that capacit}' until a short time 
prior to the close of hostilities, when he 
was commissioned captain. Soon after this 
he resigned in the 3'ear 1865. He was first 
under fire at Cotton Mountain, at the time of 
the retreat of General Floyd, and was also 
in the battle at Lewisburg, and at Button 
Hill and took part in numerous skirmishes. 
He was in the siege of Knoxville and was 
captured at Beverly, West Virginia, after 
which he was sent to Libby prison on the 
nth of January, 1864, and was there pa- 
roled on the 22d of February following. At 
the battle of Lewisburg his cap was shot 
through and thus he narrowly escaped death. 
At the battle of Libertyville. while on the 
Hunter raid to Lynchburg, his clothing was 
riddled with bullets. He was at Philippi, 
West Virginia, when he learned of Lincoln's 
assassination, and was a Harper's Ferry at 
the time of Lee's surrender. 

\M:ile ^Ir. IMcConkey was in the service 
his wife and their one child made their home 
with her sister, who was the wife of his 
brother. Captain N. M. McConkey. When 
our subject returned home he resumed farm- 
ing on the old homestead, where he lived for 
a number of years. He afterward spent 
nine years on the farm of Judge Good, in 
]\Ioorefield township, and then purchased a 
tract of land in Champaign county, Ohio, 
where he lived for several years. At length 
he sold that property and purchased his 
present home in New Moorefield. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. McConkey ha\e been 
born two children. Emma is the wife of 
S. J. Wilkerson, a member of the board of 
public afifairs at Springfield, who also served 
as citv clerk there for six vears. Thev have 



four children, Nellie C, Charles IMcConkey, 
Florence Goode and Howard. Gilbert died 
at the age of nine years of lockjaw, caused 
by a broken arm. In 1901 INIr. ]\IcConkey was 
called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, 
\vho passed away on the 17th of October, 
of that year, her death being mourned by all 
who knew her. She was a faithful mem- 
ber of the Methodist Protestant church and 
an earnest Christian woman. 

Mr. McConkey voted for John C. Fre- 
mont in 1856 and has supported each presi- 
dential candidate of the Republican party 
since that time. He is deeply interested in 
all political questions of the day and has 
served as a delegate to various conventions 
of his part}-, but has never been an office 
seeker, although in 1902 he was elected as- 
sessor. Long a faithful and consistent 
;nember of the Methodist Protestant church 
he is now serving as class leader and as su- 
perintendent of the Sunday-school. To-day 
lie is the only surviving member of the Ca- 
tawba church that was identified with that 
organization when he joined in 1848. He 
belongs to N. ]\L [McConkey Post at Cataw- 
ba, has filled all of its offices and is a mem- 
l)er of the Ohio Association of Union ex- 
Prisoners of War, with whom he has met 
in conventions at ]Marys\-ille and at Clyde. 
His life has always been honorable and up- 
right, and in citizenship he is as true and 
loyal to-day as when he followed the na- 
tion's starry banner upon the battlefields of 
the south. 



EDWARD L. BARRETT. 

Edward I>. Barrett is the president and 
treasurer of the Barrett Publishing Com- 
pany, of Springfield, Ohio, and is one of the 



664 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



busiest, most energetic and enterprising men 
of the city. He stands to-day at the head of 
a concern of importance, for the business has 
constantly grown in magnitude and in the 
character of the work executed. 

.\ native of Massachusetts, Mr. Barrett 
was born in Ashburnham, on the 14th of 
September, 1850, and is a son of Edwin L. 
and Sarah (Petts) Barrett. The ancestral 
line of the Barrett family can be traced back 
lo the year 1200. At an early day in the his- 
tory of America, the family was established 
on the soil of the new world. Samuel Bar- 
ret, the grandfather of our subject, was a 
native of Massachusetts and married Nancy 
Lawrence, the eldest daughter of John Law- 
rence, one of the original settlers of eastern 
^Massachusetts. Edwin L. Barrett was born 
in the year 1839 in the house in which the 
birth of our subject occurred, and in 1861 he 
became a resident of Springfield, Ohio. His 
wife was a native of the Empire state ami 
died in 1864. After conducting general 
business interests in Springfield for many 
years, Edwin L. Barrett passed to his final 
rest on the loth of August, 1889. 

He, whose name introduces this review, 
has been a resident of Springfield since the 
age of eleven years, and in the public schools 
he pursued his preparatory education and 
then entered ^\'ittenberg College, where he 
remained as a student for some time. On 
leaving college he engaged in business, as- 
sisting his father up to the time of his death 
in the conduct of a publishing business which 
JNIr. Barrett, Sr., had established. After 
the death of his father in 1898 Edward L. 
Barrett succeeded to the business and con- 
ducted it successfully until December, 1901, 
when the mechanical department of the bus- 
iness was sold to The New Era Company, 
of which R. S. Thompson is president, Mr. 



Barrett retaining the original business, 
known as the legal blank lx3ok publishing 
department. From this department legal 
blank books are furnished to the various offi- 
cials of the state. [Mr. Barrett has associ- 
ated with him his son, Arthur ^l., in the 
original business of E. L. Barrett & Son. 
this being the oldest firm in the state in their 
line of business. E. L. Barrett & Son occu- 
py the two upper tloors of the building at 
No. 24 North Fountain street. Under the 
guidance of Edward L. Barrett, and as a re- 
sult of his broad experience and keen exec- 
utive force, the enterprise has been attended 
with a high measure of success. 

He is also interested in a successful gro- 
cery business with another of his sons, El- 
mer" L. Barrett, their place of business be- 
ing No. 18 Euclid avenue. 

In 1875 was celebrated the marriage of 
E. L. Barrett and Miss Flora C. Lyon. Sev- 
en children have graced this marriage, name- 
ly : Elmer; Nellie; Arthur; Herbert; Ma- 
l)el ; Bertha: and Walter, who died in infan- 
cy. In church matters Mr. Barrett is quite 
prominent, holding membership with the 
First Presbyterian church, in which he has 
been an elder for many years, and to the 
support of which he contributes liberally, 
while of his time and influence he gives gen- 
erously to advance the work of the church 
in its various departments. He was for a 
term president of the Ohio State Sunday- 
school Association and at the present time 
is state treasurer of that organization. He 
is also the superintendent of the Presbyte- 
rian Mission of his church, and has occupied 
this position for the past twenty-two years. 
Unlike many men who are controlling ex- 
tensive business interests and yet who claim 
to have neither time nor inclination for la- 
bors relating to the moral development of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



655 



the community, Mr. Barrett lias not only 
f I lund hut has made oppoi-tunities to continue 
his work in this direction and his influence 
has l)een a potent one for good. His re- 
Hgiou is of a practical character which is 
manifest in the substantial aid given to the 
poor and needy and in honorable dealing 
with his fellow men in all life's relations. 



WILLIAM E. YEAZEL. 

\\'illiam E. Yeazel, a representative of 
the agricultural interests of Pleasant town- 
ship, was born in Moorefield township, Janu- 
ary 2J\, 1829, his parents being Jeremiah and 
Jane ( Hodge) Yeazel. Upon the home 
farm lie was reared, no event of special im- 
portance occurring to vary the routine of 
farm life for him. In his youth he acquired 
a common school education and lived at 
home until twenty-one years of age. His 
father was a good manager and an enterpris- 
ing man and became the owner of four hun- 
dred acres of land. 

On the 27th of January, 1850, Mr. 
"^'eazel was united in marriage to JNIiss Ly- 
dia A. Bennett, of Harmony township, 
where she was born and reared. At the time 
of his marriage Mr. Yeazel began operating 
his father's land and resided upon that place 
for three years, after which he purchased 
fifty-eight acres in the village of Harmony. 
He carried on farming and butchering for 
thirteen years and through the dual occupa- 
tion he made considerable money. While 
living there he also organized a company and 
was appointed captain by Colonel Todd, but 
in reorganizing the war committee endeav- 
ored to persuade his men to join an 
organization of which he was to become a 



lieutenant. Refusing to do this he resigned 
and did not enter the service. At a later 
date he disposed of his butchering business 
and traded his farm in this locality for a 
farm in Champaign county, Illinois. To 
that property he gave his super\-ision but 
never removed to the west. In 1859 ^^^ 
purchased his present farm, comprising 
eighty-three acres of land, and in 1873 ^^^ 
took up his abode thereon. As the years 
have passed and his financial resources have 
increased, he has added to this property from 
time to time until he is to-day the owner of 
an extensive farm of four hundred acres. 
This was all covered with forest trees when 
it came into his possession and the fine im- 
provements upon the place are the result of 
his energetic efforts and progressi\-e ideas. 
He is regarded as one of the leading agri- 
culturists of his community and certainly 
deserves great credit for what he has ac- 
complished, because he started out in life 
for himself empty handed and has depended 
entirely upon his earnest labor frir the ac- 
quirement of a competence. 

The home of Mr. and ilrs. Yeazel has 
been blessed with five children : James, who 
is living in Cold Springs, Ohio, and has five 
children ; Jane, the wife of Silas Engel, a 
resident of Harmony township; Ellen, the 
wife of William H. McClintock, of :Moore- 
neld township; Elizabeth, who is the wife 
of Walter Marsh, of London, Ohio, by whom 
she has two sons ; and Mary, who became the 
wife of E. C. Overturf and lived in ;\Iadi- 
son county until her death, at which time she 
left three children. ]\Ir. Yeazel was called 
upon to mourn the loss of his wife on the 
2d of November. 1884. About two years 
later, on the 2d of September. 1886. he was 
united in marriage to Miss Emily Paul, of 
Harmony township. She was born in Pleas- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ant townsliip and was a daughter of Edward 
and r^Iargaret (Morris) Paul. Two chil- 
dren graced this union, Hattie and Scott, 
both of whom are at home. 

^Ir. Yeazel cast his first presidential vote 
for ^^■infield Scott in 1852 and in 1856 he 
voted for Fremont. He is now independent 
in politic.-;. He was once a candidate of the 
Prohibition party for the office of county 
commissioner but on account of the greater 
majorities of the older parties he was not 
elected. He has always been a warm friend 
of the cause of temperance and of morality, 
and his life has been in harmony with the 
principles which develop an upright, honor- 
able manhood. 



TACOB R. ATHY. 



Jacob R. Athy, who was born in Mad 
River township, Clark county, in 1833, has 
therefore been a resident of the county for 
nearly seventy years. During his infancy he 
was brought to the farm upon which he now 
resides, the family removing here in the 
year above mentioned. His father, Johu 
Athy. was born and reared near Cumber- 
land, Maryland, but emigrating westward, 
t(X)k up his abode in Clark county. He was 
a resident of ]^Iad River township at the 
time of our subject's birth in 1833, but the 
same \ear removed to what is now the old 
Athy homestead. He purchased this land in 
4847. pa\ ing twelve and one-half dollars per 
acre for the tract, which is now worth ninety 
dollars per acre. This farm originally be- 
longed to \\'illiam Burnet, of Cincinnati, and 
at the time it was sold to John Athy it was 
covered with timber, not a furrow having 
been turned or an improvement made upon 
the place. With characteristic energy, how- 



ever, he began its development and soon the 
fields were cleared and prepared for the 
plow, so that in course, of time good har- 
vests were garnered as the result of the care 
and labor of the owner. Throughoirt his 
entire life John Athy carried on agricultural 
pursuits there and was classed among the 
representative farmers of his community. 

Upon the old homestead Jacob R. Athy. 
of this review, spent the days of his boy- 
hood and youth. As his strength increased 
with the growing years he aided more and 
more largely in the work of the farm, taking 
his place in the fields as soon as old enough 
to handle the plow. He thus gained practi- 
cal experience in all departments of farm 
work and was well fitted for carrying on 
business on his own account in later life. 
He was united in marriage to Eliza J. Ash- 
ing, a daughter of Jacob Ashing, of Cham- 
paign county, this state, and unto them have 
been born seven children. Oliver F., the 
eldest, married Dora Shank, a daughter of 
Cyrus Shank, of Springfield, and they have 
;wo children, Viola Fern and Lina. He is 
now acting as foreman for the American 
Radiator Company, of Springfield. Ray- 
mond \\'.. who is a carpenter and contractor, 
married Cora Conrad, of Donnelsville, and 
they have six children : Theresa, Ralph, 
Lola, Clififord, Harry and Pearl. Irvin 
Xewton is at home. Lillie; is the wife of 
George \\'. Jenkins, a farmer and (lair^•man 
of Mad River township, and they have two 
children. Leah and Sayers. Granville Roper 
died in 1871, at the age of seventeen months. 
George Mahlon. born in September, 1871. 
died in ^Lnrch. 1898. Laura E. is the wife 
of \\'illiam Caid King, a native of Mad Riv- 
er township, who is now operating her fa- 
ther's farm. They have three children, Lil- 
lie. Hazel and Gladvs. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



667 



Throughout his entire hfe Mr. Athy has 
carried on farm work and the neat and 
tliirfty appearance of his place indicates the 
careful supervision of the progressive and 
enterprising owner. He is a member of the 
Grange and in liis poHtical views is a Repub- 
lican. He belongs to the Christian church 
and is interested in everything pertaining 
to the general good. He represents one of 
the old pioneer families of the county and 
through almost two-thirds of a century he 
has been a witness of the progress and im- 
provement of this portion of the state. 



CHARLES M. CLARK. 

Through almost eighty years Charles 
M. Clark, now deceased, was a resident of 
this county and is classed among the pioneer 
settlers to whom a debt of gratitude is due 
for what they accomplished in reclaiming the 
wild region for the uses of the white man. 
He aided in laying broad and deep the foun- 
dation for the present prosperity and prog- 
ress of the county and his history if given 
in detail would present a faithful picture of 
pioneer times in Clark county. 

Mr. Clark w-as born in Coshocton county, 
August 12, 1808, his parents being James 
and Martha (Davis) Clark, who were na- 
tives of Virginia, where the father learned 
the carpenter's trade. Lr 1803 he decided 
to establish his home beyond the mountains 
which separated Virginia from what ■was 
then the far west and with a team and wag- 
on, accompanied by his family, he journeyed 
overland to Coshocton county, where he 
lived until 181 1 and then came to Clark 
county. His financial resources were lim- 
ited and as he could not buy land he rented 
a tract in Springfield township, where he 



lived for a few years, removing then to 
Champaign county. He worked hard, saved 
his mone}- and invested in land near Me- 
chanicsburg, thus becoming well-to-do. He 
v.-as an industrious and honored citizen and 
bore no unimportant part in the work of 
early de\-elopment in Ohio. Both he and his 
wife died on their home farm near IMechan- 
icsburg. 

Charles JNI. Clark was only three years 
of age when he came to Clark county with 
his parents. Springfield was then but a ham- 
let and many of the now thriving towns and 
villages had not then sprung into existence. 
Indians still roamed through the forest and 
wild animals found their haunts within the 
green woods. The establishment of homes 
in this beautiful region therefore meant 
hardships, sacrifices and sometimes death, 
but there were some men, howe\-er, brave 
enough to face the difificult conditions of pi- 
oneer life and undertake the arduous task 
of converting the forest tracts into farms 
which would yield crops for the sustenance 
of life. Such a work was that which fell to 
the lot of Air. Clark. He lived with his 
parents until twenty-one years of age and his 
father then gave him a horse, saddle and 
bridle, and thus equipped he started out in 
life for himself. He began to deal in cat- 
tle, buying stock in the surrounding coun- 
try and drix'ing them over the mountains to 
the Philadelphia market, a distance of more 
than five hundred miles, for there were no 
railroads at that time to afford an easy 
means of transportation. It required about 
six months to collect and purchase a drove 
and dispose of them in the east. On one of 
those trips Air. Clark purchased a buggy, 
which was the first vehicle of the kind ever 
introduced into this section of Ohio. On 
one occasion he had the honor of taking the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Hon. Tliaddeiis Stevens for a ride in this 
buggy. 

Mr. Clark made his home witli liis older 
brother until he was married, when he pur- 
ciiased a farm in Moorefield township, which 
lie cultivated and also dealt in cattle. For 
many years he was also an extensive buyer 
of wcKil, continuing in that business until 
1889. In the meantime, in 1875. he had re- 
moved from his farm to the city, residing 
on East High .street. He wedded Miss 
Chloe Foley, who was born in Moorefield 
township, a daughter of Absalom and Susan 
(Bishop) Foley. Her father was a native 
of \'irginia and a son of John Foley, who 
was a Virginia ])lanter and spent his entire 
life in the Old Dominion. The father of 
Mrs. Clark was reared in that state and 
when a young man came to Ohio in pioneer 
days. Here he worked with a brother-in- 
law until his earnings enabled him to pur- 
chase a tract of timber land in ]\Ioorefield 
township, on which he began farming and 
there he eventually built a fine brick resi- 
dence. Later he ])urchased another farm 
near his first property, and thereon he spent 
the latter days of his life. His wife was a 
daughter of James C. and Chloe (Lake) 
Bishop and like her husband has passed 
away long ago. 

L'nto Mr. and Mrs. Clark were born ten 
children. .\nna died in infancy and was 
binied in the cemetery of ^^loorefield town- 
ship. Martha J. became the wife of Thomas 
Jones, of London, Ohio, and at her death 
was laid to rest in Ferncliff cemetery, of 
Springfield. She had three children — Har- 
ry, Carl and Clifford. Charles E. died July 
19. 1902, and was buried in Ferncliff. Will- 
iam, who died in 1875. was also laid to rest 
there. James M.. who died in 1875. was 
buried in Fernclift'. Absalom ¥. married 



Miss \'ida Johnson, by whom he has a son, 
Carl, and their home is in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania. Robert R. is living in Phila- 
del]3hia. Fannie F. is the wife of John Wor- 
ley, of Springfield, and they had eight chil- 
dren — Charles, deceased ; and Robert, John. 
Helen, Alice, Harry, Chloe and Joseph. Sal- 
lie is the wife of H. C. Lyon, who is repre- 
sented on another page of this work. Alice 
resides with her mother and sister, Mrs. 
I-yon. 

The parents were both earnest and active 
members of the First Presbyterian church 
of Springfield. Mr. Clark doing much for 
the support and upbuilding of the church. 
In early life he gave his political support to 
the \\ big party and afterward endorsed the 
Rqniblican i)arty nn its organization and 
continued to follow its banners until his 
death. In his business affairs he was \ery 
successful. He took advantage of oppor- 
tunities that offered, made the most of pos- 
sibilities and through the diligence and en- 
ergy which were salient features in his ca- 
reer he acijuired a handsome competence. 
He was popular and well liked, because of 
his genial and kindly manner and his life 
history forms no unimportant chapter in the 
annals of the county with which he was con- 
nected from early pioneer times down to the 
peri(id of later-day progress and advance- 
ment. He died September 8, 1892, but his 
widow still survives him and is now eighty 
Years of aae. 



SAMUEL M. MILLER. 

The life history of this gentleman stands 
in incontrovertible e\idence of the fact that 
America is a land rich in op]K>rtunities for 
the business man who possesses determina- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



669 



tioii, strong purpose and laudable ambition. 
From humble clerkships have arisen some 
of the leading merchants of the country and 
from other equally obscure positions have 
come the men who control the traffic of the 
land and promote its commercial prosper- 
it}-. Air. Miller began life on his own ac- 
count empty-handed and today is nunvbered 
among the successful merchants of Spring- 
field, where he is engaged in business as a 
ilealer in general house furnishings at No. 
74-78 ^^'est ]\Iain street. 

Mr. Miller is a native of Pennsylvania, 
his birth having occurred in Mercer county, 
November 2, 1858, and on the paternal side 
he comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the fam- 
ily having l)een established in this country, 
however, at an early day. Henry Miller, 
the father of our subject, was born in Penn- 
sylvania and followed the trade of carpen- 
tering and building. The date of his birth 
was 1827 and in 1873 he 'was called to his 
final rest. In 1S64 he had removed witli 
his famil}- to Highland county, Ohio, fol- 
lowing his trade at Leesburg until his life's 
labors were ended. He married Eliza J. 
Griffith, who' was born in Pennsylvania in 
1834 and is now a resident of Springfield. 
She was one of a family of ten children, 
the others being Samuel, Isaac, Martha, 
Edward, Adam, Josiah, I\Iartha Ann, 
Catherine and Geo-rge, and six are yet liv- 
ing, the family 'being noted for longevity. 
Both parents were born in Pennsylvania. 
By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Miller 
there were ten children of whom a daughter 
and five sons were born in Pennsylvania, 
while after the reir.o\-al of the family to 
Ohio four daughters were l:)orn. The eldest 
daughter and a son both died in early child- 
hood. Tliose living are: ^^'illiam \\'., who 
was born in i8^6 and is a member of the 



Seventh Day Adventist church; Samuel 
!M. ; Albert E., who was boni in 1861 and 
is in the employ of his brother Samuel, his 
home being in Springiield, where he lives 
with his wife and two daughters, Elizabeth 
and Alargaret; John T., \\ho was born in 
1863, and is a dealer in ladies" suits, cloaks 
and furs in Dayton, Ohio; Harriet, who 
was born in 1865 and is the wife of C. L. 
Daniels, of Tiffin, Ohio, by whom she has 
three living children : Harold, William and 
Helen; Alargaret, who was born in 1867 
and is the wife of \Mlliam ^\'right. of Lees- 
burg, Ohio: Katherine E., born in 1869 and 
now engaged in missionary work ; and 
Eva, who was born in 1873 and is the wife 
of Charles Russell, a resident of New 
Vienna, Ohio, by whom she has two chil- 
dren, Virgil and Henry. In his political 
\iews the father of this family was a Demo- 
crat and held several local offices while in 
Leesburg. Both he and his wife held n:em- 
bership in the United Presljyterian church 
but ]\rrs. ^Miller is now a member of the 
Seventh Day Adventist church. 

Samuel ]M. Miller of this review was 
but a small boy at the time of the removal 
of the family tO' Leesburg. where he pur- 
sued his education in the public schools, at- 
tending until he was about fonrteen years 
of age. Pie then began work on a farm but 
soon afterward secured a position as bell 
l)oy in the Elliot House of Hillsboro, Ohio. 
While thus engaged he form.ed -the ac- 
Cjuaintance of Charles H. Fitts, who w^as 
traveling for a Philadelphia carpet house 
and who' took a kindly interest in the boy, 
insisting upon his securing a position in the 
east. Mr. Aliller, acting upon the advice 
of his friend, obtained employment with 
C. B. Scott & Company, retail furniture 
dealers of Philadelphia, entering upon the 



670 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



duties of his position April 9, 1875, as an 
errand boy. He spent five years in the store 
during which time he was steadily advanced 
and mastered the business in principle and 
detail. During the latter part of his service 
he acted as foreman of the finishing de- 
partment. About 1880 he secured employ- 
ment in the finishing department of the car 
shops at Wilmington, Delaware, but re- 
mained there less than a year affer which 
he returned to Philadelphia ajid anered the 
employ of the I.esban.bre Compan}, manu- 
facturers of special designs for residences. 
There he remained for two years as a jour- 
neyman finisher, when a position was 
offered in a jjiano factory and he accepted 
it, continuing there f(jr eighteen months. 
Later he was in the employ of a friend who 
conducted an installment house, and there 
he was rapidly advanced because of his 
fidelity and capability and in the absence of 
the proprietor he was left in entire charge 
of the business. His wages were propor- 
tionately increased and for two and one-half 
years he remained in that house. 

In September. 1886, he left the employ 
of Mr. Ford and came from Philadelphia 
to Springfield. During the years which he 
had spent away from home he had always 
contributed to the support of his mother and 
the family, and therefore he had Imt little 
capital with which to start in busirf">-s when 
he left Philadelphia, but he possessed SLiong 
determination to succeed and through the 
friendliness of Mr. Ford he was enabled to 
obtain credit. Whh two competent men 
he came to this city to open an office for 
the puqiose of carrying on the installm.ent 
business. He appointed agents who sold 
goods throughout the surrounding country, 
but for several months he carried on his 
new ■ enterprise under difficulties, which. 



however, he gradually overcame. He 
ix>ssesses the three elements to success ; 
prudence, perseverance and push and thus 
he overthrew all obstacles in his path and 
was in control of a lucrative business. He 
began in a room on the second floor of the 
Johnson building and remained there for 
alx>ut a year. He ne.xt removed to 164 
West Main street, where he had a small 
stock of goods and there he added other 
furnishings to his line. As the business in- 
creased he also occupied No. 166 Main 
street and put in a small stcx;k of furniture. 
His trade increased rapidly until the busi- 
ness demanded larger quarters and in Oc- 
tober, 1894, he removed to No. 74 West 
'Slam street, fitting up the building to ac- 
commodate his stock. In 1897 he enlarged 
his floor space by stocking the second floor 
of the building and also the second floor of 
No. 76. In February, 1901, he rented the 
adjoining room, No'. 76, and his store now 
extends from No. 74 to No. 78. He han- 
dles ever)'thing in the line of Imusc furnish- 
ings and has a large trade in Clark and 
surrounding counties. In practical experi- 
ence he has gained broad knowledge of busi- 
ness methods and he inaugurated a systan 
of his own in extending his business which 
has proved a valuable one, bringing to him 
splendid success. 

O'ii the 14th of December, 1888, Mr. 
Miller was n.arried in Springfield to Miss 
Eleanor Blanche Conn, who was born in 
Brown cninty, Ohio, in ^lay. 1868, a 
daughter of Altert Conn, who is serving 
as a collector for Mr. Miller. The lady was 
educated in the public schools of Russell- 
ville, Brown comity, and in Springfield, 
having come to this city in 18S4. By her 
marriage she has become the mother of two 
chiUlren : Edith E., who was born in 1888, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



671 



and died in 1898; and Olive Maude, who 
was born October 10, 1895. Mrs. Miller 
belongs to the Seventh Day Adventist 
church and our subject is a liberal con- 
tributor to church and charitable work. He 
holds membership in Red Star Lodge, K. 
P., in which he has passed all of the chairs 
and is now a representative to the grand 
lodge. He also belongs to the Uniformed 
Rank of the OTder and to the Dramatic Or- 
der of the Knights of Khorassan. He is also 
a member of the endowment rank of the 
Knights of Pythias aiid of Champion Coun- 
cil of the Junior Order of American Me- 
chanics. In politics he is independent but 
has ne\-er aspired to official honors or 
emoluments, preferring to give his attention 
entirely to his business interests in which he 
has met with signal success. There is noth- 
ing particularly remarkable in his life his- 
tory yet it contains lessons that are well 
worthy of emulation, showing the power of 
industry, of enterprise and of upright char- 
acter in the active affairs of life. With his 
family he resides at the corner of Pleasant 
and Plum streets, having purchased a home 
in 1893. 



JOHX A. YEAZELL. 

John A. Yeazell is well known as a farm- 
er and raiser of thoroughbred shorthorn 
Durliam cattle. He is a leading representa- 
tive of this great department of business ac- 
tivity and his efforts have been so man- 
aged that he has prospered in his work and 
is now one of the substantial agriculturists 
of ]\loorefield township. He was born and 
reared in this township, his natal day being 
October 10, 1837. His parents were Jacob 
and Elnnra ( Folev ) Yeazell. The former 



was born near Todd's Fork, Clinton county, 
Ohio, November 10, 1809, and was a son of 
Abraham and Mary (Curl) Yeazell. The 
mother of our subject was born January 14, 
18 10, and her parents were John and Jane 
(Reeser) Foley, who became early settlers 
of Moorefield township, establishing their 
home in this section of the state when In- 
dians still lived here. Abraham Yeazell was 
born in Virginia, April 29, 1774, and on the 
7th of October, 1794, he was joined in wed- 
lock to Mary Curl, whose birth occurred Oc- 
tober 30, 1776. Mary Ann, their eldest 
child, became the wife of Mailand Marsh 
and removed to Marion county, where she 
died, leaving several children. George 
Yeazell, the second of their family, lived 
and died in Moorefield township. Two of 
his sons, Isaac and Francis, are now resi- 
dents of Springfield, while another son, 
John W., lives in New Moorefield. and 
George and Jeremiah are deceased. Will- 
iam Yeazell, the third member of the fam- 
ily, lived and died in Moorefield township. 
He had six sons, of whom three are still liv- 
ing, while John F. and James W. are de- 
ceased. William AI. is a resident of Spring- 
field. Adam is also deceased. Edward S. 
is living in the state of Washington. Qiarles 
C. resides in Springfield. Catherine became 
the wife of Hugh Smith and removed to 
Marion county, where she tiled leax'ing sev- 
eral children. David became a resident of 
Champaign county, Ohio, and left a fam- 
ily at his death. Jeremiah lived in Pleasant 
and Moorefield township, dying in the latter, 
and two sons of his, John and Jacob, are res- 
idents of Moorefield, while William E. is 
living in Pleasant township and Henry and 
Edward W. are in Springfield, wdiile An- 
drew, also of that family, is a resident of 
California. Adam, another member of the 



672 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



family of Abraham Yeazell, removed to 
Cliampaign county, Illinois, after his mar- 
riage and there died leaving several chil- 
dren. Jacob spent his days in Moorefield 
township. Elizabeth married Reuben 
Hinckle. of Hancock county, where she died 
leaving a family. Abraham became a res- 
ident of Champaign county, Illinois, where 
his death occurred. Sydney became the wife 
of Tliomas \\ Craliill and is now a widow, 
living in Springfield township. James also 
went to Champaign county, Illinois, where 
he spent his remaining days and at his death 
left a family. Isaac also removed to Cham- 
paign county, Illinois, where he reared his 
family and there died. The grandfather of 
our subject was called to his final rest Janu- 
ary 2, 1832, and his wife passed away on 
the 22nd of September. 1828. 

Jacob and Elnora (Foley) Yeazell were 
married in Moorefield township and they be- 
came the parents of seven children. Eliza 
J. married Jonathan Donnell and is now a 
widow, living in Springfield. Catherine W. 
is the wife of Nathan ]Marsh, of Cham- 
paign county. John .-\. of this review is the 
third of the family. James E. is living in 
Dayton, Ohio. \\'illiam H. makes his home 
in Moorefield. Sarah E. married Henry 
Weaver and is now a widow living in 
Springfield. George, who completes the 
family, resides on a farm in Springfield 
township. The father of our subject in- 
herited alxiut two hundred and forty acres 
of land and became an extensive landowner, 
his possessions aggregating twelve hundred 
acres. He lix^ed to the very advanced age 
of ninety-one years, two months and eleven 
davs, and his wife was more than ninety- 
one years of age when she passed away. 
They were iieojile of the highest respecta- 
bility, known and honored as worthy pioneer 



settlers of the county and active participants 
in much of the work that has led to ih.e 
substantial upbuilding and prosperity ot 
tiiis portion of the state. 

.\ com.mon school education was ..c- 
c|uired by Mr. Yeazell of this review and 
throughimt the period uf his youth he 
worked at fami labor, and during his man- 
hood has carried on the same pursuit. He 
was married at the age of twenty-four years, 
on the 22d of January, 1862, in Harmony 
township, to iliss Marv A. Baird, and unto 
them were born three children. Sarah E.. 
the eldest, becan-.e the wife of Joseph W. 
Page, a farmer of (ierman township, and 
liiey have three children — Marv. Will and 
Jonathan. Walter D., the second membe." 
of the family, is married and has two chil- 
dren, Bertha B. and Evalyn' C. Fannie M., 
the youngest, became the wife of Henry Ots- 
tot and they live in Springfield with their 
one son, Rtfbert. On the 27th of Augusi, 
i8'38, Mrs. Mary Yeazell was called to her 
final rest and on the 14th of "March, 1872, 
]\Ir. Yeazell was again married, in Pleasant 
township, his second union l^eing with Miss 
Angelina Hodge, by whom he has one child. 
Claret B., now the wife of \\"alter Snaufcr. 
by whom she has four children. iMrs. Ye;.- 
zell was born in Moorefield township, Sep- 
tember 3, 1840, and is a daughter of Samuel 
uel E. and Sevina (Spencer) Hodge, who 
were early settlers of the county. Her father 
was ijorn in Virginia, whence he emigrated 
westward to Kentucky, and thence came to 
Ohio with his parents. Andrew and Isabtl 
(Meteer) Hodge. Mrs. Yeazell's mother 
-,< as born in Harmony township, Clark 
county. 

["or eight years the subject of this review 
resided in ]\radison county on land Ixlong- 
ing to his father and then removed to 



^HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



671 



MoG'-etield tOAvnsliip, where he purchased 
one hundred and sixty-seven acres of lanil, 
on which his son Walter is now Hving. Sub- 
sequently he purchased liis present farm in 
JMoorefield township, where he has two liun- 
drcd and eighty-twO' acres of valuable land, 
en which are many excellent improvements, 
including good machinery, substantial build- 
ings and well kept fences. In his pastures 
are found many hue specimens of thorough- 
Ijred shorthorn Durhams and as a cattle rais- 
er he is well known. His business interests 
ha\-e been profitably conducted and he has 
done not a little to improve the grade of 
stock raised in this portion O'f the state, 
therefore he deserves the gratitude of his 
fello'W 'citizens for his efforts in this direc- 
tion ha\-e been a potent element in ad\-anc- 
ing prices, sen that the general connuiinitv 
has profited by his work. He voted for 
Lincohi in i860, but is independent in poli- 
tics. He belongs to the Grange and is 
deeply interested in everything pertaining to 
the welfare of the agricultural class. A 
worthy rqaresentative of an honored pioneer 
family, he certainly deserves creditable men" 
tion in this volume, not alone on that ac- 
count, but also^ because his own well spent 
life entitles him to the confidence and good 
will of his fe'Ilow men. 



FRED G. HARRIS. 



Fred G. Harris, the foreman of 
the Buckeye Incubator works, of Springfield, 
was born in St. Paul, ilinnesota, July 22, 
1856, and is a son of William M. and S. R. 
{ Guy) Harris, who reside at No', 257 West 
Jefferson street, in Springfield. They are 
prominent and well known people of the city 



and the father is serving as secretary of the 
Clark County Historical Society. In their 
family were four children : Fred G. ; Mrs. 
Mattie Smart, of Springfield; Cliftord G. ; 
and Charles S. 

The subject of this review was only four 
years of age when brought by his parents 
to Springfield and when a little lad of six 
years he entered the public schoo-ls as a stu- 
dent in a frame building on South Limestome 
street. About 1871 the family ren.oved to 
Davenport, Iowa, where he completed his 
education, and after putting aside his text 
books he entered the Davenport & North- 
western Railroad shops at Eldridge, Iowa, 
being employed in the wood working depart- 
ment. There he remained until May '2<y, 
1880, and on the expiration of that period 
he returned to Springfield, where he en- 
tered the sei-vice of the Evans & Foos Manu- 
facturing Company, now the A. C. E\-ans 
Company, assuming charge as foreiran. 
In that important position he remained 
until May 20, 1890, when he went to 
Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he found 
employment as manager of the circulating 
departmait of a newspaper. His residence 
in that city continued until January 10, 1892, 
when he returned to Springfield and accept- 
ed the position o«f foreman oif the Buckeye 
Incubator works, with which he has since 
been connected, and under his supervisi(jn. 
he now has thirty-five men. 

In 1 88 1 Mr. Harris was married tO' Miss 
Minnie Reed, a daughter of Calvin and Mar- 
garet Reed, who resided in Springfield. The 
father is now deceased. The mother, who 
boire the maiden name of Margaret Leedle. 
and was a representative of an old fami- 
ly of Clark county, was born in England 
and was brought to America during her in- 
fancy. She is now living in this city at 



6/4 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the age of sixty-five years. Airs. Harris 
was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and dur- 
ing her early girlhood came with her parents 
to Springfield,' which has since been her 
home, and to the public school system of 
the city she is indebted for the educational 
privileges she enjoyed. Unto our subject 
and his wife have been born two children, 
Sylvia J. and Ada B., both educated in the 
public schools. 

In politics Mr. Harris is a Republican 
and always votes for the men and measures 
of the party, but otherwise is not active in 
politics. Socially he is identified with Mon- 
crieffe Lodge, K. P., and with the National 
Union, an insurance order. Both he and 
his wife are manbers of the First Baptist 
church of Springfield and have made many 
friends during their residence in this city. 



WILLIAM L. SHOREY. 

W^illiam Leonard Shorey, who follows 
farn:ing in Pleasant township, Clark coun- 
ty, was Ixjrn in Spencer, Massachusetts, on 
the ,vd of April, 1858. His father was 
Thomas H. Shorey, whose birth occurred 
in Shipley, Maine, on the 20th of April,' 
1 8 14. nie mother lx)re the maiden name of 
Plarriet Holman, and her birth occurred in 
Leicester, Massachusetts, on the 17th of 
January, 1824. In the spring of 1867 the 
parents of our subject came to Ohio, locat- 
ing in Springfield, and the father embarked 
in the grocery business, establishing a store 
at No. 14 IMarket street, where he remained 
for two and one-half years. He then bought 
a coal business on Limestone street and suc- 
cessfully conducted the enterprise for fifteen 
years, during which time our subject worked 



for his father for three or four years. In 
the family were five children. Ella F., who 
was born in Spencer, Alassachusetts, March 
16, 1S51, is the wife of Hiram H. Rhodes, 
and they have one son, LeRo}- S., who was' 
born September 30, 1877. Mrs. Rhodes 
died October 9,. 18S2, and was buried in 
Ferncliff cemetery. George S., born in 
Spencer, Massacliusetts, April 16, 1856, died 
July 8, 1858. William L. was the third of 
the family. Franklin H., bom September 
20, i860, in Spencer, Massachusetts, died 
September 6, 1861. Carrie Xellie, also a 
native of Spencer, was born October 13, 
1S64, and was maiTied January 4, 1882, to 
Charles B. France. They had two children, 
a son and a daughter, Hilton T. and ilabei. 
but the mother died April 27, 1890, and she. 
too, was laid to rest in Ferncliff cemetery. 
Mrs. Harriet Shorey, the mother, passed 
away October 18, 1870, in Spring-field, Ohio, 
and she, too, was buried in Ferncliflf. 

William Leonard Shorey, whose name 
introduces this record, pursued his educa- 
tion in the schools of Springfield, Ohio, un- 
til 1875, having come with his parents to 
the west in early boyhood. After leaving 
school he worked for his father in the coal 
business for .some time. He was married 
on the 20th of May, 1886, to Miss Alice 
Good fellow, a daughter of Thomas G. and 
Mary (Sexton) Goodfellow, who reside 
near Vienna Crossroads, Ohio. Her father 
was bom near \'ienna and was a son of one 
of the honored pioneer settlers, who came 
from Ireland to the new world and took up 
his abode in Clark county when the Indians 
were almost the only inhabitants and before 
the national road was built. 

Mr. and Mrs. Shore\- began their domes- 
tic life in their present residence. The 
house and other improvements upon the place 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



675 



were built b}' our subject and father. They 
also cleared the land, all of which is now 
under a high state of cultivation with the 
excqDtion of about ten acres oif timber. Mr. 
Shorey resided here until about eight years 
ago, when he went to Springfield and en- 
gaged in the manufacture of buggies and 
carriages as a member of the St^.r Slide Seat 
Company, which was a stock company. He 
was in that btisiness one year and then re- 
turned to his present residence, since which 
time he has been engaged in general farm- 
ing and stock raising. His labors are at- 
tended with good results and his enterprise 
and energy are 'bringing to him very cred- 
itable success. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Shorey has 
been blessed with two children: Hattie, 
born August 28, 1SS7; and Mary, born Sep- 
tember 10. 1888. In his political views i\Ir. 
Shorey is an earnest Republican and has 
frequently served as a delegate tO' the com- 
\entions of his party, but has never been 
an oltice seeker, caring not for the honors 
and en.oluments of office. 



WALTER D. YEAZELL. 

A native son of Ohio, Walter D. Yea- 
zell is well know-n in Clark county, ^^■here 
he is canying on general farming and stock 
l)reeding. He is quite extensively engaged 
in raising thoroughbred cattle and has been 
largely instrumental in improving the grade 
of stock produced in this portion of tlie 
state. His home is in Moorefield township, 
where he owns a rich and arable tract of 
land, while his farm has all the improved 
equipments and accessories known to the 
twentieth century. 



Mr. Yeazell was lx:irn in Pike township, 
Madison county, Ohio, August 25, 1866. 
his parents being John A. and Mary Ann 
(Baird) Yeazell. His mother died when 
he was only foiu' years of age and during 
the succeeding four years he lived with his 
paternal grandfather, Jacob Yeazell. He 
then returned to the home of his father, who 
had married, again, and was reared in Clark 
county, continuing under the parental roof 
until he was twenty-three years of age. He 
pursued his studies in the common schools, 
acquiring a knowledge of those branches of 
learning which fit one for the discharge of 
business transactions. In early youth he 
manifested a strong love for horses and 
fund much m.ore enjoyment in training a 
colt in the fields than in pursuing his studies 
in the schoolroom. At the age of twenty- 
one he began operating the farm upon which 
he now resides, having one hundred and thir- 
ty-seven acres O'f land, which he inherited 
from his mother. Throughout his entire life 
he has carried on general agricultural pur- 
suits and stock raising and is well known as 
a dealer in thoroughbred stock. 

On the 2 1 St of February. 1889. in 
Moorefield township, ]\Ir. Yeazell was united 
in marriage toi Miss Lura B. Snanfer, who 
was born in Urbana township. Champaign 
co'Unty, Ohio, JMarch 14, 1867, her parents 
being Jacoib and Rebecca (Sampson) Snau- 
fer, wdio now live in Moorefield township. 
Since his marriage Mr. Yeazell has remod- 
eled the house upon his farm and in 1895 
he erected a good bank barn. His home has 
been blessed by the presence of two children. 
Bertha B., born January 2. 1891 : and ]Mary 
Evalyn, born Decem'ber 12, 1892. 

Mr. Yeazell occupies a creditable posi- 
tion among the substantial residents of the 
county and in politics keeps well informed 



676 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



on the issues of the day. He has voted with 
the RepubHcan party since casting his first 
presidential ballot in iS88. but the honors 
and emoluments of office have had no at- 
traction for him, as he has preferred that 
his entire attention should be devoted to 
his farm work. His industry and persever- 
ance are the salient features in his career 
and have enabled him to carry on his agri- 
cultural and stock raising interests with cred- 
ital)le success. 



HUGH RUSSELL. Jr. 

Hugh Russell, Jr., was recently a mem- 
ber of the Ixiard of public affairs of Spring- 
field, and a patriotic devotion to the general 
good was manifested in all his official service. 
He is a native of Scotland, his birth hav- 
ing ocairred in Creetown on the 12th of 
January-, 1846, his paraits being Hugh and 
Elizabeth (Conning) Russell, who were 
also nati\-es of the land of hills and heather, 
and were there married. In 1866 the father 
came with his family to the United States, 
landing in New York city, where they made 
a short stay, and then went to Xenia. Ohio. 

The subject of this review spent his 
lx)yhood and youth in his native land, ac- 
quiring a common school education, after 
which he followed the sea for four years. 
He had a number of relatives who were sea- 
faring men and they induced him to leave 
school and go upon the water. After the 
period mentioned, however, he returned to 
his native country and Ijecame apprenticed 
to a stone cutter at Creetown, Scotland. He 
was twenty years of age when the family 
came to the new world, and after locating in 
Xenia he followed his trade there. 

In 1867 Mr. Russell came to Springfield 
and emlxirked in stone contracting in part- 



nership with William ^lowett, under the 
firm name of Russell & Alowett, a connec- 
tion which continued for one year, wha: 
Mr. Mowett withdrew. In i858 our sub- 
ject's father and the other members of the 
family remo\-ed from Xenia to Springfield 
and Hugh Russell, Sr., joined his son in 
business on the withdrawal of his foniier 
partner. Later a brother, Anthony Russell, 
became a member of the firm and the busi- 
ness was then carried on under the name of 
Russell & Sons for ten years. At the end 
of that time the father retired and the firm 
nam.e was changed to Russell Brothers. The 
partnership was dissolved in April, 1898, 
when oiu- subject was elected a member of 
the board of public afifairs, and Anthony 
C. had entire charge of the Inisiness until 
his death, which occurred July 7, 1901. 
Since then our subject has resumed business 
under the fimi name of Russell Brothers, 
and as a contractor is engaged in stone work, 
the laying of cement sidewalks and kindred 
labor. He has been employed in the con- 
struction of a number of churches, school- 
houses, public buildings, residences and mau- 
soleums, both in Springfield and adjacent 
towns and throughout his entire business 
career he has maintained an enviable rq)u- 
tation for excellent workmanship and hon- 
orable dealing. 

Mr. Russell's father died in Springfield 
on the 3rd of October, 1902, and his moth- 
er passed away in 1898. She was a most de- 
voted wife and mother and was an earnest 
member of the Presbyterian church. In the 
family were five sons and two daughters, 
namely: Anthony C, who was so long con- 
nected with our subject in business, was born 
in Galloway, Scotland, in 1844, and came to 
the United States in 1861 with his brother 
\\'illiam. \\'hen the countrv became in- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



677 



volved ill civil war he enlisted, October 3, 
.1862, as a private in Company D, One Hun- 
dred and Tenth Ohio X'olunteer Infantry, 
and was se\-erely woimded in the battle of 
the Wilderness. He was honorably dis- 
charged May 16, 1865. Another brother, 
William, also entered tlie service and is 
supposed to have been killed in battle, as he 
was never afterward heard from. James 
and Michael are both residents of Spring- 
field. The sisters were Mrs. William Mc- 
CuIIoch, of Springfield, and Mrs. Andrew 
Burnett, deceased, of Wichita Falls, Texas. 

In 1879 Mr. Russell of this revie\v was 
united in marriage to Miss Helen Sheets, 
of Delaware county, Ohio, a daughter of- 
Daniel and Malinda (Lake) Sheets, and 
their union has been blessed with five chil- 
dren : John Sherman, who served as a sol- 
dier in the Spanish- American war ; Anna 
W. : Carrie S. ; Ella S. ; and Earl Scott, who 
died at the age of seven years. 

In his political affiliations Mr. Russell 
has always been a Republican and was ap- 
pointed by ^^layor C. 'J. Bowlus as a mem- 
ber of the board of affairs, serving so ca- 
pal.ily that he was reappointed for a second 
term, which expired in .-\pril, 1902. He was 
•made a Master Mason while visiting his 
old home in Scotland, and is todaj- a promi- 
nent member of Anthony Lodge. Xo. 455, 
F. & A. M.; Springfield Chapter, No. 48. 
i\. A. M. ; Springfield Council, Xo. 17, R. 
& S. AL, his connection with the order dat- 
ing from 1874. Religiously Mr. Russell is 
a member of the Third Presbyterian church 
r.nd for eleven yearS' he has served as one 
of the trustees and for si.x years as a dea- 
con. He is interested in all things pertain- 
nig to the welfare and improvement of his 
city :dong iraterial, social, intellectual and 
moral lines. 



SLMOX S. JENKIXS. 

Successfully engaged in general farm- 
ing, Simon S. Jenkins makes his home on 
Section 26, Pike township, Clark county. 
He was Ixirn in Jackson township. Cham- 
paign county, December 19, 1848, and is a 
son of David and Elizabeth (Michael) Jen- 
kins. His paternal graaidparents w^ere Will- 
iam and Catherine (Mooneye) Jenkins, both 
of whom were torn in North Carolina. In 
1819 theyr came to Ohio, settling at West- 
ville, and in 1820 they removed to a place 
on Chapman's creek. In 1821 they bought 
a farm known as Clay Bank and removing 
thereon made it their home throughout their 
remaining days. William Jenkins died in 
1845, ''"d his wife in i860. Their children 
were as follows: John, born December 13, 
1 80 1, married Barbara Baker, daughter of 
Rudolph Baker, and they had eleven chil- 
dren : Elisabeth became the wife of Michael 
Zerkle and had twO' children. Sarali mar- 
ried Jacobi X^icholas and reared a large fam- 
ily. Levi married Sarah Shaffer and had 
four children. Margaret became the wife 
of Samuel Helvie and had five children. Wi- 
ley, born December 13, 1810, w-edded Char- 
lotte, daughter of Fred and Catherine Mi- 
chael, and had eleven children. Judy be- 
came the wife of Jacob Michael, a son of 
Fred and Catherine Michael, and they had 
six children. William married Becca Ann 
Lemon, a daughter of William Lemon, and 
had two! childrai. Alartha became the wife 
of Samuel Isinbarger and had seven chil- 
dren. David, the next member of the fami- 
ly, was the father of our subject. Mary, 
the youngest, became the wife of Thompson 
Tull'is. 

The father of our subject was probably- 
a native of X'orth Carolina. He w-as reared 



678 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to manhood under the parental roof in Ohio, 
however, and in the public schools acquired 
his education. Alx)ut 1842 he was united 
in marriage to Elisabeth Michael, who was 
born Decem;ber 25, 1824, in Gennan town- 
ship, this count}-, and they becan.e the par- 
ents of nine children, eight of whom reached 
years of maturity and are still living. Lucy 
Jane is the wife of Benjamin Kiblinger, of 
Belle Center, Logan county, Ohio, and they 
have three children, Elmer, Carrie and Ir- 
vin. 'Malinda A. is the wife of Samuel M. 
Baker, who resides near Dialton, Ohio, and 
they have two pairs of twins, Sidney G. and 
Viola, Charles and Asa. Simon S. of this 
review is the next of the family. James M., 
who lives in Amia, Shelby county, Ohio, 
married Alice Myers and they ha\e six chil- 
dren, Harry, Hattie, Ranna, Fred, Charles 
and Raymond. Amanda I. is the wife of 
Samuel Freeze and lives in German town- 
ship, Clark county, with their four children, 
Florence, Elva, Chester A. and Alta. Allen 
M., of Springfield, wedded Mary C. Swartz- 
baugh, and their children are Howard Le- 
ro}- and Ruth E. Martin M., a resident of 
Anna, Shelby county, married Anna C. 
Hartman and has three children, Ethel, Le- 
one and Hartman. Mary E., the youngest 
of the family, is a resident of Pike township, 
this coa.uity. The father, David Jenkins, 
carried on farming for a number of years 
and then turned his attention to merchan- 
dising, entering into partnership with his 
brother-in-law, William Michael, at Dialton, 
in which business he was engaged up to the 
time of his death, in October, i860. In 
addition to his interest in the store he owned 
one-half interest in the building in which 
thev carried on business, the lot mi which 
it stood, and one hundred and twenty acres 
of farm land. In politics he was a Demo- 



crat and was a niember of the Germ.an Re- 
.formed church, in which he was honcjred 
with official positions. 

In his lx>yhood days Simon S. Jenkins 
remained upon the home farm and acquired 
a good English education in the common 
schools. At the age of twenty he l>ecame a 
student in New Carlisle, where he remained 
for eight weeks, when he entered the Nor- 
mal of Lebanon, Ohio. He began teaching 
when twenty years of age, and followetl 
that profession for thirty consecutive years, 
lieing employed in both the district and vil- 
lage schools. His senices in this direction 
were satisfactory and he became widely 
known as a successful educator. 

On the 30th of October, 1873, in German 
township Mr. Jenkins was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Lida E. Callison, who was 
born in Pike township, September 6, 1854, 
a daughter of Moses and Mary J. (Heck) 
Callison. They now have three children. 
Inez C. bom in Pike township, April 17, 
1875, was married March 15, 1900, to John 
M. Xeff and lives in Montgomery county, 
Ohio. To them was born, January 15, 
1901, a son whom they named Percy J., 
who died October 7, 1901. Irene G. and 
lona B., twins, bom October 29, 1881, are 
at home. 

Soon after his marriage Mr. Jenkins 
purchased five acres of land near North 
Hampton and made his home there for ten 
years. In 1884 he sold that property and 
purchased his present fann of forty-four and 
two-thirfls acres, to the development and 
improvement of which he is now devoting 
his energies, with the result that good har- 
vests annually reward his lalx>rs. Mr. Jen- 
kins voted for Horace Greeley in 1872 and 
has always been a Danocrat. In 1875 he 
was elected township clerk and served for 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



679 



tliree years. In 1878 he was elected as- 
sessor and filled tliat position for two terms, 
while for a similar period he was assistant 
assessor. In 1891 he was elected township 
trustee and has since been the incumbent 
in that office. To various conventions of his 
party he has been sent as a delegate, and 
entirely without his solicitation or knowledge 
he was. givai the nornination for county 
treasurer. As a public official he has always 
been loyal ?jid prompt in the performance 
of his public duties and his career has awak- 
ened the commendation of the members of 
the oppoisitioai party, as well as of those of 
the members of the party toi which he 
belongs. Socially Mr. Jenkins is con- 
nected with Caritas Lodge, No. 505, I. 
O. O. F., at New Carlisle, has filled 
all of its chairs and was appoantefl dis- 
trict deputy grand master, filling that po- 
sition for one year. He installed officers in 
all of the lodges of his district with the ex- 
ception of -Gemian Lodge, and he has been 
secretary of his home lodge for ten years.- 
His life is in harmony with the baieficent 
and helpful spirit and teachings oi the 
fraternity and he is widely and favora- 
bly known in the order. His politi- 
cal recoird, too, is one above reproach, 
aiid his work as an educatoir has bene- 
fited mankind. Mr. Jenkins, in all life's 
relations, has commanded the respect 
of his fellow men, and as one of the 
representative citizens well deserves mention 
in the history of Clark county. 



SILAS W. PR'INTZ. 

Silas W. Printz is now living a retired 
life upo-n his farm, seven miles from Spring- 
field. For many vears he was an active fac- 



tor in agricultural circles and gained thereby 
very gratifying capital. He is numbered 
among Clark county's native sons, hisi biirth 
having- occurred here on the 13th of April, 
1848, four miles south of the city of Spring- 
field. His parents were Peter and Athalin- 
da (Kelley) Printz, and the former was 
boirn in Hagerstown, Maryland, whence he 
came to Clark county, Ohio, with bis father, 
Peter Printz, Sr., in 18 15. Both the grand- 
father and the father of our subject remained 
in this county until called to the hoine be- 
yond. The latter reared a family of eleven 
children: Isaiah, who is now living in 
Springfield; Mary Margaret, the wife of 
Fletcher Ryan, a farmer of Green Springs, 
Ohio; Sarah, deceased; Silas W., of this 
review; William, whoi married Jane Cultic 
and is living in Clifton, Ohio; Oliver and 
Daniel, who both died in infancy; Ruth, the 
wife of S. H. Bowman, the superintendent 
of the Kelley farm; Prank, whoi married 
Laura Bowman and is operating our sub- 
ject's farm; Emma, wife of Andrew Simrel, 
who lives in Mad River township ; and Eu- 
gene, who. is living with his brother Frank. 
Upon the farm where he was born Silas 
W. Printz remained until he had attained 
his majority, and attended the district 
schooJs until thirteen years of age, when he 
was apprenticed to a carpenter, Henry Van 
Treff, of Spring-field, for whom he worked 
until he had attained his majority. He aft- 
erward found employment in the old Cham- 
pion machine shops in Springfield, where he 
was employed at the carpenter's trade for 
ten years. During that time he was also 
upon the road as a traveling salesman for 
the company from four, to six months of 
each year. His capable and efficient service 
made him a \-alued employe of the house, 
and he was thus enabled to command a good 



^HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



salary. During- ihree summers he was lo 
cated at Long Island and for one year in 
Vermont, and another year in Utica, Xew 
York, while during three other years he was 
in various places for the sajiie coniiiany. 
In 1880 he went to Colorado and was in 
the mining business with O. W. Kelly, of 
Springfield, for two years. 

At laigth Air. Printz turned his atten- 
tion to agricultural pursuits, which he fol- 
lowed successfully for a number of years. 
His farm is located seven miles from Spring- 
Held, but for a long time he has lived re- 
tired from active business life, renting his 
farm, on which is kqjt from twent}' to thir- 
ty head of cattle, eight head of horses and an 
average of one hundred hogs annually. In 
his business affairs Mr. Printz has pros- 
pered, owing to his capa:ble management, 
close application and unremitting diligence. 
He has always beai deeply interested in 
everything pertaining to the welfare and 
ad\ancement of the agricultural class and 
was prominently ccjnnected with the Clark 
County Agricultural Society as one of its 
working members. In this connection he 
served as superintendent of the hog and cat- 
tle department and has contributed liberally 
of his time and means to make the society 
a success. In public jjffairs he has also been 
active and no trust reposed in him has ever 
been Ijetrayed in the slightest degree. 
Promptness and fidelity have ever character- 
ized his discharge of official duties and thus 
he has won the high commendation of all 
concerned. For fifteen years he served as 
township road superintendent and for two 
>ears he was a school director. He is now 
township tnistee of Mad Ri\er township 
and has filled this position for twelve years. 

Mr. Printz was united in marriage to 
Miss Charlotte Jenkins, a daughter of Will- 



iam B. Jenkins, who is a resident farmer 
of Alad River township. Socially he is con- 
nected with the Knights of Pythias frater- 
nity, and he also belongs to die Independent 
Order of Odd Fellows. In his political affili- 
ations he is a Democrat and is unwavering 
in support of the principles of that organiza- 
tion. For more than half a century he has 
made his home in Clark county and has 
therefore been a witness of many changes 
which have occurred as this portion of the 
state, transforming it into fine farms 
and gcx)d homes, while towns and villages 
have sprung up and Springfield has devel- 
oped into a city of metropolitan proportions. 



DAXIEL T. GORDON. 

Daniel T. Gordon, a well known farmer 
of Clark county,Iiving in Pleasant township 
near Catawba, was born in Champaign coun- 
ty. Qliio, July 31, 1835. His father, John 
W. Gordon, was born in Loudoun county, 
Virginia, and there also occurred the birth 
of his mother, who bore the maiden name ol 
Eliza'teth Randall, and in her native coim- 
ly she gave hei" hand in marriage to Mr. 
Gordon. Xine children blessed this union ; 
Mary, the wife of Henry Frey; Joseph W., 
w ho married Elizalieth McDonald : John E., 
who wedded Barbara E. Keller; Sarah S., 
the wife of Dr. Can.])ljell ; Daniel T., of this 
review: Rebecca E., the wife of Jesse Mar- 
ris : Jan.es R., who married Rachel \'antz ; 
and William and John, who are now de- 
ceased. During the early lx:>yhood of our 
subject the father removed from Champaign 
county to Adams county, Ohio, and came to 
Pleasant township. Clark county, when Dan- 
iel T. Gordon was twehe years of age. The 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



. family resided in tliis locality until about 
1854. at which time they went to Clark coun- 
ty, Illinois, remaining for four years. On 
the expiration of that period the family be- 
came residents of Logan count}-, Ohio, 
where the father died. 

A year prior to this time the subject of 
this review had returned to Ohio and he 
was employed in farm work near Catawba. 
He was married October 17, 1861, to Miss 
Sarah E. Gro\-e. a daughter of John 
Gro\-e. Tliey began housekeq:)ing in 
Log"an county, but afterw'ard returned to 
Clark county, settling near Catawbai and 
since 1881 they have resided continuously 
in their present home in Pleasant township. 
They liad four children. Addie became the 
wife of Isaac C. Page, and they have three 
children, Evlyn, Warren and Herschel. 
Cliarles F. married Rose Lovelace, and they 
have twoi children — IMarion and Lois. El- 
mer died at the age of ten years. Ohmar D. 
died at tlie age of twenty-six years. 

From the age of eighteen years Daniel 
T. Gordon has been a memljer of the Pleas- 
ant Chapel Methodist Episcopal church. He 
held varions offices in the church., including 
those of trustee and steward, in which ca- 
pacity he served for about twent3'-fi\'e years, 
being the incumbent in that office at the 
present time. He is also a valued niiember 
of some fraternal organizations, belonging 
to Catawba Lodge of Odd Fellows and to 
the Grand Army of the Republic there. He 
is entitled to membership in the latter be- 
cause of his service in the Civil wa:'. When 
twenty-six years of age he responded to 
President Lincoln's first call for troops and 
afterward he enlisted in Company F, of the 
Eighth Ohio Cavalry. He wient to Camp 
Dennison and later was in the engagements 
imder General Sheridan at \\'inchester. Ce- 



dar Creek, Fisher's Hill and was on the 
battlefield when Sheridan made his famous 
ride of twenty miles and. turned a seeming 
defeat intoi a glorious victory. The regiment 
afterward returned to P'hilippi, West Vir- 
ginia, and Mr. Gordon was mustered out at 
Camp Dennison. He was in the hospital at 
Annapolis, Maryland, in 1864, because of ill- 
ness, but was never wounded, although he 
was often in the thickest of the fight. He 
was reared in the faith of the Rqniblican 
party and has never seen occasion to change 
his allegiance. For six years he served as 
township trustee and has been assessor dur- 
ing the last three years. He has been a dele- 
gate to the county conventions and has al- 
ways labored earnestly for the success and 
growth of his party, yet he has been a poli- 
tician in the sense of office seeking and has 
ne\-er asked any man to fight for him. He 
has witnessed many changes in Clark coun- 
ty, for the green woods stood all around him 
when he t(X>k up his abode here. With the 
work oif improvement and progress he has 
been identified and as an agriculturist he 
has developed an excellent farn\ 



WTLLIA.AI M. YEAZELL. 

William M. Yeazell, who resides at Xo. 
42y East High street, Springfield, is now 
li\-ing a retired life in the enjoyment of a 
rest which he has truly earned and richly 
deser\-es by reason of his industrious ef- 
forts of former years. He is a native of 
Clark county, born in Moorefield township, 
June 24, 1835, 3^"fl is descended from a good 
old pioneer family, his parents being Will- 
iam and Eliza (Foley) Yeazell. His father 
was born in Virginia and in 18 10 came to 



682 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tliis county witli his parents, Abraham and 
Mary (Curl) Yeazell, who settled i'.i Moore- 
tield township, where they continued to 
make their home throughout the remainder 
of their lives. The grandfather, who was a 
farmer by occupation, owned considerable 
property and was widely and favorably 
known, as his descaidants are also'. Kis an- 
cestors came originally from Germany. 

'I'hroughout his active business life the 
fiitiier of our subject also engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits, and being very devoted to 
his calling, he met with excellent success. 
In politics he was first a Whig and later a 
Republican. After a well spent and useful 
life he passed away in 1862 at the age of 
sixty-one years. His wife long survived 
him, dying in IMarch. 1881. antl l>oth were 
laid to rest in Ferncliff cemetci^. She was 
a consistent and faithful member of the 
Presbyterian church. This worthy couple 
were the parents of eight children, who in 
order of birth are as follows : Mary Jane, 
no\v the widow of David Thatcher, and a 
resident of Springfield; John F., deceased; 
James AV., who is also deceased, wjiile his 
widow resides in Springfield; William }vl., 
our subject ; Addison, who died young ; Fan- 
nie, widow of John A. Ward and a resident 
of Spring-field ; Edward, a resident of Ta- 
coma, Washington ; and Charles, who makes 
his hoir.e in Springfield. 

William M. Yeazell of this review ob- 
t.'iined his primary education in the district 
sch<x>ls near his boyhood home in Moorefield 
township and later was a student in the high 
pch(X)l of Spring-field for a time. Early in 
life he became familiar with all the duties 
which fall to the lot of the agriculturist and 
at the age of twenty began farming 
in connection with his father. After the 
latter's death he had entire charge of the 



place until 1870 and became one of the 
most successful farmers and stock raisers of 
Moorefield township. 

On the nth of December, 1866, Mr. 
Yeazell was united in marriage to Miss 
Anna E. Clark, of Moorefield township, a 
daughter of John D. and Susan (Foley) 
Clark and a granddaughter of James and 
Martha (Davidson) Clark. Her father was 
born in 1805 and was but a small b')\' when 
he came to this county witli his parents, the 
family locating in Moorefield township, 
where his parents died. There he was mar- 
ried and there he and his w-ife continued 
to make their home until they, too, were 
called to their final rest. Mr. Clark died in 
May, 1886, at the age of eighty -one years, 
and his wife in 1876 at the age of sixty-five, 
and the remains of both were interred in 
Ferncliff cemetery. In their family were 
four children, namely : Mary Catherine mar- 
ried Augustus Pratt and died March 5, 
1S97. She w-as also buried in Fenicliff cein- 
eter}^. Her children were Charles E., Irene, 
Ida F., John C, Josephine, Noma, Blanche 
and Mabel. Martha J. married Roljert Cal- 
vert, now a resident of Portsmouth, Ohio, 
and she died September 6, 1892. Her chil- 
dren were Forest, deceased ; Cosette ; Rol^ert 
E., Ralph and Bertha L. James, the only 
son of Jolin D. Clark, resides on the old 
home fa.rni in ^loorefield townsiiip. Anna 
Eliza, the youngest of the family, is the w ife 
of our subject. 

Leaving the farm in 1871, Mr. and Mrs. 
Yeazell removed to Spring-field and toc^ up 
their residence at their present home at No. 
425 East High street, where tliey are now 
living retired, although he still owns a farm 
of two hundred and twenty-five acres in 
Moorefield township. He also own? an ex- 
tensive tract of land in Logan county, Illi- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



683 



no'is. He has also been iDeen engaged in 
buying and selling stock. By liis ballot he 
suppoTtS' the men and measures of the Re- 
publican party, and both he and his wife 
attend the Second Presbyterian church, oif 
which she is a miember. They have a large 
circle of friends and acquaintances and en- 
joy the ho'Spitalit}' o-f many of the l>est homes 
of the citv. 



ADOLPHUS H. SMITH, Sr. 

The little rock-ribbed country of Wales 
furnished to America the founder, in this 
land, of the Smith family to which the sub^ 
ject of this review belonged. This was Pol- 
licopus Smith, wdio-, when the United States 
was a colonial possession o.f Great Britain, 
Ijraved tlie dangers; incident to an ocean voy- 
age at tliat day in order to found a home in 
the new world. He was accompanied by 
two of his brothers, and he settled in Onei- 
da county, New York, where he reared 
his family of eighteen children. His de- 
descendants are now scattered over the coim- 
try and several of the family have been 
prominent in public life and in promoting 
important business interests in Ohio. 

Among the children of Pollicopus Smith 
was Justin Smith, the father of Adolphus 
H. Smith, Sr., and in the paternal line the 
ancestry of the family can 'be traced iDack to 
Mayflower times, the line coming down from 
Edward and Ann Fuller. Justin Smith was 
Ijorn in Oneida county, New York, was there 
reared to manhood and after attaining his 
majority he removed to Charleston, South 
Carolina, \\here he was engaged in the ship- 
jiing business. Later, however, he returned 
to the north and took up his abode in Phila- 
delphia, where he turned his attention to 



the wholesale liquor business. Subsequently 
he became a resident of New York city and 
while there was united in marriage toi Maria 
Brennock Lloyd. Thus it was that Adolphus 
H. Smith, Sr., became connected with other 
old and prominent families. He was a 
grandson of General Joseph Otis, who was 
tiie brother of James Otis and Mrs. Mercy 
Warren. He was also a grandson of Paul 
Brennociv Lloyd, oi the East Lidia Ship 
Company, of Wales, and Lady Mary, the 
daughter of the Earl of Rivers. Mrs. Jus- 
tin Smith was a daughter of Piaul Brennock 
Lloyd, an. L-ish nobleman, whoi having emi- 
grated to America became a wealthy cloth- 
ing merchant and importer oif New York 
city, handling only goods of very high 
grade. 

After their marriage Justin Smitii and 
his wife resided for a time in New York 
city and then returned to Oneida cotmty. 
New York, living' in the vicinity of his birth- 
place. He became!, a prominent business 
man of that locality, being connected with 
the manufacture of iron and the operation 
of a furnace. A similar enterprise claimed 
his attention in Rochester, New York, after, 
his return to that city. Li 1838 he severed 
his business connections, in the east and went 
to Lidianapolis, Indiana, but spent his last 
da)-s in the home of his. son, Adolphus H. 
Smith, in Cincinnati, there dying on the 
29th of December, 1S54. His wife had 
passed away in 1839 at Indianapolis, Indi- 
ana, and they are buried in Spring Grove 
cemeteiy, Cincinnati. In his religious views, 
lie was a Universalist and was a man of 
broad humanitarian principles who com- 
manded the high regard and confidence of 
those with whom he came in contact. 

Adolphus H. Smith, Sr., was born in 
New York city, Fel>ruary 24, 1814, and was 



684 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



but a boy w hai liis parents removed to Phil- 
adelphia. Later he lived with than in Onei- 
da county. New York, and accompanied 
them on their removal to Rochester. His 
early education, acquired in the common 
schools, was supplemented by two year.s' 
study in college. At one time he was the 
owner of Clifton spring, around which 
sprang up a health resort of New York be- 
cause the waters there possessed curative 
properties. Early in life Mr. Smith became 
a factor in the business world, in which he 
was destined to rise to greatness. When 
nineteen years of age he worked on the 
Erie canal, in connection with the control of 
tliC locks at Rochester, and became a repre- 
sentative of the mercantile interests of that 
city, owning a store there. Subsequently 
he joined his brother in the conduct of a 
general store in Rochester, but disposed of 
his business interests in 1838 in order to 
accompany his paraits and the family on 
their removal to Indianapolis. Again with a 
brother he established a store, but did not 
give to this his personal supervision, as he 
wa.s actively engaged at that time in the con- 
duct of a wholesale milling and distilling 
business in Indianaix)lis. He was the first 
one to pay cash for produce in that locality 
and by bringing money into the neighbor- 
hood he pro\'ed a benefactor to many early 
settlers who had hitherto been forced to 
take l>arter for their gxKids. Tliree years 
were thus passed and Mr. Smith left Indian- 
ajx^lis for Cincinnati, Ohio, where he en- 
tered the banking- business in the employ of 
John Bates. In 1842 Mr. Smith began do- 
ing a brokerage Ixusiness in Cincinnati. The 
following year, however, he took up his resi- 
dence in Piqua, Ohio, and was engaged in 
general merchandising, also furnished sui>- 
plie.s, under contract, for the completion of 



the canal to Toledo, Ohio. Pork packing 
next claimed his attention, and his varied 
business interests contributed to the promo- 
tion of business activity there at an early 
day. In 1844, however, he disposed of his 
interests there and returned to Indianapolis, 
again becoming connected with the old busi- 
ness interests which had claimed his atten- 
tion on the removal to the west. For two 
years he engaged in fanning in that state, 
and then again locating in Cincinnati, he 
rented the White ^lills of John Bates and 
did an extensive milling and distilling busi- 
ness until 1855, when he began conducting 
a banking business, and also turned his at- 
tention to real estate dealing. In this en- 
terprise he was associated with a partner, to 
whom-he sold out in 1861, for he saw anoth- 
er favorable business opening — that of fur- 
nishing supplies to the army. During the 
Civil war his sales to the government 
amounted to over twelve million dollars. 
He had the full confidence of army officials 
and at times was entrusted with the care of 
large stuns of monew 

In the meantime i\Ir. Smith resumed real 
estate dealing by the purchase of land in 
Clark county. In 1864 he became the owner 
of e!e\en hundred and seventy acres, which 
subsequait purchases increased to more than 
fifteen hundred acres of the rich land of 
Clark county. This comprised eight finely 
improxed and valuable farms, which re- 
turned to him a splendid income. He had 
marked foresight in negotiating real estate 
transfers, being quick to recognize and im- 
pro\e opportunity, and moreover he was 
known as a man of luiquestioned probity. 
Aside from his farm lands he owned prop- 
erty in Cincinnati, Newport, Kentucky, and 
other places. He continued to reside in 
Cincinnati until 188;, after which he divided 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



685 



the time between the city and one of his 
farms in Clark county, living retired from 
fuilher business cares, save a general super- 
vision oi his property, until his death. 

J\lr. Smith was twice married. On the 
15th of September, 1842, he wedded Aliss 
Sarali Elizabeth Bates, a daughter of John 
Bates, the Cincinnati banker, who was a 
native of England and became a very promi- 
nent and influential citizen of Cincinnati. 
He did an extensi\e banking business, was 
likewise a wholesale liquor dealer, and he 
built and owned the National theater, of Cin' 
cinnati, and also owned theaters in St. Lomis. 
Missouri, and Louisville, Kentucky. Mrs. 
Smith Avas a native of Rochester, New York^ 
and enjoyed good educational advantages. 
both in that city and in Cincinnati. Her 
Her wise counsel often proved of value to 
her husband in guiding him in so-me commer- 
cial transaction, and thus she assisted him in 
la}-ing the foundation for his wealth,. By 
this marriage five children were born : Mrs. 
Amelia H. Wells, who resides in Indianap- 
olis: Airs. ]\Iaria L. Hickenlooper, who is 
living in Cincinnati and has five children : 
Mrs. Sarah Edwina Harbine, who resides 
in Xenia and has seven children; Adolplius 
H., Jr.. the fourth of the family, and Will- 
iam H. The sons reside upon fanr.s in 
Clark county and are well known and hon- 
ored residents of this portion of the state. 
In 1873 tbe family was called upon to mourn 
the lr:ss of the wife and mother, who died 
on the 22nd oi June, of that year. Slie 
Avas a member of the Episcopalian church 
and a most estimable lady who pro\cd a 
loving and faithful companion and helpmate 
to her husband. After her death he mar- 
ried Mrs. Sarah Morse, the widow of Judge 
Morse, of Cincinnati, and daughter of John 
■Cheevers, an early settler and prominent 



man of Piqua, Oliio. She was born Se]Dtem- 
ber 15, 1 82 1, and had no children by her 
second marriage. 

In his political affiliations Adolphus H. 
Smith, Sr., was a Democrat, but the honors 
and emoluments of office had no attraction 
for him, as he desired to give his undivided 
attention to his business affairs, which were 
constanlly increasing in scope and magni- 
tude until he was recognized as one of the 
leading business men of his time, his affairs 
being so capably conducted and his invest- 
ments so judiciously placed that wealth 
crowned his efforts. His last days were 
spent in retirement from business cares, and 
during that time he largely spent his winters 
in Florida, enjoying the balmy climate of 
that southern state. He also found great 
pleasure in visiting his children and he died 
at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Harbine, 
of Xenia, July 20, 1902, at the age of eighty- 
eight years. He was a man of singularly 
pure and beautiful characteristics ; strong 
and firm, yet gentle and kind. He possessed 
broad humanitarian principles and responded 
reatlily to^ a tale of need or distress and bis 
benefices were man\-. He donated forty- 
five hundred dollars to the Old Men's Honie 
in Cincinnati, and gave freely of his means 
in other directions, being a liberal contribu- 
tor to many movements and measures for 
the benefit of the cities in which he made his 
home. A man of strong purpose and indom- 
itable will, he never wavered in his allegi- 
ance to a course which he believed to be 
right, but he was not slow to accord to 
others the right which he reserved to himself 
Oif forming his own opinions. His business 
record is without a blanish and he left his 
family not only the accumulations of a long 
and honorable business career, but also the 
priceless heritage of a name atove reproach. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



His children were made equal inheritors of 
his estate and his three daughters were 
named as executors in his will. Becoming- 
identified with Ohio at an early period in 
its commercial development, he left the im- 
press of his individuality' upon the substan- 
tial growth of the state and will long be re- 
membered for what he did for Ohio, while 
his numerous friends will lovingly cherish 
his memory. 



ADOLPHUS H. SMITH, Jr. 

Adolphus H. Smith, Jr., to whom we 
are indefbted for the material used in the 
sketch of his honored father, was the fourth 
child of the famil}-, and was bom in Cin- 
cinnati, Octol:)er i. 1850. At the usual age 
he began liis education and the first four- 
teen years of his life were spent in his na- 
tive city with no change of residence, but 
after the father l)ecame a landowner of Clark 
county the family spent the summer months 
on the farm here and in the ranainder of the 
year were residents of the city. After ob- 
taining his preliminary education he spent 
tw<i years as a student in the military scliool 
conducted by Chandler Robins at Spring- 
field, and later continued his studies in Notre 
Dame, South Bend, Indiana, where he re- 
mained for two years. From the year 1868 
he has made his home continuously in Clark 
county and thrrxighout the years of his mar- 
ried life has devoted his attention to agri- 
cultural pursuits here. 

On the 17th of Octol^er, 1871, only a 
few days after attaining his majority, Mr. 
Smith was married, the lady of his choice 
being Miss Sarah J. Shellabarger, of Clark 
count}-, a daughter of Reuben and Eliza- 
beth (Baker) Shellabarger. She was born 



in Mad River township and has spent her 
entire life in this locality. Her mother died 
in 1875, and her father passed away in 
1889. Seven children have beai bom unto 
Mr. and Mrs. Smith: Amelia H., the wife 
of Alvin L. Baylor, of Springfield, Ohio, by 
whom she has three children; Maria L., the 
wife of Charles P. Johnsoii, by whom she 
has one child : Mary K., the wife of Clarence 
W. Engledue, of Springfield, by whom she 
has two children; Rilla J., who married J. 
E. Drake, of Greene county, and has one 
child; Justin B., who married Amelia 
Smith, and has two children, and is a farm- 
er of Mad River township ; Gertrude E. and 
Helen V., at home. 

At the time of his mairiage Mr. Smith 
began farming two and a half miles west 
of Enon, where he operated one hundred 
and sixty acres of rented land. His lalwrs, 
however, brought to him sufficient capital 
to enable him to purchase property and in 
1877 he became the owner of a fami of his 
own. He also became manager of his fa- 
ther's large interests in this localitA% and 
since his father's death has inherited an 
equal share, with the other children, of the 
estate. He has always been an enterprising 
and progressive citizen, co-operating in 
many measures for the general good. He 
cast his first presidential vote for Horace 
Greeley and is a stanch advocate of the 
Democratic party, but has never been an 
office seeker. For about twenty-two years, 
however, he has filled the office of trustee 
in his tov.nship and has taken an active part 
in seciring and maintaining good roads. 
Of several civic societies he is a valued 
member. H.e belongs to Yellow Springs 
Lodge, No. 441, F. & A. M.. and New Car- 
lisle Chapter, No. 57, R. A. M. He also is 
connected with the sulwrdinate lodge and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



687 



encampment of the Odd Fellows' society at 
Fairfield, Greene county. In the Knights 
of Pythias lodge at Enon he holds member- 
ship, has filled all of the chairs and h^s 
served as a representative to the grand 
lodge. He is popular among his friends and 
neighboirs, not merely because he has 
achieved success in business, but because he 
possesses those qualities of manhood which 
endear the individual to his fellow men in 
ties of friendship. 



J. MARTIN LEFEEL. 

J. Martin Leffel belongs to one of the 
old and prominent pioneer families of Clark 
county. He has passed the Psalmist's span of 
life of three-score years and ten, having 
reached the seventy-fourth milestone of life's 
journey. He was born August 24, 1828, 
upon the home farm, three miles north of 
Donnelsville, on the North Hampton pike, 
in Bethel township, Clark county. His par- 
ents were Daniel and Elizabeth (Clapsad- 
dle) Leffel, and the father was born in 
Virginia, whence he came tO' Clark county 
in 1812, in company with his six brothers, 
John, Jacob, Thomas, Anthony, James and 
Samuel. The family has always been cele- 
brated for its mechanical ingenuity and John 
Leffel was the father of James Leffel, who 
invented the turbine water wheel. 

On the old home farm J. Martin Leffel 
of this review ^\•as reared and toi the public 
school s}-stem of the county he is indebted 
for the educational privileges which he en- 
joyed. He married Wdlhelmina Athy, a 
daughter of John Athy, whoi, when a young- 
man, came from Maryland to Clark county 
arid there followed farming. He accumu- 



lated about four hundred acres of land and 
was known as one of the prosperous agri- 
culturists of his community. His death oc-- 
curred when he had reached the age of fifty- 
nine years. His wife, who bore the maiden 
name of Frances Rue, was a daughter of 
John Rue, a farmer of Mad River town- 
ship. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Leffel were born 
two children : Ulysses Grant, the elder, 
married Maude Magill and they have three 
children' — Orne, Joseph M. and Maude. 
John C. married Clara Conard and they 
have one child — ^Julia Catherine. 

In the spring ol 1864 Mr. Leffel re- 
sponded toi his country's call for aid and 
was mustered out in the succeeding fall. 
During his term he was engaged in guard 
duty along the line oi the Baltimore «& Ohio 
Railroad from Cumberland toi Martinsburg. 
He now follows farming, his place being lo- 
cated three and one-half miles from Spring- 
field, in Springfield township, near the bor- 
der line of Bethel toavnship, \\-here he has 
forty acres of land. He has, however, prac- 
tically retired from work and his land is 
leased toi others and in the evening of life 
he is now enjoying a rest which he richly 
deserves and merits. He belongs to Enon 
Post, G. A. R., and is a member of the- 
Methodist church. 



EZRA DANIEL MILLER. 

Ezra Daniel Miller is a retired farmer 
living in Mad River township. He was 
born in Clark coiuity, Octdber 22, 1844. 
His father, Samuel Newton Miller, was also 
a native of this county, born June 30, 18 19, 
and his father was Daniel Miller, while his- 
grandfather was Moses ^filler. After reach- 



€88 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ing years of maturity Sair.uel Xewton Miller 
was united in marriage to Miss Casandra 
Melvina Baker, who was born ]\Iay 13. 
1823, a daughter of Ezra D. Baker. This 
marriage occurred October 12, 1841, and 
unto them were born the following named : 
Ann Elizaljeth, who was born March 20. 
1843, a"<i became the wife O'f John E. Fin- 
ley, on the 1st of Jamian-, i860; Ezra Dan- 
iel, of this review ; Loretta D., who was bom 
March 7, 1846, and was married ]\Iarch 3, 
1 87 1, to Ephraim S. Beard; Ambrose R., 
who was bom July 9, 1849, ^"^ married 
Mary Elizabeth Aiken; Gustavus A., who 
was bom Octoljer 14, 1850, and married 
Lydia A. Brantner ; Charlotte Emily, who 
was born June 13, 1855, ''"'^ became the 
wife of Abram Dunkle, but is now deceased ; 
Earl Xewton. whoi was born June 3. 1S57, 
and married Frances Dunkle. 

The subject of this review was reared 
upon the home fami and worked for his 
father until his marriage, which occurred 
Januarj^ 4. 1870, the lady of his choice l>e- 
ing Miss Marjory Arthur, who was born in 
Clark county, October 11, 1847, ^nd is a 
daughter of Joseph and Nancy (Alvin) Ar- 
thur. Tllie\' began their domestic life upon 
his father's farm and came to their present 
home in the village of Enon in March. 1899. 
Throughout his bi'.siness career Mr. Miller 
has carried on agricultural pursuits and he 
still owns the old homestead, comprising one 
hundred and forty-seven acres. Tliis is a 
well de\'eloped place, having many excel- 
lent improvements, which stand as n^onu- 
mients io the care and supervision of the 
owner. Three children ha\e been born un- 
to him and his wife: Franik .\.. wlm wa.-; 
born February 21. 1871. and died on the 
2nd of February, 1874: Samuel Xewton. 
who was born February 21. 1873. ''^'■"' ""''"'" 



ried Jessie Dolveer. a daughter of Albert D. 
Doheer. by whom he has one child. Ruth, 
born July 29. 1900; and Estella, who was 
born October 12, 1878, and married Roljert 
C. Hebble, M. D., the wedding being cele- 
brated October 23, 1901. 

On the 2nd of March, 1864. Mr. Miller 
offered his sen-ices to the goxernment as 
a defender of the Union. He was then nine- 
teen years of age. He enlisted as a mem- 
ber of Company F. One Hundred and Fifty- 
third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, being mus- 
tered in at Camp Dennison. He was then 
salt to Paw Paw Station. Virginia, from 
which place he took the field. l>eing first in 
battle at Green Spring River. He also took 
part in the engagement at Oldtown and aft- 
envard went into camp at South Beach. 
The fe\er made great ra\-ages in the com- 
nand at that place and a fe\er camp was 
established at Cumberland. At the close of 
his term of senice Mr. Miller returned to 
his father's farm and again took up the 
woi-k of cultivating the fields, which he fol- 
lowed until his lators had brought to him a 
competence sufficiait to enable him to rest 
from further toil. He was a member of the 
Christian church, in which he served as 
trustee. He has also been a regular attend- 
ant at the Sunda3--schoo]. Forn-.erly he was 
connected with the Knights of Pythias fra- 
ternity and is now a mem1>er of the Grand 
Amiy of the Republic. 

In jx)litics he has been a Kepulilican 
since the time when he cast his first presi- 
dential vote for Grant. For three years he 
filled the office of township trustee and for 
one year previous to that time he had served 
in the same office. He has l)een content, 
however, to quietly perform his duties as a 
private citizen without seeking the rewards 
of office for partv fealty. His businc'^s .if- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



689. 



fairs made continual deni/and upon his time 
and attention and with marked energy and 
enterprise he carried on his woi'k until his 
labors have brought tO' him a very desira- 
ble competence. He is now aijoying a well 
earned rest and is occupying a pleasant home 
in Enon, where he has many friends, and his 
circle of acquaintances also extends widely 
over the county. Mi', ^filler is one of the 
foremost farmers of Cliirk count}- and is 
regarded as one of the n:ost substantial citi- 
zens, whose honesty and integrity have won 
for him the high esteem of his fellow 
citizens. 



ANDREW REBERT. 

So closely was Andrew Rebert associ- 
ated with Ijusiness interests in Clark county 
during more than half a century that his 
name is inseparably interwoven with the his- 
tory of agricultural and industrial develop- 
ment in Springfield township, and his life 
record stands as an example worthy of 
emulation, for it proves that no matter what 
the lack of opportunities in youth or how 
limited are one's financial resources these 
difificulties may be o\'ei'come by persistent 
energy and success gained through diligence 
when guided by soimd judgment and supple- 
mented by honest dealing. 

Mr. Rebert was born in Lancaster coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, in August, 1818, a son of 
Andrew and Catherine Rebert, in whose 
family were nine children, our subject be- 
ing the only one who became a resident of 
Clark county. Both parents died in Lancas- 
ter county. In the place of his nativity An- 
drew Rebert, ha\-ing acqui\'0.v-; s common 
school education, learned the miller's trade 
and wlien he can.e to Ohio in 1S38. at the 



age of twenty years, he secured employment 
in a. n:ill on ^Nlill creek in Springfield town- 
ship. Later he purchased that property and 
as his labors brought to him sufficient capi- 
tal he also bought land and became the own- 
er of two hundred and seventy-two acres,, 
all of which was very fertile and productive, 
sa\e for some stone beds. Tliese, liowcver, 
proved an excellent source of income, for 
he quarried the stone and the excellence of 
the product enabled him to; command a 
ready sale and good prices on the market. 
From his quarry was taken the stone used 
in the construction of the courthouse of 
Clark county and of other impoa'tant 'build- 
ings. His farm Mr. Rebert largely devoted 
to dairy purpo-ses. He had one hundred 
and twenty-eight CO'WS and ran live wagons 
to< the city for the distribution of his dairy 
products. His was one O'f the most exten- 
sive dairies of the state, with a capacity of 
about two hundred and fifty gallons of milk 
pei da}-. In 1&69 he built a large barn and 
in 1870 erected a fine brick residence on his 
place. Large outbuildings furnished shel- 
ter for grain and stock and everything 
about the place was kept in good repair, 
showing the supervision of a thrifty and 
painstaking owner, wlioi rega.rded nO' de- 
tail of his business too unimportant to claim 
his attention, at the same time having the 
abilit}- to successfully control the most in.- 
porant branches of his varied business in- 
terests. He was not only engaged in dairy- 
ing and quarrying stone, Ijut across the 
road from his home he had a mill, which 
he operated for m.an}- years, his patrons 
coming from many miles arotind, the indus- 
try pro\'ing a valuable adjunct toi the com- 
m.unity. ]\Ir. Rebert employed thirteen men 
and thirty-two horses were continually in 
use in carrying on the work of the farm. 



090 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Harvest time at the Reberf farm was known 
as "fair time," and many were the scenes 
of jollity there enacted when the large num- 
her of harvest hands were entertained 
on the place, while engaged in tlie work- 
ing or cutting of crops and preparing 
them for n:arket. Small boys of the 
neighborhood were promised a visit to 
the farm on condition of good be- 
havior, and it is surmised that many who 
did not meet this condition surreptitiously 
attended the farm anyway, pretending to 
have no knowledge of the "fair" when they 
returned home. 

Mr. Rebert was married February 14, 
1848, to Miss Elizabeth Landis, who was 
born in Springfield tov\iiship, near the Re- 
bert farmi, January 15, 1827, a daughter of 
Henrjr and Elizabeth (Carlus) Landis, who 
were natives of Lancaster county, Pennsyl- 
vania. Her father was a son of Henry and 
Maria Landis, who came to Clark county 
in 1824 and purchased about three hundred 
acres of wild land in Springfield township, 
the grandfather here carrying on farm work 
until his death in 1838, his remains being 
interred in the Landis burying ground. His 
wife lived to be fifty-five years of age and 
was laid to rest in Fernclifif cemetery. Hairy 
and Elizaljeth Landis were the parents of 
seven children: John; Henry; Eliza1>eth; 
Jacob; Maria, the wife of Anthony Hullin- 
ger ; David ; and Susan. Mrs. Refbert is the 
only one now living. By her marriage she 
became the mother of eleven children. Jonas 
is the eldest. Anna became the mother of 
William Miller and died leaving one child, 
Jefferson. Edward wedded INLtry Hill and 
lias three children: Carl, married Eva 
Beatty; Charles; and Andrew. Charles mar- 
ried HattieGram and had two children, Wil- 
bur and Elizabeth, but the latter is deceased. 



Winfield Scott married Melesia Rough and 
their children are Ada; Catherine, deceased; 
and Emily. Wilson A. married Carrie Mc- 
Clure. Frances and John A. are deceased. 
Albert married Julia Driscoll. Nora is the 
wife of W'illiani Almony. Theodore mar- 
ried Maud Rtibert and has two children, Nel- 
lie and Roger. Codoras married Emma 
Payton and had five children — Hazel, Olive, 
Dorothy, deceased, Merrill and Mary. 

In politics Andrew Rebert was a Demo- 
crat and was not slow to advance an}- public 
mo\enient intended for the general welfare. 
He was the promoter of the pike which Ijears 
his name and assisted many other movements 
which proved beneficial to this portion of the 
state. He was a very progressive farmer 
and a wide-awake and energetic business 
man, who capably controlled various busi- 
ness interests, all of which he thoroughly 
understood, their successful conduct result- 
ing from hh super\-ision, keen discrimina- 
tion and judgment which was seldom at 
fault. He died April 15, 1886, and was 
laid to rest in Fenicliff cemetery, but he left 
to his family an excellent estate and an un- 
taniished name, to his friends tlie meinoi7 
of an upright life and to future generations 
a record which should serve as a source of 
inspiration, showing what may be accom- 
plished when one has the will to persevere 
in the conduct of a clearly defined business 
course. 



A.MOS SMITH. 



An:os Smith, a farmer and stock-raiser 
of Pleasant township, Clark county, was 
born on the farm where he now lives in a 
log cabin which then stood upon the side of 
his present home. His natal day was June 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



691 



16, 1848, and liis parents were Eli and 
Minei-va (Shaw) Smith. The father was 
born September 23, 1S.23, in Harmony town- 
ship and was a son of Jacob and Priscilla 
(Arl30gust) Smith. The grandfather of our 
subject was a native of Piennsylvania, while 
the grandmother was. born in Clark county, 
Ohio, a:bout 1802, and ihey were protobly 
married in this comity. Jacob Smith became 
the oiwner of about five hundred acres of 
land and the fatlier oif our subject had a 
valuable farm of three hundred and sixty 
acres, of \\'hicli Amos Smith inherited one 
hundred and twenty-three acres. All the 
improvements of the place, however, he has 
put here himself. His father died December 
27, 1891. He was a Democrat in his politi- 
cal vie\\'s. until the question of slavery be- 
came tlie dominant issue before the people 
and believing in the abolition cause he joined 
the Republican party when it was formed toi 
prevent the further extension of slavery, 
voting for Fremont in 1S56. He then con- 
tinued an earnest Republican until 1888, 
when he voted for President Cleveland. He 
was never an office seeker but was a citizen 
of worth, interested in public welfare. In 
his family were three children, of whom 
Amos is the eldest. Miranda, the elder 
daughter, was the wife of John W. Wright, 
of Pleasant township, where she died. Alice 
is the wife of Oscar Runyan, a farmer of 
Pleasant township, and they have one child. 
Upon the old home farm Amos Smith 
was reared and in the co-mmon schools he 
acquired his education. He remained at 
home for several years after his marriage 
and assisted his father in paying for his 
place. On the 25th of June, 1872, he was 
joined in wedlock in Pleasant township to 
Miss Catherine \\\tt. of St. Paris. Cham- 
paign county. Oliio. She was born in Pleas- 



ant township aa:d was a daughter of Michael 
and Ann (Runyan) Wiet. A few years be- 
fore the father s death he set off one hundred 
and twenty-three acres of his fann for our 
subject and to this Amos Smith has added 
two hundred and fifty acres, all in one body. 
His attention is given with untiring industry 
to the work of the fairm and everything 
about his place indicates his careful super- 
vision. He has made excellent improve- 
ments there and the buildings stand as mon- 
uments to his thrift and enterprise. 

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Smith has 
been blessed with six children, but Clifford, 
the eldest, bom April 7, 1873, died at the 
age of twenty-five years. The others are: 
Sylvia, the wife of Noah Jones, 'by whom she 
has one child, Gladys; Leona, the wife of 
Charles Patterson, a resident of Harrison 
township, by whonr she has one son, Robert ; 
Nina, the wife of Dr. E. A. Dye; Fostoria, 
born March 13, 1891 ; and Kate, who was 
born January 8, 1893, and are at home. 
Mr. Smith cast his presidential vote in 1872 
for O. S. Grant and was a Rq>ublican until 
1884, since which time he has supported the 
Democracy. All his life he has made his 
home upon the farm which is yet his place 
of residence, and he has a wide acquaintance 
in the community, including many who have 
known him from his bcvyhood and who es- 
teem him because his career has been an hon- 
orable and upright one. 



MRS. RACHEL W. BALDWIN. 

One of the oldest living pioneers of Clark 
county is Mrs. Rachel W. Baldwin. She 
was born in Champaign county, December 
28, 1819, and within a few months after her 



&92 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



birth lier father. Colonel William \\'erden, 
ir.oved to Springfield, Ohio, where Mrs. 
Baldwin has spent most of her life. Her 
lather. Colonel William Werdai, was born 
in Wilmington, Delaware, November ii, 
1785, and there spent his boyhofxl days, later 
going to Philadelphia, where he became en- 
gaged in the wholesale leather business. 
Early in 18 19 he came west with his family 
and settled in Clark coimty. Previous to 
his entrance into commercial life he saw ser- 
vice in the United States army, having en- 
listed when nineteen years of age and served 
through the Seminole war. He erected and 
n-.anaged the National Hotel in the city of 
Springfield, and with other prominent gen- 
tlemen oi Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, 
he owned the stage line between Springlield 
and Wheeling. Colonel Werden was, in his 
day, probably the most widely kno\\n man 
of the city of Springfield, both locally and 
nationally. He was a friend of Henry Clay, 
Tinn Corwin and other prominent men of 
the time, and was a stanch follower of An- 
drew Jackson, being rewarded for his faith- 
fulness to Old Hickory by being appointed 
postmaster of Springfield during President 
Jackson's second term. Colonel Werden 
was one of a nun.ber. who, in 1834, estab- 
lished .All Souls parish of. the Protestant 
Episcopal church in Springfield. He w?.s 
married to Rachel Reed, who Ijelonged to 
one of the first families of Trenton, New 
Jersey, the wedding taking place in her home 
city. Rachel Reed's grandfather, William 
Green, had the distinction of having guided 
General Washington and his amiy on tlie 
night of their fammis attack on Trenton. 
Colonel Werden died in the year i86g, and 
Ins wife in i860 and both are buried in 
Ferncliff cem.etery in Springfield, Ohio. 
Eicrht children were born to \\'illiani and 



Rachel Werden: Robert, Sarah Ann. Mary 
Jane and Reed being bom in Philadelphia : 
Rachel, being Ixjrn in Champaign count}' on 
the Doolittle farm; and William, Wharton 
and Duncan lieing born in Springfield. The 
eldest son, Robert, died in infancy as akso 
did Wharton. Sarah Ann married Dr. 
Smith, a well known physician of his 
day. ]\Iary Jane married Henry Hed- 
rick. and moved to Cincinnati, where 
Air. Hedrick engaged in the insurance busi- 
ness. \Villiam Werden was a civil engineer 
and helped lay out and construct the Ohio 
canal. He settled in St. Louis and follcnved 
the profession until his death, which oc- 
curred within the last few years. Reed 
Werden, the second son of Colonel ^^■erdc•il, 
entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis 
at the age of si.xteen years and was ap- 
pointed a midshipman in 1834. In 1856^ 
when a young lieutenant, he was ordered to 
bring home the bark Amelia, which had Ijeen 
captured l;y the United States government 
for fillibustering. The vessel began leaking 
a few days out, and after sixty days of ter- 
rible weather and severe suffering, during 
twenty-two days of which the officers and 
crew were compelled to live on some bad 
rice and bread and a large number of rats 
that were found in the hold of the \-essel, 
the bark was brought into the port of St. 
Tlinmas, where it was pronounced the most 
unseaworthy vessel ever there. In the the 
war of 1861 Admiral Werden had command 
of the squadron that blockaded Charleston 
harbor, and he was also in the attack on Fort 
Hatteras, his services in that engagement 
receiving honorable mention. 

Rachel Werden was married to John W. 
Baldwin, who was l»m on December 2^, 
1807. in Garrardstown. Berkeley county. 
West Virginia, and who was a member 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



693 



<if one O'f the oldest pioneer families 
nf Clark county. His father, Joseph 
lialdwin, was lx>rn in Berkeley comity, 
\Vest Virginia, July 11, 1773, and he and 
his wife, Elizabeth Wilson Baldwin, are 
buried in Buck Creek cemetery in Cham- 
paign county. Joseph Baldwin's family con- 
sisted Qif eight children : William, James, 
Joshua, Samuel \'., John \V., Rebecca, Jane 
and one that died in infancy. John W. 
Baldwin was in early life engaged in the 
dry-goods business in New York city, being 
a member of the well known tirm of Bald- 
win, Dibley & Work, and after he was mar- 
ried returned to- Springfield, where he es- 
tablished and remained a partner in the dry- 
goods firm of J . W. & H. Baldwin & Com- 
pany until his death. Mr. Baldwin for man3' 
_\ears was connected with the Mad River 
National Bank of Springfield, beings its pres- 
ident at the time of his death. He always 
took a prominent part in the affairs of his 
home city and always supported measures 
looking to the general good. He was an 
ardent patriot and was very active in the 
war of the Rebellion. Being too old to go 
himself, he nevertheless was one of the lead- 
ers in everything at home having any con- 
nection with the prosecutioai of the war, and 
assisted with his n.eans and his time every 
move favorable to the Union. • He died Jan- 
uary 5, 1 88 1, and is buried in the family 
\ault in Fernclit? cemetery, in Springfield. 

To John and Rachel Baldwin were born 
six children : Elizabeth, Sara, Clara, Mary, 
Laura and Eleanor, all of whom were born 
in Springfield except Clara and Mary, who 
were born at their father's country residence 
at the head of Buck Creek valley in the 
northern part of Clark county. Elizabeth 
was married October 20, 1869. to Samuel F. 
McGrew. and has always lived in Spring- 



field. Her husband, Mr. McGrew, is at 
present cashier of the Mad River National 
Bank, of Springfield, and is a member of one 
ot" the old families of Clark and Jefferson 
counties. Three childrai were born to Sam- 
uel anil Elizabeth McGrew: Jobn B., Sam- 
uel J. and Rachel Werden, the last named 
dying when only a few years old. Their 
oldest son, John B. McGrew, is an attorney, 
practicing his profession in his home city 
and is at the present time the prosecuting 
attorney of Clark county. The other son, 
Samuel J. McGrew, is engaged in the bank- 
ing business with his father. During the 
late Spanish war he was a lieutenant in Com- 
pany M, of the Tenth Ohio Volunteer In- 
fantry. Sara Louise Baldwin, the second 
daughter, was married December 10, 1873, 
to John A. Blomrit, who is a descendant of 
one of the early pioneers of Clark county. 
Mr. and Mrs. Blo'unt reside in Springfield 
and their son, Harry T. Blount, who is an 
artist by profession, is living in New York 
city, their only other son dying in early 
childhood. Clara Baldwin married I'homas, 
F. McGrew and she and her husband are 
living in New Yoirk city with their two- chil- 
dren, Thomas W. and Clara J., the former 
being an architect. Mary Hepza Baldwin 
was married oai March 25, 1886, to H. H. 
Moores, a descendant of one of the pioneer 
families of Cincinnati and they and their 
daughter, Mary R. Moores, reside in Spring- 
field. H. H. Moores is a son of William 
B. and Elizabeth (Cobb) Moores, the former 
born November 25, 1807, in. New Jersey, 
and the founder, in the '50s, of the business 
now known as H. H. Moores Stone & Lime 
Company, of Clark county. He and his 
wife, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Au- 
gust 30, i8t6. were married in Cincinnati, 
Ohio, in 1833. Laura Baldwin married M. 



694 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



B. Wright, a son of Dr. M. B. Wright, a 
prominent physician of Cincinnati, and they, 
with their son, Marniaduke B. Wright, are 
li\ing in Mt. Vernon, Xew York. The 
youngest daughter, Eleanor, married Doug- 
las Hollister, of New York city, where she 
resides at the present time. 



ROBERT TIXDALL. 

Robert Tindall is a native of Green town- 
ship, having teen born June 25, 1S25, in 
that locality, where for ovei- se\-enty-seven 
years he has been an honored resident. His 
parents, Thomas and Sarah (W'aller) Tin- 
dall, were both natives of Yorkshire. Eng- 
land, where they were reared and married, 
and where the two elder brothers of Rob- 
ert Tindall were born, their names being 
George and Charles. Tliomas Tindall. the 
father, brought his family to America al^out 
1816. and soon after landing in New York 
made his way to Cincinnati and also visited 
Cleveland, but. not remaining long in those 
places, he settled with his wife and children 
in Clark county, where he spent his remain- 
ing days. In his family were nine children, 
of whom four are still living, the subject 
of this review being the sixth in order of 
birth. Those living are: Mrs. Margaret 
Bates, of Louisa county, Iowa; Mrs. Mary 
Halloway, of Greene comity. Ohio; Mrs. 
Ella Miller, of York county. Nebraska; and 
Roiiert. of this review. All of the nine chil- 
dren grew to years of maturity. George, 
the eldest, met an accidental death, being 
killed by a horse at the age of twenty. 
Chnrles was married, and died, leaving a 
fan^ily to mourn his loss. 

As lx>y and youth, Robert Tindall had 
few educational advantages. His father, be- 



ing only in moderate circumstances, and hav- 
ing a large family to support, was not able 
to give his children the privileges he would 
have liked, and Robert was early trained to 
the work of held and meadow, assisting his 
father and helping to take care of his young- 
er brothers and sisters. At the age of fil- 
teen he was able to put aside some of his 
wages for his own personal benefit. Pie 
won-ked b\' the month, day or job until he 
\\as about thirty years of age, when he l>e- 
gan to rent land and bu\- cattle for other peo- 
ple. At the age of thirty-five he purchased 
the farm of one hundred and seventy-five 
acres which forms a part of his present 
home. He has added to this tract from 
time to time, as his saving have permitted, 
until he now has a large farm of si.x hun- 
dred and forty acres. This is well culti- 
vated and upon it he raises the cereals adapt- 
ed to the soil and climate, and also raises 
stock of a good grade, his long years of suc- 
cessful stock dealing well fitting him for 
conducting an extensive business along this 
line. The flourishing condition of his farm 
and all comprised thereon, is a trilmte to 
the energy, industr\' and well directed ef- 
forts of Mr. Tindall, who has justly won 
.\merica's proudest title — that of a self- 
made man. \\'ell does he deserve this ap- 
pellation, for he began life with nothing but 
an honest heart and a strong purpose to suc- 
ceed, which have enabled him to coj>e \\\i\\ 
all dbstacles and difficulties in his path. Pa- 
tiently he has persevered, and by the sweat 
of his brow has he earned the reward whicli 
is now his. the enjoyment of the fruits of 
a life well spent. He has been able to i)ro- 
\ide a most delightful home for himself r>nd 
family, having built a commodious and most 
confortable and attractive residence in 1879. 
On April 12. 1865. Mr. Tindall led to 
the marriage altar Miss .\bia Hartweil. ' t 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



695 



Madison township. Clark county, a (laugh- 
ter of William Hartwell. She had the ad- 
vantage of a good education, and became 
the mother of six children by her marriage, 
namely : Herbert, who' resides at honie and 
carries on farming- : William, an electrician, 
residing in Memphis, Tennessee; Robert A., 
also at honie; Carrie, who married Joseph 
Coaiable and lives at Memphis, Tennessee, 
has two children, Abby and Olive. Of the 
two who died, Lucy was eleven years of 
age, and Olive seventeen at the time of their 
death. In June. 1876, Mr. Tindall was 
called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. 

Although he has never sought or desired 
office, he is a stanch Republican, remain- 
ing true to the principles of that party since 
its inauguration. He voted for Zachary 
Taylor in 1S48 and for John C. Fremont 
in 1856. Mr. Tindall has witnessed, during 
the long years of his residence in this coun- 
ty, the growth and development of coyity 
and state and has taken an active part in pro- 
moting the welfare of his comm-unity, by 
furthering the industrial interests which 
have had their share in creating the prosperi- 
t\- of the great commonwealth in whi.h he 
lives. Well may he be classed amiong the 
representative citizens of Clark county, 
whom to know is an honor as well as a 
privilege. 



SILAS \'AX BIRD. 

During almost the entire period of his 
manhoo'd Silas Van Bird has been in office, 
and at all times his public career has been 
above suspicion or reproach. He is now 
surveyor of Clark county, maintaining his 
residence in Springfield, and in the oflice 
is found to l>e notably promi^, energetic and 
trustworthy. In both paternal and n:ater- 



nal lines he comes of an honored pioneer 
ancestry of Clark coimty. He was torn 
upon a farni! in this county, September 19, 
1857, and is a son of Silas Van and Mar- 
garet (Tuttle) Bird. The paternal grand- 
father, Luke Bird, married Allie Hoffman, 
of Virginia, and on leaving the Old Domin- 
ion went with his family to what was then 
Greene county, Ohio', but is now Clark 
county. 

His son, Silas Van Bird, the father of 
our subject, was born in Virginia in 1812, 
and in early life learned the millwright's 
trade. He wedded Margaret Tuttle, who 
was born in 1826. After their marriage 
they located on a farm four miles east of 
Spring-field. Mr. Bird continued to follow 
his chosen calling and erected many of the 
mills in Clark and adjacent counties, his 
services in an early day being in great de- 
mand. He performed every department of 
the work connected with the construction of 
a nill, being his own architect, made the cog 
wheels, set the burrs, in fact, did ever_\-thing 
in connection with the operati\e departir;ent 
of m.illing. He continued to follow 
his trade until 1850, working at various 
times in the states of Ohio, Indiana and Illi- 
nois and as far south as Nashville, Ten- 
nessee. At length he put aside mechanical 
pursuits and located on a farm near this 
city, where he resided until his death, wiiich 
occurred in 1892. In his political views 
he was an old line Whig in early life and 
subsequently became a Republican. His re- 
ligious faith was that of the Baptist church 
and his Christian belief permeated his entire 
career and guided his actions in all life's 
relations. His wife survived him only six 
weeks, and thus the couple so long united 
in life were not long separated in death. 
She, too, belonged to a pioneer family of 
Clark county, her parents, Caleb and !\Iary 



696 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



( Pricket) Tuttle, having located here at an 
early period in the development of this poi - 
ticn of the state. Her father was tor;! in 
1799. Silas Van Bird of this review was 
one of a family of nine children, eight sons 
and one daughter, six of whom are yet liv- 
ing: Eunice E., who married George H. 
Reed and resides on a fami ; Caleb A. : John 
W. : Luke Scott; James; Silas Van; Edwin 
R. ; Frank ; and Ross W. 

The lx>yhood days of Silas \'an Uird 
were spent upon the home farm, where he 
worked in field and meadow through the 
sumn'.er months and in the winter seasons 
attended the district schools. In 1875 he 
became a student in Wittenberg College, 
and was graduated in 1880. After his gradu- 
atioai he returned to the farm, which he 
conducted for a few years and was then 
elected township clerk. In 1888 he can.e 
to Springfield and was appointed deputy 
coiunty surveyor under William Sharon. 
]\Ir. Sharon being appointed a member of 
the Ixiard oi public affairs, Mr. Bird was 
appointed to fill out the unexpired term as 
surveyor. In the fall of 1898 he was elected 
to fill the same position in Clark county for 
a term of three years; in 1901 was re- 
elected, .-^o that his incumbency will continue 
until September, 1904. He had discharged 
his duties so capably and promptly during 
his first term that his fellow townsn en ap- 
proved of his service by again endorsing 
him for the office. He has always been a 
Rei)ul;lican, having firm faith in the princi- 
ples wiiich form the party platform. 

On the 2nd of Xovemlier. 1886, oc- 
curred the marriage of Mr. Bird and Miss 
jMartha J. Huffman, of Springfield, a daugh- 
ter of Jacob and Sarah (Tenant) Huffman. 
Mrs. Bird was torn, reared ruid educated in 
this citv. and has become the nndicr of 



four cliildren : Laura E., Silas, Martiia M. 
and Paul Sharon. 

Having spent his entire life in this coun- 
iy and being a representative of two of the 
oldest families, '\\r. Bird of this review is 
widely known and the fact that n.any who 
iiave been acquainted with him from his 
boyhood are today numbered among his 
stanchest friends, is an indication that his 
career has ever been an honorable and trust- 
worthy one. 



GEORGE A. \\ EAST. 

George A. Weast, superintendent of the 
water works of Springfield, was born in 
Cambridge City, Indiana. August 30, 1863. 
and is a son of George L. Weast, who is 
now living in Richmond, ' Indiana. The 
lather ser\ed throughout the ile.xican war. 
and also in the Civil war, and has been in 
tlie government service as a postal employe 
since 1870. He is a self-educated and a .self- 
n:ade man. In early life he learned the 
cooper's trade, which he followed fc»r some 
time. Later he because connected with the 
railway mail service aiid thus continued in 
the governnlent employ until i885, when 
he was removed for political reasons and 
accepted a pcvsition in Richmond, Indiana, 
but was reappointed in 1897 as transfer 
clerk at Indianapolis. He was lx>rn in 
Boonslxiro, Maryland, in 1828 and in tliat 
place was married to Miss Belle Rendey, 
whose birth tKCurred in 1828, and she died 
in Canbriclge City. Indiana, in 1879. Alxnit 
1856 the parents of our subject removed tt> 
tiie Ploosier state, and the father has been 
a continuous resident ever since that tinic. 
He has been again married, having in 1S84 
wedded Miss Elder, who is now residing 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



697 



with him in his home in Richmond. B_\- his 
first marriage nine children were born, and 
of this number H. Scott and George A. are 
residents of Springfield, Ohio; Willard is 
living in Montana ; and Mrs. Clara Fosdick 
and Mrs. Sia.die Silivan, reside in Indianap- 
olis, Indiana. 

George A. Weast is indebted to the pub- 
lic schools of Cambridge City for the edu- 
cational privileges lie enjoyed. In January, 
1880, he came to Springfield and entered 
the machine shop of the Whiteley, Fassler & 
Kelly Company, and in 1884 he left that 
service, as the company divided. Mr. Weast 
coaitinued with O. S. Kelly until 1896. In 
1896-7 he occupied a position with the James 
Leffel Company, and in 1898-9 was with the 
Foos Gas Engine Company. In April of the 
latter year he returned toi the employ oi" O. 
S. Kelly and had cliarge of the erecting de- 
partment until April, 1900. when he was ap- 
pointed by the board of water works trus- 
tees as superintendent of the water works 
plant of this city. He has charge O'f all 
of the work outside of the office and ixmip 
house and is well qualified for the position, 
the duties of which he is now discharging 
with marked fidelity and promptness. He 
now resides at No. 46 Greenmount avenue, 
on city property erected for the sujjerintend- 
ent of the water works. 

On the 2nd of Ottoiber, 1S83, ]\Ir. W^east 
was united in marriage to^ Gertrude Hamil- 
ton, who was born in Cambridge City, In- 
diana, in April, 1863, and pursued her edu- 
cation in the schools of that state. They 
now have two children. Pearl Belle and 
Ralph Flamilton, both in .school. Mr. \\'east 
always votes with the Republican party and 
socially is connected with Ingomar Loidge. 
Noi 610, K. P., of wliich he is a charter 
member ; with Commercial Camp. No. 3347. 



il. \\'. A. ; and with the Benevolent and 
Protective Order of Elks. He is always 
courteous and genial and his able business 
and mechanical sikill well cpialifies him for 
the important work which he is nr>w per- 
)orn:ing. 



AXDREW \\(JLFE HAMMA. 

.'Vmong the well known, substantial and 
prominent farmers and stock raisers of 
Green township, Clark county, may be nuin- 
bered Andrew Wolfe Hamma, who. is the 
possessor of a valuable and well inipro\ed 
farm, wliich he conducts in a practical and 
business-like manner, and the we'l tilieo 
fields return to him a fitting reward fnr his 
labors. A native of Pennsylvania, he v. as 
born in York county. May 30, 1824, and 
is a son of David and Susan ( Wolfe j Hau"'- 
ma. The subject of this reviefw was ten 
years of age when he accompanied his ]vir- 
ents on their removal from Pennsylvania to 
Richland connty, Ohio, the fannly drixing 
thence with teams and being two weeks on 
the road. For three years David Hamma 
with his family resided in Richland county, 
where he bought land. Not being pleased 
with tlieir new location-, they removed to 
Fairfield county, Ohio, living there for one 
summer, and then, in October, removing 
to Yellow Springs, Greene county, where 
the father purchased sixty acres of land, and 
there he and his good wife spent the re- 
maining days of their lives, respected by all 
who knew them as honored pioneer settlers 
of tiie conimunitv in which they lived. 

Upon the home farm Andrew \\'olfe 
Hamma grew to manhood. His boj'hood 
and youth were spent in assisting his father 
on the farm during th.e summer mo-nhs. 



690 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and (-lining a few short montlis in the win- 
ter he received the advantages of the some- 
wliat primitive educational institutions of 
those early days, learning the "three R's," 
which proved a solid foundation upon which 
he aftenvard depended in the practical du- 
ties of life, and as he has good and keen 
natural faculties, he added to his knowledge 
b\' reading-, obser\-ation and exi>erience, 
which is the best education after all, as our 
entire lives, if our minds are broad and re- 
ceptive, are spent in the acquirement of an 
education. Mr. Hamma remained with his 
paraits until twenty-one years of age, when 
he l>egan business on his own account. He 
engaged in farm labor by the year, and at 
first his remuneration was one hundred and 
nine dollars per year and the pasturage of 
a colt which he possessed. At the end of 
the year he took a note with interest in pay- 
ment for his serA'ices. He next worked for 
six months a.t eleven dollars per month, 
taking also a note drawing interest in pay- 
ment, thus early proving that he had quali- 
ties of economy and good business judg- 
ment, 1>\- saving his earnings. He next went 
to Madison county, Ohio, working for one 
man there for two years, and sold his colt 
at a good price. 

In; Logan county, Ohio, Mr. Hamma 
was united in marriage to Miss Matilda 
Carter, whose acquaintance he had made 
in Madison count}', where she was born, al- 
though her people were living at this time 
in Logan county. She was a daughter of 
David and Arthelia ( Kelley) Carter. The 
n-aniage took place October 18, 1848. The 
young cou])le then removed to Greene coun- 
ty. Ohio, near Yellow Springs, renting Da- 
^•id Curry's place for one year, and upon it 
Mr. Hamma carried on farnung and stock 
raising. In his agricultural pursuits h.e 
prospereil and at the end of one year he pur- 



chased a fann rear Yellow Springs, where 
he lived from 185 1 to 1876. Upon this 
place he built a new and substantial house, 
cleared the farm and added all modern and 
necessary improvements. This projjerty he 
still owns, and also one hundred and forty- 
three acres of land near Clifton^ Greene 
county, which he purchased in 1873. In 
1876 he remo\-ed to Clark county and pur- 
chased one lumdred and sixty-four acres 
of land where he now has his residence. 
He has remodeled his h6n:e, changing it 
from a one-storj- to a two-stor>-, twelve- 
room house. Mr. Hamma next purchased 
two hundred and twenty-two acres of land 
in Green township. This he kept but a 
short time and then sold it to his sons-in-law. 
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hamma 
has been blessed with fourteen children, 
three of whom died in childhood, and nine 
are yet living : David, the first born, l^ecame 
a minister of the Lutheran church. He was 
a graduate of W'ittenljerg College, and mar- 
ried Miss Laura Copelands. One child of 
this marriage died at the age of two years. 
A son was pastor of a church at Lebanon, 
Ohio, and died there at the age of twenty- 
six. He is buried at Fern.cliff. John Madi- 
son, the second of the family, died at the age 
of thirty-four. Angle Belle is the wife of 
Harry Shaw, resides in Green township, 
Clark county, and has seven children. 
Elizabeth, the wife of John Shaw, 
also resides in Green township and is 
the n-.other of five children: Matilda 
married Charles Petrie. of Springfield 
township. Clark county, and they have 
six children. Elmer married Hattie Goudy 
and lives in Greene county, having a family 
of five children. Odessa is the wife of Re\'. 
Carl G. Ane, a minister of the Lutlieran 
church and a graduate of Wittenljerg Col- 
lege, now residing in Harrison county. In- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



699 



diana. They have two children : Irvin G., 
a sketch of wliom appears Ijelow, is the next 
of the family. Aldabert married Charles 
Garlougli, who resides near Pitchin, and 
they have three children. Charles is 
a practicing physician and surgeon resid- 
ing in Cincinnati. He pursued his studies 
in Philadelphia, ' Cincinnati, and finished 
by one year's ^course in Berlin, Ger- 
many. He married Miss Jessie Bertner. 
Mabel married Earl Oglesbee and is now 
living- in Green tovinship near Jamestown. 

In politics Mr. Hamma was at one time 
a Democrat, although he was reared in sym- 
pathy with the principles O'f the Whig party. 
Upon the organization of the Rq^ublican 
party in 1856 he cast his tellot for John C. 
Fremont and has remained a stanch Repub- 
lican ever since. He was reared in the Lu- 
theran faith and l:as been an elder of the 
church for fifty years, doing all in his power 
to promote the growth of the Christian re- 
ligion and also of his church. It is a pleas- 
ure to note the long and active business ca- 
reer oif Mr. Hamma. In it may be learned 
many a lesson that would be helpful to a 
yO'Ung man entering life's arena with noth- 
ing but willing hand's, an able body and an 
acti\'e brain to aid him, for these were the 
main qualifications of the subject of this 
review, and to: them he owes his success, and 
with them he has budded wiselv and well. 



I. G. HAMMA. 



I. G HamuM, a well known farmer and 
stock raiser of Green township, first opened 
his e\-es to the li,ght of day on the 2nd of 
January, 1871, upon the home farm near 
Yellow Springs. Greene county, Ohio. Plis 
parents w^ere Andrew W. and Alatilda (Car- 
ter) Hamma, who removed to the home on 



which our subject now resides when he was 
only five years o«f age, and here he has li\'ed 
continuously since. He acquired a good edu- 
cation, gaining his preliminary knowledge 
in the district schools and afterward enter- 
ing A\'ittenberg College at the age of four- 
teen years. Soon after beginning the work 
of the junior year he left the institution. 

Ob the 13th o-f September, 1892, Mr. 
Hamana was united in marriage in Spring- 
field toi Miss Gertm.die Paden, who was Ixn'n 
in Greai township April 21, 1874, and is 
a daughter of W. O. and Laura Jane (Gar- 
lough) Paden. Her father was engaged in 
the lumber business, in Kentucky and Vir- 
ginia. She was therefore largely reared in 
Kentucky, and acquired her education in 
GeorgetOiwn, that state, where she was a 
student in a female seiuinary. After their 
marriage ^Ir. Hamma erected their present 
home in Greai township, Clark county, in 
1893. It is a commodious and attractive 
residence, and hospitality there abounds. 
The marriage has been blessed \\^ith tw^o^ 
children: Clarence Paden, born in Green 
township., Noivember 15, 1893; and Thelma 
Lucile, bo.rn October 12, 1895. 

In politics Mr. Hamma is a Republican. 
His first vote was cast for Benjamin Harri- 
son. He has been a delegate to various 
conventions sTnd has labored earnestly and 
effecti\-ely for the promotion of his party's 
success. He and his wife hold membership 
in the Second Lutheran church and are well 
known young people o.f the community, en- 
joying the high regard of many friends. 



JAMES LEWIS LEUT^'. 

Jan^'es Lewis Leuty is the youngxst son 
of John Leuty, whose sketch is elsewhere 
given in this work. He was born in Spring- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



field. July lo. 1862, and at the usual age he 
entered the public schools, where he 
acquired a knowledge of the branches 
of learning usually taught in such in- 
stitutions. Quite early in life he be- 
gan to assist his father in the meat 
market. It will thus be seen he did not en- 
ter up<m his business career as many others 
have done, amid strangers and without capiy 
tal. When he put down his school books 
he stepped into the meat market owned by 
his father. He could have entered the es- 
tablishment, however, without taking any 
great interest in the business or trying hard 
to increase its trade. He might have been 
a lx>y of no ambition to e.Ktend the scope 
of their patronage, but he preferred to be 
just as good a man as though he had had to 
enter business life without the assistance 
of his father. He applied himself earnest- 
ly to mastering the business and in course 
of time was admitted to a partnership and 
is now the junior member of the finn of J. 
Leuty's Sons. 

On the 2 1 St of September, 1884, Mr. 
Leuty was married to iliss Eliza Casey, a 
native of Springfield and a daughter of 
John and Catherine Casey. The father was 
born in County Cork, Ireland, and when a 
young man left the Green Isle of Erin, cross- 
ing the Atlantic to New York city. There 
he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine 
Carthy, wh.o was also lx>rn in County Cork. 
From the eastern metropolis they came to 
Springfield, Ohio'. Ten children blessed 
their union, of whom Mrs. Leuty is the only 
one now living. Her father died July 27, 
1S92, and was laid to rest in Calvary ceme- 
tery of this city. Mrs. Casey still survives 
her husband and is now living with her 
daughter, I\Irs. Leuty. She was thirty- 
eight days in crossing the .\tlantic when she 
came to America, and she vet has \ivid rec- 



ollections of the voyage. Our subject and 
his wife reside at No. 238 West Columbia 
street, at the corner of Yellmv Springs 
street. 

He is a Republican in his political affili- 
ations, but has ne\er sought or desired of- 
fice as a reward for party fealty. Fraternal- 
ly he is connected with Red Star Lodge, No. 
205, K. P., with the Tril^e of Ben Hur and 
with the National Union. His life work 
sustains an enviable family reputation and 
he well deserves representation" in this 
volume. 



ELI HUNTER. 



Eli Hunter, a retired farmer living in 
Catawba, is a representative of one of the 
oldest families of tliis portion of the state, 
and comes of ancestry that was established 
in America at an early eix>ch in the coloniza- 
tion of this country. He was born in Clark 
county, September 24, 1847. The first of 
the name of whom we have record is Jona- 
than Hunter, who was a tailor of Baltimore, 
Maryland, and whose ancestors came from 
Holland and settled for a time in England, 
then emigrated to America. Jonathan Hun- 
ter married Ann Chance, and they after- 
wards removed to Loudoun county, Vir- 
ginia, settling aljout tVnir miles from Har- 
pers Ferr)\ At tliat time he changed his 
occupation, becoming a farmer. At length 
he sold his fami there to Frederick, Thomas 
and Daniel Darfinger. and in 1804 came to 
Ohio, locating 011 section 22. Pleasant town- 
ship, Clark county, his being the fourth 
white family to settle in the township, 
where he spent the raminder of his life. 
Both he and his wife there died and are 
l)uried on the hill in front of the home of 
Luther Neer, three miles west of Catawba. 







^gy- 








f 







ELI HUNTER. 




MRS. ELI HUNTER. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



In emigrating from Virginia, they came 
b}- way of Chillicothe, and in crossing one 
of the streams in Ohio, the wagon was up- 
set and their goods throiwn in the water. 
After locating and building the cabin, \\'ill- 
iam Hunter, the grandfather, concluded to 
make a \-isit to. Joseph Coffeys, so shomlder- 
ing the musket, he started out. After 
wandering in the forest for soane time, he 
came to a cabin, and supposing he had 
reached Mr. Coffeys, he went to the cabin 
and was surprised to find himself back 
home again. 

Jonathan Hunter not receiving all of the 
money for his farm in Virginia was com- 
pelled tO' go back. He took his son' George 
with him. George was fond of gaming, 
and his father loved a dram. George 
treated his father and then got the mone}' 
and spent a good portion of it betting on 
cock fighting. 

Mrs. I-lunter is supposed to have been 
born near Baltimore, Maryland, and at 
one tim.e lived at Long" Green, about 
sixteen miles from Baltimore, to> which city 
she frequently went to do her trading. To 
Jonathan and Ann (Chance) Hunter were 
born eleven children, who all grew to ma- 
turity. John, born September ii, 1770, a 
farmer, married Nancy Neer and lived near 
West Liberty. He died June 22. 1854. 
Elizabeth, born June 2, 1775. married Ben- 
jamin Violet, a farmer. They moved tO' 
Elkhart county, Indiana, near Goshen. 
Nancy became the wife of a Mr. Reed, an 
Irishman, whoi lost his sight on account of 
injury received in a quarrel at a husking 
bee. After his .death, she becan:e the wife 
of John Pe[>|)ers. Wjlljam is the grand- 
father of our subject. Mary, born Febru- 
ary 2, 1780, married James Ward May 28, 
I Si 2. After his death she married Decem- 



ber 14, 1820, Nathaniel Hunter, who was 
not related to her. Jonathan, born March 
14, 1786, married Mary Shaw and by oc- 
cupation was a farmer. He lived and died 
on part of the old farm on section 22, his 
death occurring November 18, 1843. She 
was born June 4, 1789, and died in 1835. 
Sarah was born April 30, 1781, and be- 
came the wife of Alexander Hunter, a son 
of Nathaniel. Alexander not wishing his 
father toi marry his sister-in-law, said to 
him, "what kind of a mixed up set will we 
be?" Jerraiiah, born September 9, 1788, 
was a cabinet-maker by trade; was united 
in marriage to Elleanor Comly; and settled 
in \'irginia on the opposite bank of the Ohio 
river from Steubenville, Ohio. He died 
March 14, 1856. George was born in Sep- 
tember, 1783. He built and kept a hotel 
in Urbana, Ohio. He married Ruth Fitch 
November 2, 1809, and died in Urbana, 
Ohio. Jaj2gs married Eleanor Cartmell 
January 20, 181 5 ; by occupation was a sad- 
dler ; and also owned and operated a part of 
the old homestead farm. His death oc- 
curred in Urbana, Ohioi, April 16, 1863. 
Ra_chael,- 'born February 18, 1791, married 
Richard Bull April 7, 181 5. They settled 
near Nenia, Greene county, and she died 
October 31, 1843. 

Jeremiah Chance, the great-great-grand- 
father of our subject, was born in England 
in 1 7 10. He was a merchant and emigrated 
to America in 1740. He left a wife and four 
children. He settled in Baltimore, where he 
continued the occupation of a merchant. 
He desired his wife and children to join 
him in his new home but she refused. He 
mcrried again to a lady born in ^^'ales, and 
to this union \vas Ijorn se\'en children : 
Jeremiah, John, William, Nanc}-, S.-irab, 
Marv and Elizabeth. 



7o6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



John Chance was born in Manland, in 
1754, and married ]\lartha W'atkins. To 
them was born Francis, Ann, W'elthy, Mary, 
Samuel, James and John. Samuel, born 
1789, was a wagon-maker and married 
Mary Smalhvood. Ann married Jonathan 
Hunter, the great-grandfather of the subject 
of this review. 

William Hunter, the grandfather of our 
subject, was }x>rn in LcHidoun county, Vir- 
ginia, September 9, 1777, and was married 
February i, 1807, to Blanche Hendricks. 
The Hendricks family came from Holland 
to Philadelphia about 1685 and settled at 
Germantown, Pennsyh'ania. A grandson 
of the original emigrants was James 
Hendricks, who was born alx)ut 1720 and 
married Priscilla Pabbit, whose birth oc- 
curred alx>ut 1725. They ren-.o\'ed to Vir- 
ginia and they became the parents of the 
following named sons: Thomas, Daniel, 
Caleb, James and John. Daniel was born in 
1745 and married Jane Buckles, a daughter 
of Robert Buckles, one of the first settlers 
of Potomac valley. To this union were 
ixjrn five girls and three bw's : Korsey be- 
came Mrs. Jones; Priscilla, Mrs. Kizer; 
Mary, Mrs. Hewett; and the other daugh- 
ters were Mrs. McCormick and ]\lrs. Long, 
while the sons were William. Tobias and 
Daniel. Tobias went west when young. 
William, born in 1768, was married to 
Susan Taylor and removing to Pleasant 
township, Clark county, Ohio, settled on 
section 28 in the year 1804. Later he sold 
there and bought a farm one mile west of the 
village of Mutual. He died February 11, 
1813, and his wife died March 5, 1809. 
I'hey had seven children : Mar}-, born Jan- 
uary 18, 1785, married Samuel Lafferty : 
Blanche, bom February 28, 1787, became 
the wife of William Hunter, Februarv i. 



1807. John was born December 9, 1790. 
William was born October 14, 1792, and 
married Elizabeth McConkey April 17, 
1817. Sarah, born Januan- 28, 1795, died 
in cliildhood. Solomon, lx)rn October 11, 
1796, died in boyhood. Ann, bom Xovem- 
iDer 17, 1798, married David Taylor, and 
after his death married another man of the 
name of Taylor, who was not, however, a 
relative of her first husband. 

About the time of his marriage William 
Hunter, the grandfather of our subject, 
built a house and lived on section 22, Pleas- 
ant township, a part of the old home fami, 
two miles southwest of Catawba. The 
house is still standing and is owned by his 
grandson, Frank Hunter. He was a 
wheelwright and built the flouring mill and 
saw mill, which is still standing, although 
now in dilapidated condition He hauled 
his flour to Cincinnati, Newark and San- 
dusky, Ohio, and sold it for two dollars per 
barrel. The childrai of William and 
Blanche (Hendricks ) Hunter were as fol- 
lows : John Wesley, born October 27, 1807, 
wedded Mary Engle and died January 31, 
1881. ^\■illiam Hendricks, born November 
17, 1809, died in childhocxl. James Madison, 
born Februaiy 17, 1812, died in Ixjvhood, 
by being thrown from a horse and killed. 
Lemuel was the father of our subject. Jon- 
athan was born November 26, 1816. Vin- 
cent was born April 13. 1819. William was 
born March 10, 182 1, and died in Ixwhood. 
■ Mary Ann was bom March 1, 1823. and 
Miranda was bom July 9, 1826. 

Lemuel Hunter was born February 24, 
1814, and married March i, 1838, Nancy 
Marsh. Her grandfather, Aaron I^Iarsh, 
was born in England about 1747. \\'ith his 
wife and two brothers he came to America 
and settled in New Jcrse\-. Tn 1770 he 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



wedded Nancy Lumm, a native of Scotland, 
and their children were Israel, Seliring and 
Luther. Aaron Marsh removed to North 
CaroHna and afterward to Cincinnati, Ohio. 
He and his son Luther, while returning 
.fnjm a mill and crossing a swollen stream, 
were drowned. The wagon coming un- 
coupled, the horses reached the shore and re- 
turned home. 

Israel IMarsh, a farmer and breeder of 
iiigh grade horses, was born in New Jersey 
February ii, 1771, and married his 
cousin, Sarah Marsh, November 5, 1795. 
She was born January 15, 1772. To them 
were lx>rn five children as follo^vs : Noah, 
born August 31, 1796; Susannah, born De- 
cember 6. 1798: Sarah, 1x>rn Septeiuber 14, 
1802; Samuel, born July 20, 1806; and 
Nancy, bom October 6, 1816. 

Israel Marsh and his wife moved to Cin- 
cinnati, coming all the way from North Car- 
olina on horseback and carrying their 
household goods and cooking utensils on 
pack horses. A part of these goods are 
still kept as relics in the attic of the brick 
house which he built and which forms a 
part of the present residence of our subject. 
He purchased a farm near the present city 
"f Cincinnati and built a log house thereon. 
-Vfter selling that farm they went to Cham- 
paign county and again purchased land, 
which later he disposed of and then moved 
to Indiana, but not finding a suitable loca- 
tion there came back, and then purchased 
for three dollars per acre, the farm now 
owned and occupied by Mr. Eli Hunter of 
this review, consisting of two hundred and 
forty-six acres in Pleasant township, this 
county. At that time Indians were numer- 
ous and had tlieir caiup en his farm l::ut 
they left this part of the county about 181 2. 
The black bear, panther, wild cat and all 
kinds of wild game were found in abund- 



ance. On the nortli end of this farm . 
Israel Marsh and George Dawson laid out 
the village of Catawba. Israel Marsh erect- 
ed a log house where the scale house now 
stands, although it has been remo\'ed from 
the original site. In this house Nancy 
Marsh Hunter was born. Her father died 
September 5, 1842. Israel Marsh after- 
wards built on this site a brick house in 
which Nancy was married, and in which his 
wife died in Septeir.ber, 1851. 

The children of Lemuel and Nancy 
Marsh Hunter were as follows : Mary 
Ann, born April 21, 1839, 'became the wife 
of James M. Hodge March 15. 1864, and 
to them were born eight children, five of 
whom' died in infancy. The living are: 
Asa, who married Bertha Page; Ida M. and 
Anne I. William, born March 8, 1S41, en- 
listed in the Sixteenth Ohio Battery in Sep- 
tember, 1864, and was discharged in June, 
1865. He married Elizabeth Cartnell 
February 15, 1866, and to this union were 
born three children : Torraice Milton ; Oli- 
ver Cartmell ; and John, who died in infancy. 
Oliver married Donna Harmison. .Sarah 
Jane, born August 24, 1842, married James 
Yeazell, January 23, 1866. She died Sep- 
tember 7, 1870. Lewis Vincent, born Jan- 
uary 30, 1845, died September 3, 1867. 
Eli is the next oi the family. Miranda 
Emeline, born February 11, 1851, became 
the wife of James Yeazell, by whom she 
had two children : Laura, who is tlie wife 
of Dr. C. D. Kraut ; and Eva May. who died 
in infancy. She died February 16, 1881. 
Bruce was bora August 15, 1853. died 
March 23, 1873. The father of this family 
died January' 5, 1895, and the mothei- Au- 
gust 17, 1897. 

Eli Hunter was born and reared in the 
house which is still his home. His grand- 
father built four rooms to the house and 



7o8 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



his father added another four, and tlie sub- 
ject of this review built the remaining five 
rooms, the residence in which he has spent 
his entire Hfe. He has always followed 
farming and worked with his father until 
the latter's death. He acquired a common- 
school education, attending school for a'lx)ut 
four months of each year during the period 
of his youth. He is now practically living 
a retired life, his labor in fonricr years hav- 
ing brought to him a comfortable com- 
petence. As a companion and helpmate for 
life's journey, he chose Miss Lucinda J. 
McClintick, the wedding taking place May 
23. 1876. They have two children: Clif- 
ford Cecil, who was born June 17, 1883; 
and Clara Edna, bom November 10, 1887. 
One child, born April 12, 1886, died two 
days later. 

.Mr. Hunter has been quite prominent in 
public affairs in his locality. He served 
for nine years as justice of the peace and 
is a school director and a notan- public now. 
He was elected councilman of the village of 
Catawba in April, 1875, and was re-elected 
and held that position for twenty-two con- 
secutive years, when he retired from the 
office, and after a period of two years was 
again elected to the office, which position 
he still holds. During this period of office 
he has twice revised the ordinances of the 
corporation. The changes on the farm that 
ha\e come under the observation of our sub- 
ject are from tlie old cast plow to the steel 
gang riding plow, from the single shovel 
cultivator to the six shovel rider, from the 
sickle to the grain cradle, to the hand rake 
reaper and then to the self-rake and tlie 
binder, and in the house from the grease 
lamp and candle to the coal oil lamp. 

In politics he has alwa\s been a Repulv 
lican and he cast his first presidential vote 
for General Grant at his first election. He 



has frequently served as delegate to county 
conventions. A member of the Methodist 
Episcojjal church, he served as one of its 
trustees for eleven years, as Sunday-school 
superintendent for three years, and is now 
a teacher in the Sunday-school. For twen- 
ty-four years he has been a member of the 
Odd Fellows Lodge of Catawba, and of the 
Mad River Encampment at Springfield, and 
three times has he passed through all of the 
chairs of a subordinate lodge. He is also 
a member of the Knights of the Golden 
Eagle, and has taken a leading part in the 
Grange, twice filling all of its offices. At 
the present he is president of the Town.ship 
Association of the Farmers Institute, in 
which he has always taken an active inter- 
est. .\ctive and influential in matters per- 
taining to -the general good, faithful in 
office, reliable in business and stalwart in 
friendship, he is justly classed among the 
leading residents of Catawba and Clark 
county. 



lOHX MILLS. 



John Mills is a retired farmer of Green 
township, Clark county, and was Iwrn ui>on 
the farm where he now lives, Januarj' 7, 
1826. He has passed the Psalmist's al- 
loted span of life of three-score years and 
ten. yet he is a hale and hearty old man. 
who, through the years of an active career, 
has made for himself a most honorable rec- 
ord, well worthy of commendation and 
emulation. 

His parents were Thomas and Jane 
(Dale) Mills, both of whom were natives 
of \''irginia. They were married in Ken- 
tucky, howe^•er. the father of our subject 
having gone to that state when only five 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



709 



years of age with his father. The mother's 
people had also removed there during her 
early girlhood. In 181 2 they came to Ohio 
and settled on the farm where our subject 
noiw lives. Ten children were born unto 
them, but John is now the only surviving 
men.ber of the family. The others who 
reached years of maturity were as follows : 
James married Delilah Moore and had two 
children; Thomas D., a resident of Green 
township, who had three children, 'Torest, 
Fannie and Emery ; and Nancy Ellen, who 
married Walter Cultice and died, leaving 
eight children. Xancy and Martha, sisters 
of our subject, died unmarried. Sibbia 
married John Hess and died leaving eight 
children. Hannah married Thomas Funs- 
ton and died leaving four children. Letitia 
married John Inlow, and also left four chil- 
dren at her death. 

On coming to this county the father, 
Thomas Mills, purchased from the govern- 
ment one hundred and sixty acres of land, 
for which he paid two dollars per acre. As 
his financial resources increased he added 
to this property until he had fi\e hundred 
and thirty acres of land. He passed away 
when about eighty years of ag"e, in the year 
1865. and was laid to rest in the Garlough 
cemetery. His wife died in 1844. In early 
life he had been a \Miig. but when the Re- 
publican party ^^as formed he joined its 
ranks and continued one of its earnest sup- 
porters until his demise. For nine years he 
served as justice of the peace and during 
that period tried many cases. He belonged 
to the Methodist Protestant church, in which 
he served as a trustee and was most liberal 
in his support of church and charitable 
\','nrk. 

The lx)yhood days of John Mills were 
^pent upon his father's farm and he attend- 
ed the sul3scripti(-jn schools held in~a log 



house, in which were the usual primitive 
furnishings of that day. including an open 
fireplace, the smoke making its egress 
through a mud and stick chimney. Mr. 
Mills remained at home until his marriage 
and recei\-ed ample training at farm work. 
On the 15th of April, 1869, he wedded Aliss 
Clara J. Baird, a daughter of Peter C. and 
Fannie (Wilson) Baird. Mrs. Mills was 
boirn in Harmony township, October 17, 
1827. Her father was a native oi West- 
moreland county, Pennsylvania, and her 
mother of North Carolina. ^Ir. Baird was 
but a mere child when he went to Kentucky 
with his parents, William and Dorothy 
(Cammerer) Baird. On the maternal side 
he was of Holland descent, the Cammerers 
having come from the land oif the dykes. 
When about fifteen years of age Peter C. 
Baird accompanied his parents' to Ohio, the 
family settling in Harmony township, 
•Clark county, where the grandfather pur- 
chased land and made a honie. He became 
well-to-do and was widely .known as a sub- 
stantial farmer of that portion of the state. 
The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Mills 
were John and Hannah (Baird J Wilson. 
They removed from North Carolina to Ohio, 
settling' in Fayette county, where they spent 
their remaining days and the grandfather ac- 
quired several hundred acres of land, which 
classed him among the prosperous farmers 
of his locality. 

Prior to his marriage Mr. Mills had 
erected a good home, to wliich he brouglit 
his wife, and here they have since lived. He 
has two hundred and foity acres of valuable 
land, which he inherited. Throughout the 
years of his active i>usiness career he carried 
on the work of the farm, keeping abreast 
of the progress that was made in farming- 
methods and in machinery which facilitates 
agricultural work. He is now living re- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



tired, leaving- the more active duties tit liis 
farm to otliers. 

His early political support was given to 
the Whig party, and he voted for Taylor 
in 1848. When new issues arose, giving 
rise to new parties, he deposited his hallot 
for John C. Fremont, the first Rqxiblican 
candidate for the presidency, and has never 
wavered in his allegiance to the party since 
that time. Both he and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Methodist Protestant church, and 
are worthy people, true to the principles 
which they profess, their lives being in har- 
mony with Christian teachings. 



JOHN C. CURTIS. 

In the history of the material upbuilding 
and sul>stantial progress of Springfield it 
is fcKimd that the name of John C. Curtis 
figures conspicuously because of his work 
as a contractor and builder, his efforts add- 
ing to the improvement of the city and at 
the same tijne promoting his personal suc- 
cess. The true measure of success is de- 
termined by what one has accomplished, 
and, as taken in contradistinction to the 
old adage that a prophet is not witiiout hoii- 
or save in his own country, there is particu- 
lar interest attaching to the career of the 
subject of this review, since he is a native 
son of the place where he has passed his 
active life, and so directed his ability ansl 
efforts as to gain recognition as one of the 
representative citizens of Springfield. 

Mr. Curtis was born in Springfield, May 
II, 1856, and comes of New England stock. 
Hi.s father. Jacob A. Curtis, was an orlv 
son. but in the fan.ily there were three sis- 
ters, two of whom are yet living: Mrs. 
Olive Umphrus, of Springfield, and Mrs. 



Killen, of ]owa. Jacob A. Ciutis is a car- 
penter and contractor and is still following 
his trade to some extent, although he 
has reached the advanced age of sev- 
enty-seven }ears. He came to Clark 
ccxmty from Vermont in the early 
■40s, learned his trade here in 1849, 
and has since been a factor in the buildirig 
interests of the city. He assisted in the 
erection of many homes here at an early 
day. He has always been a rugged man, 
industrious and energetic, and is an experi- 
enced workman. For twenty-one years he 
has been in the employ of Smith Dudley, 
a fact which indicates his efficient service, 
his fidelity and honesty, ^ir. Curtis was 
united in marriage in Springfield to Xancy 
' Tolland, who is about se\-aity-five _\ears of 
;ige. Her father was a soldier of the Revo- 
lutionary war, and unto them have been born 
eigh.t children, of whom one daughter died 
in early childhood, and Jennie died at the 
age of forty-five years, while four sons and 
daughters are yet living. These are: Will- 
iam B.. who was formerly a cari)enter, but 
is now engaged in the oil business in Spring- 
field ; John C. ; Effije ; George, a carpenter, of 
this city; Rosa; and Charles, who is also 
identified with building interests. The chii- 
when were educated in the public schools 
here and all the sons learnetl the carpenter's 
trade with the father and have followed it 
at various times. Mr. Curtis has ever been 
a Republican and a strong party man, al- 
though the honors and emoluments of office 
have had no charm for him. Both he and 
his wife belong to the Baptist church and 
are people of the highest respectability, their 
friends being m.any because of their genu- 
ine worth. 

John C. Curtis was a student in the pub- 
lic schools of Springfield in his boyhood 
(lavs and with his father learned the car- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



penter's trade. At the age of eighteen he 
started out upon an independent business 
career, working as a journeyman and as 
foreman for his father foi- a time. He also 
served as foreman for James Dalie for two 
years. In 1890 he began contracting for 
himself, his work being principally confined 
to Spring-field: He is a general contractor 
and has built among others two livery sta- 
bles for John Foster on Columbia street, 
the Kutway building and the residences of 
.S. B. Stiles, \Vitmeyer, Lenhort, and oth- 
ers. He receives a liberal share of the pub- 
lic patronage and employs constanlh- ten 
experienced workmen. He gives his person- 
al su])ervision to his work, considering no 
deal 1'.50 unimportant for his attention, wliile 
at the same time having the ability to super- 
intend ihe work in its most imporant parts. 
*.)n u'.any O'f the smaller contracts lie sup- 
plies plans and specifications which iie has 
('rafterl. He has been very successful and 
ha- gained for himself an enviable reputa- 
tion for his reliability as ^^•ell as his skill, 
being classed among the representative con- 
tractors of his native city. 

]^ 1 •. Curtis was married in Springfield, 
in \Syy. to Miss Carrie Warner, who v.-as 
bi>rn in Champaign county in 1S60' and is 
a daughter of Frank Warner, who is li\ing 
on Race street, Springfield, and is a Wack- 
sn-.ith ]>y trade. Mrs. Curtis is the tiiiid ni 
four children : Howard, who is a scroll 
and ornamental painter, of Virginia, being 
the eldest, while Mrs. .^nna Roberts, of 
.S])ringfit'ld is the youngest ; and Lizzie, 
who died at about eighteen years of age. 
Unto onr subject and his wife have been 
born two daughters : Cora, who was born 
in 1883, is the wife of Clarence Julian, a 
type setter, of this city: and Jessie R., who 
\vas born in 1890. The former is a gradu- 



ate of the high school, and the younger is 
a student there at the present time. 

Mr. Curtis and his family belong to the 
Baptist church, and he votes with the Re- 
publican party and has served as a delegate 
tO' city conventions, but has never had any 
desire to hold office. He belongs to Spi ing- 
field Lodge, No. 33, L O. O. F., is a well 
informed man i»ssessed of a broad and lib- 
eral mind and in his nature there is nothing 
narrow or contracted. He has a spirit that 
while de\-oted to his residence community, 
is liberal enough to recognize and appreci- 
ate advancement and progress in any other 
part of the world. He was popular as a 
young man, and in his later years has the 
esteem and confidence of all with whom 
public or private life have Ijrought him in 
contact. 



ALBERTUS C. ^HLLER,. 

Albertus C. Miller, a well known citi- 
zen of Mad River township, was born here 
upon his father's farmi March 6, 1864, the 
place being now in his possession. Here he 
was reared to manhood and throughout his 
active business career has engaged in agri- 
cultural pursuits. He is a most progressive 
and successful farmei", whose methods show- 
deep scientific knowledge as well as prac- 
tical experience, and the results show that 
high class farming as an occupation can 
be made profitable as well as pleasant. At 
the age of twenty-one years he practically 
had charge of his father's farm, at that time 
consisting of two hundred and fifteen acres, 
but has since been increased to three hun- 
dred and twenty-five acres. His father had 
vetired on account of ill health and our sub- 
ject has since had the management of the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



place. On t!ie death of his father he and 
liis brother, Oliver H. Miller, now an at- 
torney of Springfield, purchased the inter- 
ests of the other heirs in the old homestead, 
and to the further improvement and culti- 
vation of the place A. C. Miller has since 
devoted his time and attention, now manag- 
ing three hundred and twenty-five acres and 
employing from two to four men all the 
year round. As a boy he possessed a great 
deal of mechanical ability. In connection 
with his farming operations he is quite ex- 
tensively engaged in the breeding of short- 
horn cattle and Nonnan horses, and being 
a man of g'ood business and executive ability 
he has met with success in all his under- 
takings. 

On the 22nd of November, 1887, Mr. 
^filler was united in marriage to Miss Ra- 
chel Gordon, a daughter of Harrison and 
Martha (CoUison) Gordon. Her people 
were of an old family, long established here, 
the first of the name having located in Clark 
county when Springfield was onh- a small 
hamlet. Growing numerically year by year, 
the family has several times held reunions, 
which are very pleasant events. The 
home of Mr. and ^Irs. Miller has been 
blessed \\ith two children : Mary Jane, 
born on the 22nd of May, 1895: and Elden 
Gordon. lK>ni February 22,. 1901. 

In his political views Mr. Miller has al- 
ways Ijeen a stanch Republican, keeping well 
in formed on the issues of the day. He has 
never been an affice seeker, caring not for 
the honors or eir.oluments of office, but he 
served as land appraiser for one term, dur- 
ing the decennial appraisement year of 1900. 
He is a well informed man w h<> in his youth 
attende^l the public schools and since that 
time has been an extensive reader. He 
cares nothing for novels, but has read broad- 
Iv works of historv, science, antl volumes 



which add to his understanding of the world 
and its progress. The farm on which he 
resides has been in possession of the family 
for an entire century, having been obtained 
by his ancestors from the government when 
Jefferson was president, and his children 
are of the fifth generation to reside there. 
The name of Miller is therefore one that 
has been closely associated with the inter- 
ests of Clark county for a very long period 
and our subject is a worthy representative 
of the family, who. though modest and un- 
assuming in manner, has the respect and 
confidence of all with whom he has been 
associated. 



CHARLES E. THOMAS. 

As the growth of a city dqjends upon 
its industrial and commercial activity, those 
who most deserve mention in connection 
with the history of any city are they who 
are active factors in trade circles. They 
are the real upbuilders of a town and the 
men who stand at the head of leading en- 
terprises deserve the respect and gratitude 
of their fellow men if the methods which 
they follow in business relations are hoiwr- 
able and straightforward. Charles E. 
Thomas, well known as the vice-president 
of the Thomas IManufacturing Company, of 
Springfield, possesses keen discrimination, 
laudable ambition and unfaltering jjersever- 
ancc, and these qualities have contributed 
in a large measure to the successful con- 
duct of the important and extensive enter- 
prise with which he is so closely associated. 

Mr. Thomas is a native of Maryland, 
his birth having occurred in Freilerick City, 
Frederick county, in 1S44. He comes of 
gcxxl old Revolutionar)- stock and of a fami- 
ly gyp,- noted for lovaltv to conntrv and tu 



^HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



713 



ihe light. His paternal great-grandfather, 
Joseph Thomas, entered the American army 
at the time the colonies sought tO' free the 
land from the yoke of British oppression 
and valiantly aided in the struggle that re- 
sulted in the establishment of the republic. 
The father of our subject bore the name of 
Jacob Thomas and he, too, was a native of 
Maryland. He wedded Sophia Bowlus, also 
a native of the same state, and in 1852 they 
came with their family to Clark county, 
Ohio. Settling upon a farm here, the father 
engaged in tilling the soil and in stock rais- 
ing, following those pursuits for a number 
of years, but in later life he retired from 
active business cares and removed to the 
city of Springfield, where he died in 1876, 
and his wife survived him until 1889. 

Charles E. Thomas, whose name intro- 
duces this record, spent his boyhood days 
in the usual manner of farmer lads of the 
period. He was a youth of eight summers 
when he came with his parents to Ohio, 
and here in the common schools he acquired 
a good knowledge of the branches of learn- 
ing taught in such educational institutions. 
He afterward entered Wittenberg College, 
where he continued his studies for two years 
and then put aside his text books and en- 
tered the business world. He became in- 
terested with his brother Joseph in a cat- 
tle ranch in Kansas, where he remained for 
t\\M years and then returned to Springfield, 
where, in connection with others, he organ- 
ized the Thomas, Ludlow & Thomas Com- 
pany, for the manufacture of Superior grain 
drills and seeders, which relation was main- 
tained for thirteen years, on the expiration 
of which time Charles E. Thomas disposed 
of his interests and became a stockholder in 
the Thoiras Manufacturing Company. At 
the same time he became vice-president, 
hax'ing served in tins capacity since the or- 



ganization of the company. The output of 
the factory includes hay rakes, tedde/s, 
leaders, disc and spring too-th harrows, 
grain drills and seeders, and lawn mowers. 
Th.e present officers are: W. S. Thomas, 
president; C. E. Thomas, vice-president; J. 
B. JMiller, second vicc^>resident ; and H. H. 
Bean, secretary. The implements manufac- 
tured by this house are sold throughout the 
United States and the company also does a 
huge exix>rt business, sending its product 
t.> the Argentine Republic, to England, 
France and Germany. Its trade is steadily 
increasing and the house enjoys an unas- 
sailable reputation because its business 
methods are reliable and will bear the closest 
investigation. The relations between em- 
pluyers and employes are also pleasing and 
creditable to both. The operati\es in the 
factory know that faithfulness to duty will 
win recognition, followed by promotion as 
opportunity offers. 

Mr. Thomas was united in marriage 1. 1 
Miss Jennie Larnerd, in Buffalo', New \'o\k, 
a daughter of Joseph Larnerd, liscjunc. 
The lady is well known and prcn.inent ia 
social circles here and is a membci- of ihe 
Daughters of the Revolution. Mr. Tiiom- 
as is a man of large means, having attained 
splendid success thrt>ug'h qualities which 
may be cultivated by all. He had no ■^])ecial 
pecuniary or family advantages to aid 
him at the outset of his career, but 
he possessed determination, resolution and 
a laudable ambition and with a per- 
sistent purpose he has steadily advanced 
until a comfortal>le competence has re- 
warded his labors. Socially he is deserv- 
edly popular, as he is affable and gracious 
in manner and possesses the happy faculty 
of making friends readily and of strengthen- 
ing the ties of friendship as time advances. 
In matters of citizenship he is progressive 



714 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and public spirited. While he has never 
taken an active part in pubhc affairs, as 
far as seeking pubHc honors is concerned, 
he has always been deeply interested in 
and contributed freely to the furtherance 
of the measures which he approved. By 
reason of his large success, his unblemished 
character, his just and liberal life, and the 
universal esteem which he here enjoys. Air. 
Thomas might, without invidious distinc- 
tinction, be called the foremost citizen of 
Springfield. 

JOHX W. VEAZELL. 

Anu>ng tlie business interests which con- 
tribute to the prosperity and commercial ac- 
tivity in New Moorefield is that conducted 
by Air. Yeazell, dealer in flour, grain, coal 
and feed. He has labored earnestly to secure 
a good trade and his business methods have 
ever been such as would l)ear the closest 
investigation and scrutin\-. for he has strict 
regard for commercial ethics. 

He was born in the township of Aloore- 
field, Octoljer 14, 1836, and is a so<n of 
George and Elizabeth (Jones) Yeazell. 
Upon the home farm his boyhood days 
were passed in the usual manner of lads of 
the ])criod and in the district schools he mas- 
tered the branches of Icaniing usually 
taught in such institutions. He had passed 
his twenty-first birthday when be started 
out in life upon his own account, by operat- 
ing rented land. He had lieen married on 
the loth of Xoven-ber, 1857. in Plea.sant 
township, Clark county, to Aliss Sarah J. 
Fergiison. a daughter of Joseph and Jane 
(Keer) Ferguson, who lived in Pleasant 
township imtil 1890. 

In 1870 Air. Yeazell purchased land be- 
coming the owner of a farm of one hundred 
and fifty acres in Pleasant township and 



there he continued to live until 1890, during 
wliich time he erected two barns upon his 
place and remodeled the house. He still 
owns the farm, which is a good one of the 
county. In the year mentionetl. however, 
he purchased the nill ])roperty at Xew 
Aloorefield. It was then equipped with the 
old fashioned burrs but he at once put in 
a roller process and has developed a paying 
business. In 1901 he further remodeled the 
plant, putting in a sifter system in place of 
the reel system. The mill is operated l)y 
water power and has a capacity of fifty bai - 
rels per day. Air. Yeazell has a large sale 
for the Royal flower which he manufactures 
and he also deals in grain, coal and feed, 
having a liberal patronage. 

Unto our subject and his wife ha\e been 
Ixvrn four children, Irut two of the number 
died in infancy. Charles, born in Sepleni- 
i.>er. 1838, passed away in September, 1893. 
He was married in Alissouri to Aliss Emma 
Miller, studied law in Springfield and was 
admitted to the bar. He was so ambitious 
that, while pursuing his studies he did not 
take the needed time for rest and recreation, 
his health became impaired and he lived but 
a few months after he became a practicing 
lawyer. He left two children. Leona and 
Edwin, the latter being now a jjartner with 
his uncle at Columbia. Alissouri. in a shoe 
store there. Lena G.. torn June 16. 1875, 
is at home with her parents. 

Air. Yeazell cast his first presidential 
vote in i860 for Bell. He had been reared 
in the Whig faith and after his first vote 
was cast he became a Republican and has 
since voted with the party. For nine years 
he has filled the oftice of justice of the peace, 
discharging his duties with fairness, prompt- 
ness and impartiality. Although he has 
tried n\anv cases none have ever been ap- 
pealed. He has lieen a trustee of Pleasant 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



715 



township for a few years, but is not a poli- 
tician in the sense of office seeking, his busi- 
ness ciainiing- the greater part of liis time. 
Formerly lie was connected with the Inde- 
pendent Order of OdcJ Fellows at Catawba. 
It will be interesting in this connection 
to note something of the' family history of 
Mr. Yeazell. His father was George Yea- 
zell_, whoi was born in Virginia, and was 
fourteen years of age when in 181 1 he came 
to Ohio with his parents, Abraham and 
Rachel (Curl) Yeazell, who were also na- 
tives of the Old Dominion. The grandfa- 
ther became the owner of a large tract of 
land and died in this state at the age of 
fifty-live years. GeoTge Yeazell also; had 
extensive realty holdings, comprising four 
hundred acres of valuable land. He died at 
the age of sixty-eight years, respected by 
all who knew him, because his life had been 
an honorable and upright one. He left nine 
children, of whom our subject was the fifth 
in order of 'birth, while'five are still living. 
George, \\-hoi was a farmer and died in Ca- 
tawba, left eight children. Mary Ann was 
ntarried and is now deceased. Jeremiah 
died in Harmony to-wnship, leaving one 
child. Eliza became the wife of Dr. Gower 
anil died in Moorefield township, leaving 
one son. John W. was the next o'f the fam- 
ily. Isaac is a carpenter living in Spring- 
field and has three children. Caroline is 
llie widow of Alartin [Mahar, by whom she 
liad five children, and her home is in Ca- 
tawlia. Angeline is the wife O'f John Walt- 
nan, by whom she has two children, their 
home being Pleasant township. Francis 'SI. 
lives in Springfield and has five children. 
Jeremiah was a lieutenant in the Seven- 
teenth Ohio \'(ilunteer Battery and, losing 
his health in the service, was therefore ob- 
liged to resign. Francis M. served as a 
private of the Sixteenth Ohio Battery. 



ADAM LEXHART. 

Adam Lenhart is the eificient superin- 
tendent of the Children's Home of Clark 
county. He was born in Westmoreland 
county, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1840, upon 
his father's farm. He is a son of Abraham 
Lenhart, who was a native of the same coun- 
ty and spent many ytz.\'s in Pennsylvania. 
He married Leah Shettler, also a native of 
Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. The 
Lenharts are of German ancestry and the 
grandmother of our subject was English. 
On the paternal side Adam Lenhart also 
comes from German ancestry, his grandfa- 
ther ha\ing been born in Germany where his 
people were well-to-do and prosperous 
farmers. Both faniilies have been noted for 
longevity. William Shettler, an uncle of 
our subject, is still living in Pennsylvania. 
In the Lenhart family there are eight sons 
and two daughters, of whoni Abraham Len- 
hart is the only one that died as young as 
sixty years of age. He lived in the Keystone 
state through a long period and then re- 
moved westward to Kansas, where he passed 
away when his life span had covered six 
decades. Unto him and his wife were born 
nine children : Adam, of this review ; 
Christopher, who died at the age oi tjiirteen 
years: Susan, the widow of William Cox 
and a resident of Kansas; Margaret, the 
wife of Washington, Hutchinson, of Kan- 
sas ; Henry, who is a stone-mason of the 
sane state; Abraham, whO' died in Kansas; 
Sarah, the wife of James Charlesworth, of 
Kansas; William, a stone-mason of Eldo-- 
rado, Missouri ; and Anna, who died of 
smallpox in childhood. The father and sons 
cleared the land which they obtained after 
the removal of the fanfily to the west and 
were engaged in farming there. Both par- 
ents were members O'f the Lutheran church 



7i6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and Mr. Lenliart was a Deiv.ocrat in liis 
]jolitical affiliations. 

Adam Lenhait of this review received 
but limited educational privileges. He ac- 
con.panied his parents on their removal 
from Pennsylvania to Ohio. 'I1ie family 
located at Cincinnati, whence they afterward 
went to Hamilton county, Illinois. There 
they remained for about four years, when 
they became residents of Kansas. Tliere 
Adam Lenhart assisted his father in clear- 
ing the liome farm, working in this way 
until his- marriage. Their Ohio farm lay 
in the path of General Morgan when on his 
raid and the Rebel troops took all of the 
vegetables which had been raised that year 
on tlie Lenhart farm, together with all of 
the stock whicii they could obtain, but ilid 
not secure the horses. 

In 1864 Mr. Lenhart was united in mar- 
riage to Isabella Bolen, who was born in 
Oiiicj in 1844, was educated in that state antl 
with her parents removed to Han:iltt)n 
county, Illinois. Her father. Xclswn 
Bolen, was a contractor and briilge builder 
and also owned a farm.. By his first n ar- 
riage he had two sons and two daughters 
who are yet living, while two daughters 
survive of the second marii?ge. These are : 
John Bolen, who is superintendent of build- 
ings for the Dayton, Springfield & Urbana 
Railroad and resides in Springfield; Harry, 
who is a stockman and fanner of the Indian 
Territory; Mrs. Lenhart; Jeanetta, the wife 
of Joseph Sample, of Colorado; and Lor- 
etta, who is also married and resides in Co'- 
orado. The last two are twins and thev 
went to Colorado, where they seemed home- 
steads and made their own way. 

Aftei" their marriage our subject and 'ns 
wife lived for a time in Illinois and for a 
short period he carried on farn.iing, after 
which he secured a position as stationary 



engineer, acting in that capacity for several 
years or until his removal to Springfield 
in 1875. Unto them was born a daughter, 
Elsie L., whose birtli occurred in 1866 
and who is the widow of Dr. John G. 
Kennan, a physician of Springfield, who 
died in this city in 1896. They had 
three children: Isabella, Gardner and 
Lucile. !Mrs. Kennan and her family reside 
w iih her father at the Children's Home and 
since 1901 she has had charge of the kin- 
dergarten of the hon.e. Tliere were three 
other children born untO' Mr. and Mrs. Len- 
hart but they died in infancy. 

At the refjuest of relatives ]\Ir. Lenhart 
returned to Springfield and found employ- 
n ent in the works of the St. John Sewing 
Machine Company, fitting up the plant. He 
afterwards accqjted a position as foreman 
of the United States stamp department, as- 
sisting largely in the development of the 
works. He then left that position and lived 
retired for about two years, at the end of 
w bich time he was appointed liy the trustees 
of the comity as superintendent of the ClarK 
County Children's Hon-.e in !March, 1885. 
rhis home had been founded six years pre- 
vious. Under the supervision and admin- 
istration of Mr. Lenhart the institution has 
been built up and the number of imnates has 
been increased from forty-nine to sixty- 
five. During his term of service more than 
one thousand children have found refuge 
in the home and from it have gone out into 
private homes, where they would be well 
cared for. The average age of the children 
is three years. They are brought here in 
early inf;mcy and Mr. Lenhart, with his 
assistants, have charge of their etlucation 
and welfare until they are sixteen years of 
age unless in the meantime they are well 
located in pri\ate homes. Our subject has 
done much to improve the institution and 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



717 



the grounds connected with it. The school- 
house, engine house and other outbuildings 
have been erected under his supervision and 
e\'erything about the place indicates his 
careful management and progressive spirit. 
While in the sewing. machine v\'orks he was 
one of the directors of the county infirmary 
and l-e would have been renominated for 
a second term had he not recei\-ed the ap- 
pointment to his present position and re- 
signed the board in order to accept it. The 
farm connected with the Children's Home 
consists of sixty-five acres and with the aid 
of the overseer and the children he raises 
a large per cent, of the food used in the 
home. It is therefore self-suppoirting to a 
considerable degree, for dairy products, 
eg\gs,_ butter, fruit and garoen vegetables 
are also produced here. Mr. Lenhart is a 
practical m.an and gives his personal atten- 
tion to the outside work, taking good care 
of the machinery and tools, and everything 
abcnit the place is kept in first class condi- 
tion and is neat and orderly. He has a 
Ihorough knowledge of the pluml)ing in the 
house and the engine for heating and due 
regard is paid to sanitary conditions. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Lenhart hold mem- 
bership in the First Baptist church of 
Springfield. He is one of its trustees, hav- 
ing occupied that office for a long- time, 
and he conducts the Sunday-school of the 
hon:e. He belongs to Ephraini Lodge, No. 
146, I. O. O. F. ; to Red Star Lodge, K. 
P. ; and is a member of the Ohio Charities 
and Corrections Association, which has su- 
pervision of all charitable institutions of the 
state. In 1900 he served as chairman of 
the Children's Hom.e, on the committee of 
that organization, and he is a member of 
the reception committee of the association, 
the meeting tO' be held in Springfield in the 



fall of 1902. He was also appointed by 
Go\-ernor Nash as a delegate to the na- 
tional conference in June, 1902, but his 
duties were such that he could not attend. 
In politics he is an earnest and stalwart Re- 
publican and is serving as a member of the 
count}- central committee in Springfield 
township. Mr. Lenhart has led an upright, 
useful life, one which has been a benefit to 
his fellow men and indicates his broad and 
humanitarian principles and his Christian 
belief. 



JOHN B. CRAIN. 

Since September, 1897, John B. Crain 
has acceptably filled the oftilce of county 
com.missioner of Clark county. He was 
torn in Springfield, May 7, 1847, and is a 
son of John A. Crain, now deceased. The 
family is a Irish ancestry and was founded 
in this country at an early day by represen- 
tatives of the name, who settled in Penn- 
sylvania. John Crain, the grandfather of 
our subject, removed from the Keystone 
state to Clark county, Ohio', in 1806, be- 
con-.ing one of the first settlers to locate 
within its borders. Indians were living i'^ 
this pOTticn of Ohio at the time of his ar- 
rival and w ild animals were seen in the for- 
ests, while many kinds of wild game 
furnished ample opportunity for the hunts- 
men to enjo}' his love of sport. The grand- 
fatlier, v\dio was a young man at the time 
of his removal to this state, purchased a 
tract of land which he cleared and improved. 
This was government land and the patent 
whicli he obtained is still in possession of 
the family. Jobn A. Crain, the father, of otir 
subject, was one of eleven children and was 
born in Bethel township on the old family 



718 



•^HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



homestead in 1814. He pursued his edu- 
cation in the schools which had been estab- 
lished and in early life he engaged in clerk- 
ing for a number of years. He filled a 
clerkship in the postoftice under Sprigman 
and during the administration of President 
W. H. Harrison he was appointed to the 
position of postmaster, which by re-appoint- 
ment he continued to fill for eight years. 
After his father's death he returned to the 
old home place. About four years prior to 
his demise he ttx>k up his abode in Spring- 
field, spending his last days in retirem.ent 
there. One of the honored pioneer settlers 
and native sons of the county, he passed 
away at the ripe old age of seventy-seven 
years. His wife, who bore the maiden name 
of Anner M. Bacon, a daughter of Johti 
Bacon, one of Springfield's first settlers, is 
also deceased. They were the parents of six 
children, of whom four are yet living, 
namely: John B.. Charles R., Mary, and 
Edmund C. 

John B. Grain, whose name introduces 
this review, is indebted to the public-sclnxM 
system for the educational privileges which 
he enjoyed. He has followed farniing 
throughout his entire life and resides in 
Bethel township, near the old home place. 

In 1872, in the city of Springfield, Mr. 
Grain was united in marriage to Miss Lydi 
Hotsenpiller, and their union has been 
blessed with five children : Mary, Madge, 
Bertha, Kathleen and John, all of whom arc 
yet under the parental roof, the family cir- 
cle being stil! unbroken by the hand of death. 
The three eldest are graduates of the high 
school of Bethel township and Kathleen has 
completed a high school course in Spring- 
field. 

In his political views Mr. Grain is an 
earnest Republican and although he has 
never been an aspirant tor pulitical honors 



or sought office as a reward for party fealty 
he was elected to the position of county 
commissioner in 1897 and so capably filled 
the office that in 1900 he was re-elected for 
the second term, so that his incumbency will 
cover six years. He has ever been deeply 
interested in whatever pertains to the atl- 
\ancement of agricultural interests and the 
welfare of the farming class. 



WILLIAM DIEHL. 

Character and ability will come to the 
front e\'erywhere. As boy and man many 
a one has been buffeted by fortune and had 
almost insurmountable Obstacles forced in 
their path, but perseverance has cleared 
them away and he has gone on to success. 
William Diehl, who became a leading, suc- 
cessful and honored representative of the 
business interests of Springfield, was one, 
v,ho, without any extraordinary family or 
pecuniary advantages at the commencement 
of life, battled earnestly and energetically 
and by indomitable courage and integrity 
attained both character and fortune. His 
loss to the community therefore was widely 
felt. 

Mr. Diehl was born in Reinheim, Prus- 
sia, Xovember 29, 18 19. ancLwas a son of 
John Justus and Catherine (Finger) Diehl. 
The n-other died in 1826 and in 1832 tlie 
father brought the family to America, 
crossing the .\tlantic to Baltimore, Mary- 
land, whence he made his way directly to 
Auglaize county, Ohio. The Indians were 
yet mmierous in that section of the state and 
the land was wild and unimprove<l. He 
settled u]X>n a new farm, but -was not long 
pern-.itted to enjoy his home there, his 
death occurring after eighteen months" resi- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



719 



(lence in that county. In the family were 
~ix cliildren. 

William Diehl of this review began his 
education in his native country and com- 
pleted it in the schools of .America, being 
a student for a time in Springfield. At the 
age of sixteen he worked in Da}-ton, Ohio, 
where he Ijegan to learn the trade of a cop- 
persmith, serving a four years' apprentice- 
ship, during which time he mastered the 
business in all of its branches, becoming 
a thoroug'h w'orkman. He was afterward 
■ iiiployed as a journeyn:an until 1841, 
. hen he located in Springfield and opened 
.1 coppersmith aaid tinsmith shop. Later he 
-MJd the business and for five years he was 
identified with meixantile interests of this 
city as a proprietor of a grocery and feed 
homse. In 1872 he turned his attention to 
the iron and hardware business, establish- 
ing his store in the Black Opera House 
block on West Alain street, where he re- 
mained for two years, when he removed to 
42 West Main street, where his eldest son, 
William W. Diehl, now conducts the busi- 
ness. Our subject remained at its head 
until 1885, when he retired to private life, 
having acciuired a hand.soar.e competence, 
which enabled him to- put aside the more 
• irduous cares of business and enjoy tb.c 
fruits O'f his former labor. 

As a companion and helpmate for life's 
journey William Diehl chose Miss Cather- 
ine Frankenberg, the w'edding being cele- 
brated in 1844. The lady was a native of 
Germany and died leaving one son, William 
W. Diehl. In November, 1850. Mr. Diehl 
was again married, his second union being 
with Miss .\nn M. Roms'ne. a daughter of 
Justus and Margaret (Michael) Romshe. 
Mrs. Diehl was born in Reinhein , Prussia, 
and by her marriage because the nuther of 



foiur children. Antia M., the eldest, be- 
came the wife of J. P. Albin, who was born 
in Tremont City, Ohio, August 2j, 1847, 
and is a son of Gabriel and Anna (Pence) 
Albin. With his father he was engaged in 
the manufacture of coffins in Springfield at 
one time and, remoiving to Cincinnati, they 
carried on the same line of business there. 
J. P. Albin was in the one hundred day 
service during the Civil war and afterward 
enlisted for three years, but served for only 
one year when the war closed. He was a 
member of the Maso'uic fraternity, in which 
he attained the Knight Templar degree. 
Mrs. Albin now makes her home with her 
n-other, Airs. Diehl. She has one child, 
Charles, who married Miss Grace Harnish 
and they reside in this city. Clara C, the 
second m.ember of the Diebl family, is the 
wife of C. M. Hubbard, a resident of Co- 
lumbus. George A. married Anna Ross 
and they reside in Chicago, Illinois, wdiere 
he is engaged in merchandising. He was 
the founder of the Lyon Hardware Com- 
pany of Springfield. Charles, the youngest 
member of the Diehl family, was an ex- 
ceptionally 'bright boy, but he died at the 
age of thirteen years, his death proving a 
great blow to the family. 

Mr. Diehl was a n:an of influence and 
prominence in the city of Springfield and his 
efforts proved of value in promoting public 
advancement. He erected over sixty dwell- 
ings and business blocks in the city, thus 
making judicious investments in early real 
estate. He was also' one oi the stockholders 
of the Springfield National Bank. In busi- 
ness affairs his council was to be depended 
upon. He was a man of sound judgment, 
of keen discrimination and O'f unfaltering 
enterprise and his efforts not only brought 
-MC'-e-'^ to himself and familv, but he also 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



belong-ed to that class of representative 
Airerican citizens, who, while promoting 
individual prosperity, also advanced the gen- 
eral welfare. For fourteen years he served 
as appraiser on the board of equalization. 
In early life his political support was given 
the ^\'hig party, his first presidential ballot 
being cast for Henry Clay. On the dissolu- 
tion of that party he joined the ranks of the 
new Rq^ublican party and remained one of 
its stalwart advocates until his death. In 
his church work his efforts were ably 
assisted b}- those of his estimable wife, 
a lady who possesses many e.xcellent 
traits of heart and mind, who is charitable, 
benevolent and. kindly, and whose friends 
in the community are many. Both Mr. and 
^Irs. Diehl were members of the First 
Lutheran church, of which he was a most 
liberal contributor and to the work of the 
church lx)th lent active and efficient aid. 
In April, 1887, this worthy couple started 
for Europe and si>ent some time amid the 
scenes of his boA'hood and in visiting many 
places of interest abroad. They then re- 
turned to -America. Mr. Diehl spending his 
remaining days in the home of his adopted 
city, where he had become so widely and 
fa\orabh' known and where he was long 
regariled as influential in business and finan- 
cial circles. He passed away in October, 
1895, and was laid to rest in Ferncliff cem- 
etery. He never had occasion to regret 
the fact that he early became an American 
citizen. He found in the business oppor- 
tunities of this world the opening which he 
desired and gradually advanced to a fore- 
most position in the plane of affluence. He 
gained, too, the rewards of an upright char- 
acter — the respect and admiration of his 
fellow men and the warm friendship of 
those with whom he had intimate social re- 
lations. 



ROBERT R. MILLS. 

In controlling one of the extensive and 
im.portant business enterprises of Spring- 
field, Robert R. Mills, has shown that he is 
notably reliable, prompt and energetic in 
business affairs. He is now associated with 
his brotlier, \\illiam Mills, under the firm 
name of Mills Brothers, in owning and 
operating large quarries in this locality and 
in deahng in all kinds of building stone and 
manufacturing lime on an extensive scale. 

Robert R. Mills was born in Springfield 
on the 8th of January, i860, a son of Will- 
iam and Mary (Johnson) Jlills. His father 
was a native of the north of Ireland, his 
natal year being 1824. He pursued his edu- 
cation on the Emerald isle and was twenty- 
five years of age when he came to Spring- 
field, being the first of the family to seek 
a home in the new world. He was one of 
four children and two of his sisters are now 
living, Mrs. Sarah Kingsbury and Mrs. 
Rachel Clark, both of whom are residents 
of Appanoose county, Iowa. Another sis- 
ter, JNIrs. Man' Clark, died in 1901 when 
alx>ut eighty years of age. 

Tlie father of oim subject was united in 
marriage to Mary Johnson and their wed- 
ding trip consisted of the voyage to the new 
world, where they had relatives living. Mr. 
Mills was a landscape gardener, having 
served an apprenticeship to the business, 
which he afterward followed for a number 
of years in Springfield. For seven years he 
served as street commissioner here and then 
took contracts for heavy work, constructing 
many of the principal streets of this ^ity. 
He was a hard working, industrious n-)an 
who advanced in business circles to a credit- 
al>lc position, becoming one of the largest 
contractors of his day. His honesty, too, 
was proverbial and the patronage accorded 




R R. MILLS. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



723 



him came in recognition of liis capability 
and fidelit}^ to duty. A self-made man, Jie 
deserved all the credit which that term im- 
plies. He woiild ne\-er stoop to the slight- 
est act oif dishonesty but was ever fair and 
just in all his dealings. He was popular 
among his associates, by whom he was al- 
ways called "Billy" Mills. In his political 
views he was a Democrat where questions 
of party policy were involved, but at local 
elections he cast his vote *independent of 
party ties, and when he was the candidate 
for street commissioner he received almost 
the entire vote of his con:munily. Both he 
and his wife were devoted and loyal mem- 
bers of the Episcopal church. His death 
occurred in the year 1877; and his wife, 
who was born in 1823, was called to her 
final rest in 1865. 

This worthy couple were the parents of 
>c\ en children, of whom one daughter. 
Rachel, died at the age of fourteen years. 
The others are : Mary J., the wife of Alex- 
ander G. Mackenzie, whose home is at No. 
185 South Limestone street, Springfield; 
Sarah, deceased ; Agnes E., the wife of Ed- 
viard Jessup, oi St. Charles, Illinois, a min- 
ister of the Lutheran church ; \Villiam and 
Roliert R., who are partners in lousiness; 
and Essa, the deceased wife o-f Judge J. 
P. Goodwin. Tlie children were provided 
with excellent educational privileges, all at- 
tending the public schools of Springfield, 
and both Mrs. Jessup and Mrs. Goodwin 
\\e\-& graduates of the high school and the 
form.er successfully engaged in teaching in 
this city for about -five years under the prin- 
cipalship O'f Major White. They have all 
followed the inspiriing example of their fa- 
ther, who started out upon his business ca- 
reer empty handed, but by perseverajice, de- 
termination and honorable methods steadi- 



ly worked his way upward tO' success, leav- 
ing to his family not only a comfortable 
competence, but the priceless heritage of 
an untarnished name. 

Rbbert R. Mills pursued his education 
in the public schools, in the high school of 
Springfield and in Wittenberg College, 
where he pursued an elective course of three 
years. He then entered the drug store of 
Charles Ludlow in order toi learn the busi- 
ness, remaining there for fifteen months. 
He was appointed assistant street commis- 
sioner of Springfield and served for three 
years, pi'oving a competent ofhcial, because 
he possessed much mechanical ability. He 
then turned his attention to general con- 
tracting, Avhich he followed for some years, 
being known as a successful street con- 
tractor. He was afterward given the posi- 
tion oif general foreman for Amos White- 
ley, with whom he remained foir a year, and 
in Novem'ber, 1887, with his hrother, pur- 
chased the quarries which they now own. 
They are largely engaged in the manufac- 
ture of lime and crushed stone and deal in 
all grades of building stone, doing a whole- 
sale business. They draw their trade from 
a radius of about fifty miles and their pa- 
tronage has steadily increased until the 
amount of their business enables them to 
employ over one hundred workmen. They 
have eighty acres of land where their qirar- 
ries are located, on the line of the Big Four 
railroad, William having supervision of 
the cpiarries, while Robert R. has control 
of the office business, the sales, and in fact 
the general managen^ent of the business. 

In 1896. in Yellow Springs, Ohio, Rob- 
ert R. Mills was united in marriage tO' Miss 
Anna Mellinger, who was boru' in Clark 
county in 1873, ''"f^ '^^^^ ^^Y 6. 190 1. She 
was a daughter of J. H. Mellinger, one of 



724 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the largest sttxk dealers of this part of 
Oliio, whose death occurred in 1896. Unto 
]\Ir. and Mrs. Mills were lx)rn diree chil- 
dren : Robert M., who died March 4, 1901, 
Ijeing- four years old; Rachel Louise; and 
Ralph Edgar. Mr. Mills owns his present 
beautiful home at No. 185 South Lime- 
stCTie street, as well as considerable otlier 
real estate in the city and county. 

In politics Mr. Mills is a Republican, 
and although many offices have been ten- 
dered him he has steadily refused to accept 
IX)litical prefern.ait. He is a member of 
the vestry of Christ Episcopal church 
and is very prominent in Masonic cir- 
cles, belonging to Clark Ltxlge, No. loi, 
F. & A. M.; Springfield Chapter. R. 
A. M., Springfield Council. R. & S. M. : 
and Palestine Commandery, K. T. He 
has attained the thirty-second degree 
of the Scottish Rite and belongs to Syrian 
Temple of the ilystic Shrine. He served 
as senior deacon in the blue lodge two years 
and senior warden for one year. He is a 
n-ember of the Springfield park Ixjard and 
also of the Ix>ard of trade and Commercial 
Club of Springfield. He is one of the 
stockholders oi the Home City Telephone 
Company and has aided materially in the 
substantial upbuilding and improven:ent of 
Springfield. In manner he is free from all 
ostentatious display, but his intrinsic worth 
is recognized and his friendship is most 
prized by tliose who know hinl best, show- 
ing that his character will bear the scrutiny 
of close acquaintance. He is a generous 
spirited broad minded n:;ui, a true type of 
the American citizen and an -embodiment 
of that progress which in the last few years 
has drawn to this country the admiring 
gaze of the nations of the world. 



ARTHUR W. GRANT. 

Arthur W. Grant, whose inventive 
genius has led to the develoimient of one 
of the important industries of the coimtry 
and who was a partner in the Kelly Rubber 
Tire Company, of Springfield, was born on a 
farm in Monroe county. Michigan. May 
22. 1859. ^lie family is of Scotch lineage. 
The father of our subject was a carpenter 
by trade and followed that pursuit during 
the greater part of his life, although he 
lived uijon a farm. He was a soldier of the 
Civil war, going to the front in response to 
the second call for troops and was killed in 
action. His wife, who in her maidenhood, 
was Maria E. Henry, still survives him and 
now resides in Toledo. Oliio, at the age of 
sixty-six years. In their family were foiu' 
children, but Clara, the eldest and the wife 
of Charles Cobb, died at her home in Chi- 
cago. Illinois, about 1898. Those still liv- 
ing are:- Arthur W. ; Henry, of Detroit, 
Ivlichigan ; and Ella, who makes her home in 
Chattantwga, Tennessee. 

-Vrthur \\'. Grant spent the first nine 
years of his life on the home farm in Mich- 
igan. In the meantime his father died and 
about 1868 the mother removed with her 
children to Toledo, Ohio, where our subject 
attended the ])ublic schools until sixteen 
years of age. He then .returned to Michi- 
gan, remaining on the old farm until twenty- 
one years of age. At that time he again 
tCK>k up his abotle in Toledo and apprenticed 
himself to learn the machinist's trade for 
which he seemed to have a natural predilec- 
tion, hut no matter how strong one's natural 
talents, the ability is latent and must be 
brought forth through earnest, persistent 
effort. Mr. Grant worked in a shop where 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



725, 



engines were built and Ijefore he had com- 
pleted his term of apprenticeship he had be- 
con:e soi proficient that he was offerefl a 
position as stationary engineer, in which 
capacity he served for four years. Return- 
ing to- Toledo on the expiration of that 
period he was offered the position of super- 
intendent !>}■ the Gendron Iron Wheel Com- 
pany, with which he remained until his re- 
n.oval to Springfield in 1884. 

Mr. Grant came to this city in response 
to the request of some parties who- were es- 
tablishing an iron-wheel manufactory and 
of the new industry he was given charge 
as foreman and later was made superintend- 
ent. His capability, fidelity and the trust 
reposed in him by the company is indicated. 
by the fact that his connection therewith 
covered ten years. On the expiration of 
that period ^Mr. Grant embarked in business 
for himself, forming a partnership with 
E. S. Kelly under the firm name of the Kelly 
Rubber Tire Company. ^Ir. Grant was the 
inventor of the rubber tire now used on all 
kinds of vehicles. The business was after- 
ward sold to a New York concern and is 
now kno'wn and conducted under the name 
of the Consolidated Rubber Tire Company. 
Througli bis in\-entinn Mr. Grant has con- 
tributed much to the industrial world, 
giving rise to an enterprise of much prac- 
tical value for his invention is now in use 
ill almost every vehicle manufactory in the 
country. In 1899 Mr. Grant purchased a 
farm of about five hundred acres located in 
Moorefield township, where he is extensive- 
ly interested in general farming. 

After coming to this city Mr. Grant pur- 
chased a home on South Fountain avenue. 
He was married in Toledo-. Ohio, to- Miss 
^lay ilailey, who- was born in Grand Rap- 
ids, Ohio, a daughter of William and Ann 
Mailey, both residents of Grand Rapids. 



Mrs. Grant was educated in the pub- 
lic schools of that place and was one of a 
family o-f six children, all of whom are liv- 
ing, namely : Mrs. Lillie Sabin, of Grand 
Rapids; Mrs. Grant; Mrs. Ella Conklin, of 
Weston, Ohio; Mrs. Nellie Chapman, of 
To-ledo, Ohio-; Mrs. Grace Engard, of 
Findlay, Ohio; and Mrs. Fei'n Cantelberry, 
of the same place. The marriage of ]\ir. 
and Mrs. Grant was celebrated- on the ^th 
of January, 1885, and has been blessed with 
one daughter, Grace All^erta, bxi-rn in 1886, 
and now a student in Wittenljcrg College, of 
Springfield. 

In his political views Mr. Grant is a 
Republican, but in local elections, where no 
issue is invo-lved, he votes independently, 
considering only the capability of the candi- 
date. He has been solicited to- accept office, 
but has always refused tO' do so. He be- 
longs to Clark Lodge, F. & ^\. M., and is 
a supporter of church and charitable work. 
He also belongs to the Lagonda Club, is a 
member of the Commercial Club and tlie 
Matinee Driving Chib. of which he is one of 
the directors. In 1902 he purchased and re- 
modeled the Judge Goode home at 153 East 
High street and has made it one of the most 
modern homes in the city. In manner he is 
rather retiring, is entirely free from osten- 
tation, but though he never seeks to attract 
public attention, his worth as a man and a 
citizen ha\e gained for him many friends. 



JACOB YEAZEL. 

Of one of the old and well known fami- 
lies of Clark county Jacob Yeazel is a mem- 
ber. From an early period in the de\-elop- 
ment of this sectio-n of the state rqiresenta- 
tives of the name lia\e been active in re- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



agricultural work and their lab(jrs have 
been effective in reclaiming this district for 
the uses of the white n^an, as the wild 
land has been transfonr.ed into good 
farms and the work of impro\ement 
and cultivation has been carried forward 
until Clark county now contains some 
of the richest farming districts of the 
state, owing its present prosperity in no 
small degree to the efforts of the agricul- 
turists. With this work the Yeazels have 
been closely and honorably identified and the 
subject of this review has lj<:)rne his full 
share in carrying on farming and stock- 
raising interests. 

He was born July 8, 1842. just over the 
line in Pleasant township, about a mile ana 
a half from where he now lives, his present 
home being in Moorefield township. His 
parents were Jeremiah and Jane Meteer 
(Hodge) Yeazel, and the grandparents 
were Abraham and Maiy (Curl) Yeazel, 
Jeremiah Yeazel was 'born January 16, 1806, 
and was but a lx>y when his parents came 
to Clark county, settling in Moorefield town- 
ship on a farm now owned by Ross Mitchell, 
and which adjoins the farm of our subject 
upon the northeast. The tales of pioneer 
exi)erience and of the development of the 
frontier read almost like a romance at the 
present day, so different are the conveni- 
ences which now exist. The forests were 
uncut and fields uncultivated, the streairis 
unbridged. and there were few roads, save 
the old Indian trails. The work of or- 
ganization, the establishment of towns, the 
transfonnation of wild land into farms and 
the building of homes, churches and schools, 
all this was the task of the future at the 
time when the Yeazel family was established 
in Clark count)-, but the work was under- 
taken l>y the grandfather of our subject, in 
connection with other honored pioneers, 



and the task has been carried forward by 
later generations of the famih". Tlie father 
of our .subject was reared amid the wild 
scenes of pioneer life, and although he had 
but common schfxjl privileges, he became a 
well informed man. After arriving at years 
of maturity he wedded the daughter of .An- 
drew and Isabel (Meteer) Hodge. Her fa- 
ther was boTn in Kentucky, and on horse- 
back started for Ohio. When crossing the 
Ohio river he lost his saddlebags, which 
contained his money, and dived to the bot- 
tom of the stream in order to regain theni. 
After reaching his destination he made a 
settlement in Pleasant township, and it was 
there that Mrs. Yeazel was probably lx>rn, 
her natal day being December 24, 1809, 
while on the 20th of December, 1827, she 
gave her hand in marriage to the father of 
our subject. They became tlie parents of 
twelve children, all of whom reached iran- 
hood or womanhood. William is now a 
resident of Pleasant township. John re- 
sides near his brother Jacob. Sarah A., 
1x>rn August i, 1832, became the wife of 
Lowe StoU, who died in Springfield October 
17, 1902, and she died in Madison county, 
Ohio. November i, 1869, leaving six chil- 
dren. James Hamilton, born November n, 
1834, died in Springfield August 30, 1881, 
leaving one child, Mrs. Laura Y. Krout. 
Mary Jane, born October 7, 1836, is the 
widow of Minor Tuttle, who died Augiust 
27, 1901. She lives on Lagonda avenue in 
Springfield and has four children. Isabel, 
lx)rn March 30, 1838, became the wife of 
John Cartmel and died, leaving two chil- 
dren, ^Irs. Jennie Butler and ]Mrs. Amanda 
Britcher. Andrew H., born September 23. 
1840. is living at Oakland. California, and 
has a large family. Jacob of this review is 
the next mem.ber of the fam.ily. Henry, 
born August 12. 1845. is living in Spring- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



727- 



field township and has five children. Louisa, 
born December 14, 1848, becaire the wife of 
Lafayette Runyan, and died October 23, 
1900, leaving foiu" children. Scott, born 
August 23, 1 85 1, died O'ctO'ber 12, 1884, 
and left six children. Edward Wright, born 
October 2, 1853, is living in Springfield 
township. The father of this family was a 
Whig in early life, and upon the dissolution 
of that party joined the ranks of the Re- 
publican party in 1856. At one time he 
served as land appraiser, but was never an 
office seeker, content to do his duty to his 
town and county as a private citizen. 

There was no» event of special in:port- 
ance to vary the routine of farm life for 
Jacob Yeazel in his youth. He was reared 
upon the odd homestead and attended the 
district schools. His father died when the 
son was eighteen years of age and on at- 
taining his majority the latter be^an work- 
ing foi- wages for his mother, with whom 
he ren:ained until after his marriage. On 
the 13th of January, 1870, in Harmony 
township, he wedded Miss Harriet A. 
Jones, who was born in that township, 
and is a daughter oi John Henry and Je- 
mima C.(Botkin) Jones. The young cou- 
ple l:)egan their domestic life upon the old 
Yeazel homestead, and alx>ut a year later 
remo'ved to the Jones farm, which Mr. Yea- 
zel conducted for three years, and on the 
expiration O'f that period he went to Vienna 
and in 1876 he purchased one hundred and 
sixty-nine acres of land, upon w^hich he is 
now living. Here he has erected a good 
residence and a large barn and also other 
necessary out-buildings for the shelter of 
grain and stock. The ecjuipn.ents of the 
place are in keeping with the progressi\-e 
spirit of the times and the neat and thrifty 
appearance o^f his farm is an indication of 
his careful supervision. 



The home of Air. and Mrs. Yeazel has 
been blessed \vith one daughter, Glenna,. 
who was born in Harmony township, near 
the village of \'ienna, and won a diploma 
from the Boxwell examination when fifteen 
years of age. She wa.s the first graduate of 
Moorefield township. Mr. Yeazel has been 
called to public office by his fellow towns- 
men, who recognize his worth and ability, 
and who haxt found that the trusts reposed 
in him have never been betrayed. He served 
as trustee of ^Moorefield township for five 
years, has for several years been a member 
of the board of educatio'U and for about ten 
years served as its clerk. He belongs to 
the Hon:e Protective Association, and in 
his political A'iews he is a Republican. 



JOHX H. MELLLXGER. 

John H. Alellinger, noav deceased, was 
for many }'ears a respected and worthy 
resident of Clark county. He was born in 
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, July 24, 
1835, a son of Jacob and Martha (Hertz- 
ler) Mellinger. The father's birth occurred 
in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and 
there he learned the miller's trade, which he 
followed during his early manliood, while 
later he devoted his energies to^ farming. 
\Vhen the subject of this review was about 
fourteen years of age the father came with 
his fam.ily to Clark county, Ohio, settling 
below Springfield on the Mud Run pike, 
where he purchased a large tract of land and 
there carried on agricultural pursuits until 
his death, which occurred when he was 
eighty-six years of age. A prosperous man, 
he owed his success to untiring energy, busi- 
ness ability and executive force, and his life 
proved conclusively that prosperit}- can 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



be obtained along tliese lines. His wife 
sur\ived him only about two years, passing 
aw ay when sevent}-eight years of age. Both 
w ere n.embers of the jMennonite church and 
Air. ]\Iellinger was a Republican in his po- 
litical \'iews. endorsing that party from its 
organization. 

John H. JMellinger of this review spent 
the first fourteen years of his life in the 
county of his nativity and then accompanied 
his parents on their removal to Ohio. His 
education was secured in the public schools 
of his native city and of Clark county, and 
when not engaged with the duties of the 
sdiool room he gave his attention to the 
work of the farm, being employed upon the 
old family homestead until after he had at- 
tained his tr.ajority. He was married on 
the 20th of Novejnber, i860, the lady of his 
choice being Miss Rachel Rosser, a daugh- 
ter of William and Maria (Snyder) Rosser. 
A native of Scotland, her father came to 
America in early life and located near 
Springfield, Ohio, making his home in this 
county throughout his remaining days. He 
was engaged in the lumber business at the 
time of his death, which occurred in i860, 
when he was about iifty-two years of age. 
His widow still sur\-ives him and resides 
w ith Airs. Alellinger at their attractive home 
on West Pleasant street. The n-'.arriage of 
Mr. and Airs. Mellinger was blessed with 
five children, of whom four are yet living, 
namely: Harry S., a \\ell known citizen 
of this county; En^na AL, the wife of Da- 
vid Herr, an undertaker, of Springfield, 
Ohio, by whom she has one child. Harry 
Samuel ; Alartha, the wife of Harry Hedges, 
who resides in Cleveland, Ohio, and has 
one child ; and John, a farmer, w ho resides 
in Springfield. The deceased member of 
the family is Annie, who was the wife of 
Robert A fills, a dealer in stone, lime and 



cen.ent in Springfield. She had three chil- 
dren, but the youngest, Rol:)ert, died before 
the mother's death. Tlie others are Rachel 
and Ralph. 

After his marriage John H. Alellinger 
engaged in business as a stock dealer and 
jobber, mailing extensive shipments to the 
eastern markets. He carried on business on 
a large scale, and his industry was not only 
the means of bringing to him a xery hand- 
some competence, but also proved of bene- 
fit to the community, for he furnished a 
hcmie market to the local stock dealers. In 
all his business transactions he was fair and 
just and was held in the highest regard by 
those with whom he can.e in cont^ict, by rea- 
son of his honest}- and his genuine worth. 
He took great pleasure in providing well 
for his family and at his death, which oc- 
curred in 1896, his loss was deeply deplored 
i)y many friends as well as by his w ife and 
children. 



JAAIES C. WALKER. 

James C. Walker, a contractor of 
Springfield, is well known throughout the 
city as Captain Walker, the title having been 
given him 1>y General Thomas at the bat- 
tle of Missionary Ridge, for valiant service 
displayed while leading his regiment in the 
engagement. He is an honored veteran of 
the Civil war and though but a lx)y when he 
entered the service no more loyal aid to the 
country and to the Union cause was given 
than by Captain Walker, who through four 
years was found as a defender of the Union. 

Tlie Captain was born in Harmony 
township. Clark county. Ohio, Xovenil)er 
30. 1S43, ^"fl 's a son of John and Alargaret 
(Jenkins) Walker. The latter was lx)rn in 
tlie same cabin in which the birth of our 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



729 



subject occurred. The fatlier was a native 
of Virginia., born in 1817, and liis father, 
James Walker, was bo-rn in Germany, 
whence he came to America, scttHng in Ha- 
gerstown, Maryland. In that locality he 
was married and there he and his wife 
Catherine took up their abode, their home 
being near Hagerstown, but across the line 
in Virginia. The grandfather of our sub- 
ject was a shoemaker by trade, following 
that pursuit m the Old Dominion until 1819, 
when he came with his family to Clark 
county, Ohio. He purchased property near 
Springfield and hoth he and his wife died 
on tiie old home place here, reaching ad- 
vanced ages. Of tlieir children one son and 
two daughters are living in Michigan. John 
\\alker, the father of our subject, was 
ixnind out in early life to Samuel Wolfe. 
He learned the carpenter's trade and worked 
as a farm hand and thus gained a good start 
in Harmony township. Here he was united 
in marriage to Margaret Jenkins, a daughter 
of William and Hester Jenkins, who were 
natives of Wales. Her father served in 
the American army as a soldier in the war 
of 1S12, and in recognition of his aid was 
given a land grant, which he located and 
upon the farm whicli he developed he re- 
mained until his death, which occurred when 
he was about seventy-four years of age. 
His wife died in 1864, when nearly ninety 
years of age. Mr. and Mrs. John Walker 
owned sixty-seven acres oi land and he also 
rented another tract, carrying on general 
farming with good success until 1857, when 
he removed to Springfield. The Walkers 
were of the German Lutheran faith, while 
the Jaikins family were connected with 
the Methodi.st Episcopal church. The fa- 
ther of oiir subject died in 1879 '^'^ ^^''^ '^&^ 
of sixty-two years and his wife passed away 
in 1861 at the age of thirtv-nine vears, her 



birth having occurred in 1822. Both were 
were laid to rest in Greenmount cemetery. 
In their family were ten children, of whom 
two died in early childliood. The others 
are: William H. H., of Lansing, Michi- 
gan, who ser\-ed for three months in Com- 
pany E, Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 
and for four years in the Forty-fourth In- 
fantry and the Eighth Ohio Cavalry in the 
Civil war, and was commissioned second 
lieutenant; James C, of this review; Joseph 
S., who was killed in Kentucky in 18&2, 
while ser\ing as a member of Company 
A, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; 
Milton O., who is a contractor and builder 
and also owns a fruit fami in Michigan; 
Mary Jane, the wife of John Rice, who re-' 
sides on East- Southern avenue, in Spring- 
field; George W., a farnner, living in Mis- 
soiuri; Louis H., alsO' a resident farmer of 
Missouri; and Margaret, the wife of Anson 
Sanith, of Trem.ont, Ohio. The father was 
again married, and by this second union 
three children were born. 

L'pon his father's farm James C. Walk- 
er of this review was reared, while in the 
district schools he pursued his education. 
In 1S57 he came to Springfield, which was 
then a sm.all town, and here he began learn- 
ing the carpenter's trade. At the first call 
for troops at the breaking out of the Ci\-il 
war he attempted to enlist on three different 
occasions, but was not accepted on account 
of his age, being then only a youth of sev- 
enteen. On the 1st of August, 1861, how- 
ever, he succeeded in joining the army in 
resix)nse to the call for three }-ears" men as 
a member of Company K, Thirt}-first Ohio 
Volunteer Infantry, and was in active serv- 
ice during the entire time. He was color 
bearer of the regiment from November, 
1863. until the close of the war and in 1865 
lie received an honorable discharge. He 



730 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL KECOIW. 



h'dd veteranized on the ist of Jannan-, 1864, 
in the same company and regiment. He 
took part in eighty-one engagements and 
never received a wound. He was in the 
battle of Mills Springs; the siege of Cor- 
inth, from April until the 29th of May, 
1862; the battle of Perryville, October 8, 
1862; St«ne River, on the last day of De- 
cember and the first day of Januar\-, follow- 
ing; Hoover's Gap, on the 27th of June, 
1863; Tullahoma, July i, 18O3; the battle 
of Chickamauga, September 19-20; Brown's 
Ferry, on the 27th of October ; and Mission- 
ary Ridge, November 25. 1863. There he 
was under General Thomas ; was color bear- 
er and led the regiment into the engage- 
ment. The flag was shot to pieces, being 
riddled by eighty-nine bullets, and he not 
only carried his own colors, but captured 
the colors of the Forty-first Alabama Regi- 
ment, and in recognition of his gallant serv- 
ices he was voted a medal by" congress. Here 
General Thomas conferred upon him the 
title of captain, but he was never commis- 
sioned. The next engagement in which he 
took part was at Dalton, on the 27th of 
November. 1863. At that time he re-enlist- 
ed and was granted a thirty days' furlough, 
which he si>ent at home. On the 1st of 
May, 1864, he started with Shermaii to At- 
lanta, and on the 14th of May took part in 
the battle of Resaca. He was in all the 
engagements in the Atlanta campaign and 
from that city to the sea, and was in the Ixit- 
tle of Bentonville, North Carolina, on the 
19th of March, 1865. He likewise to<^k 
part in the grand review in Washington, D. 
C. where he carried the l^attle scarred flag 
of the Thirty-first regiment in the grandest 
nilitary pageant ever seen on the western 
heirisphere. 

.\t the close of the war. with a most hon- 
orable military record. Captain Walker re- 



turned to Clark county and after visiting 
here for a time, went tO' Illinois, where he 
was engaged on the construction of the 
Vandalia Railroad between Terre Haute. 
Indiana, and St. Louis, Missouri, being em- 
ployed in carpentr)^ work on the bridges and 
depots. He was thus engaged for about 
eight years, and in 1873 ^^^ returned to 
Ohio, where he worked for the old Cincin- 
nati. Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad Com- 
pany in the same capacity. From 1874 un- 
til 1883 he was employed in the factories 
of Springfield, being largely engaged in 
bench work. In the latter year he was ap- 
jwinted a member of the ]X)lice force as 
driver of the patrol wagon, and in 1885 was 
appointed assistant chief. Soon afterward 
the chief died and Captain Walker was i\\>- 
pointed to the vacant position, in which he 
ser\ed for eighteen m.onths. On the expira- 
tion of that period, however, he turned his 
attention to carpentering work and also 
worked in the factories until 1893. He was 
then appointed constable to fill a vacancy 
and on completing his term was then 
elected. In 1900 he retired from office 
with the go<xl will and confidence of all, for 
he had proved a faithful otificial. Since that 
time he has given his attention to cari>enter 
wi.rk, which he has followed in Springfield. 
He has erected a number of residences, has 
luiilt an addition to the Ualker Brothers' 
shoe store for R. O. King and has done some 
remodeling on city property. 

Ca])tain Walker was m.arried Decemljer 
24. 1873. to Susie P. Llewellyn, who was 
horn in Columbia. Pennsylvania, in 1849, 
and is the daughter of Stephen Llewellyn, 
who died in the Keystone state. Tlie family 
had lived in Ohio and after the marriage of 
Stei)hen Llewellyn their hone had been es- 
tablished in Pennsylvania. After his death, 
however, his widow returned to the Buckeve 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



state. In their fair.ih' were six children: 
Michael \\'., a carpenter of Sterling, Illi- 
nois; David, deceased; Jeffrey S., who, like 
his elder brother, was a member of the For- 
ty-fourth Regiment, Eighth Ohio Cavalr}' in 
the Civil war, and is a molder by trade, 
residing on East Grand avenue, in Spring- 
field ; Susie, the wife oi our subject; Lillie, 
the wife of L. F. Shank, an undertaker, of 
Des Moines, Iowa ; Ella, who is the widow 
of Charles Hicks, ol South Charleston, and 
is engaged in teaching in Springfield. 

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walker ha\e been 
born seven children, all Ixjrn in Springfield, 
and two of the number died in infancy : 
Frank L., who was educated in the public 
sch<x)ls and in the International Correspond- 
ing School, is now a mechanical draftsman 
in the employ of Paul A. Staley; Harry I.. 
is a wood worker employed in the Foos 
shops, of Springfield; Wilbur L., who is a 
graduate of the high school in Springfield, 
pursued a course in the Young Men's Chris- 
tian Association school and is now a me- 
chanical draftsman employed by the Krotz 
[Manufacturing Company; M. Nellie is in 
the high school ; Lillie is also a student. The 
parents were reared in the faith of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, but are liberal in 
their religious vicAvs, although they endorse 
church and charitable work and contribute 
freeh- thereto. Mr. Walker belongs to 
Mitchell Post, Xo. 45, G. A. R., in which he 
served as adjutant for two years. He is a 
memljer of Stevens Regiment, Nol 16, Union 
\'eterans Union, was adjutant for one year, 
and in 1902 was made officer of the day. 
He holds membership relations with Clark 
Lodge, No. loi, F. & A. M., is a member of 
Aloncrieffe Lodge, Xo. 33, K. P., and is a 
charter member of Division Xo. 6. of the 
uniformed rank of the Knights of Pythias. 
In n-.iiitarv circles he is also connected with 



the Medal of Honor Legion of the United 
States. In politics he has been a stalwart 
Republican since casting his first presidential 
vote at Kingston, Georgia, in 1864, for 
Abraham Lincoln. He has been a delegate 
to state, city and county, as well as congres- 
sional conventions. The Captain is recog- 
nized as one O'f the active workers in the 
ranks of the party and is a citizen who is ever 
fearless in defense of his honest convic- 
tions, political or otherwise. A man of hon- 
or whose word can always be depended upon 
in the business world and social life he has 
won the confidence and respect of those with 
whom he has been associated. 



WILLIAM MILLS, Jr. 

William Mills, Jr., whose business inter- 
ests of an industrial character have gained 
for him a creditable place among the repre- 
sentative men of Springfield, was born in 
this city in 1857 a-nd is a son of William 
Mills, who is mentioned on another page of 
this work in connection with the sketch of 
Robert R. Mills. At the usual age our sub- 
ject entered the public schools and his youth 
was passed in a manner not unlike that of 
most boys of the period. After arriving at 
vears of maturity he desired to have a home 
of his own and as a companion and help- 
mate for the journey of life he chose ^iliss 
Mary C. Carr, of this city, a daughter of 
Joseph H. and Jane (Courtney) Carr. 
Twelve children were born unto her parents 
and of this number six are yet living, name- 
ly: Joseph H., a resident of Troy, Ohio; 
]\Irs. Alills : INIrs. Ed Powers, who is living 
in Marion., Ohio; "sirs. Lottie B. Smith; 
Mrs. O. D. Collier, of this city : and Emma. 
The home of our subject and his wife has 



TY^ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



been blessed with four cliildren, two sons 
and two daughters : Mary Courtney, wlio is 
nine years of age; William Carr, a youth of 
seveix years; Agnes Retecca, six years of 
age; and Joseph Alexander, a little lad of 
three sunimmers. 

jNIr. Mills cares for his family through 
enterprising business affairs. He is a mem- 
ber of the firm of Alills Brothers, engaged in 
the manufacture of lime and building sup- 
plies. The works are located in ]\[ad River 
township, west of Springfield, and the out- 
put of the plant is quite extensive, showing 
that the firm enjoys a liberal patronage. 
Their sales annually return to them a good 
financial reward foi- their labor. Mr. Mil^ 
votes with the Republican party and upon 
this ticket was elected to the office of street 
commissioner of Springfield, serving con- 
tinuously in that capacity from 1881 to 1885. 
His fraternal relations connect him with the 
^lasonic and Knights of Pythias lodges and 
he has many friends among his brethren of 
these orders. His religious faith is that of 
the Episcopalian church.- Mr. Mill is a man 
of strongly niarked characteristics. He is 
decidedly genial in manner, frank and 
courteous, and has the ap]>roachalilc qualities 
which make him popular in all circles. 



JOIIX H. BLOSE. 

rnnuincnt in pulilic affairs, John H. 
Blose has taken a very active part in matters 
pertaining to the general good of Clark 
county and is known as a loyal, progressive 
and public spirited man and a highly re- 
spected citizen. He devotes his attention to 
farning and stock raising as a means of 
livelihood, but has alwaxs found time to 
faithfully perform his duties of citizenship 



in a manner that reflects credit upon his na- 
tive state. He was born in Champaign 
county, Ohio, August 29, 1S38, and is a son 
of Daniel and Susannah (Pence) Blose. His 
father was lx>rn in Shenandoah county, \'ir- 
ginia, and was a son of John and Amelia 
(Pence) Blose, who in his Wyhood days left 
the Old Dominion and brought their family 
to Ohio, settling in Champaign county. 
There the father of our subject was reared, 
and when he had attained to man's estate he 
married Susannah Pence, who was born in 
Champaign county, her parents being Henry 
and Eve (Snyder) Pence. 

Mr. Blose of this review was reared 
upon his father's farm in Champaign county 
and during his boyhcKjd attended the com- 
mon schools, his early education being sup- 
plemented, ho'wever, by a course in the acade- 
my at Urbana. Later he engaged in teaching 
in Oiampaign coimty, this being his first in- 
dependent \enture in life. After his mar- 
riage, whicji occurred in 1857. he resided 
lupon his father's farm until 1859. when iic 
can e to Gernan lownshii>, Clark county, 
and purchased an interest in a mill and dis- 
tillery propertv, lieing associated in this en- 
terprise with his father. The plant had Ijeen 
established by John Xeisley in 1840 and Mr. 
Blose continued the o]ieration of the distill- 
ery luitil about 1873, and continued milling 
for some time thereafter. Both the old still 
and mill, however, have now disappeared. 
In 1864 ho purchased his present i)ro|jert\-, 
comprising one hundred and fifty acres of 
rich farming land, and h^s since engaged in 
the cultivation of tlie fields and in the raising 
of stock, l>oth branches of his business re- 
turning to him a good income. He has a 
well developed farm and high grades of 
horses and cattle, and everything alx)ut his 
])lace is neat and attractive in appearance. 

:Mr. Blose was married on the 6th of Oc- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



733 



toljer. 1857, to Miss Caroline Steinb'erger, a 
natiAC of Clianipaign county and a daughter 
of David and Lucy (Gaines) Steinberger. 
The}' became the parents of seven children : 
Alpha W., who is at home; Charles V., a 
farmer and miller of Champaign county, 
who is married and has three children ; Ollie 
E., the wife of Charles K. Collins, of Tre- 
mont City; Frank, who is living in Tremont 
City; Clyde E., of Champaign county; Mary 
E., the wife of Grant Karg, of this county; 
and Lettie May, at home. 

Mr. Blose is very prominent in political 
circles and from his boyhood days has advo- 
cated Democratic principles. When age con- 
ferred upon, him the right of franchise he 
cast his first presidential ballot for Stephen 
A. Douglas in i860. In 1863 he was elected 
justice of the peace and served for about 
thirty }'ears with the exception of a brief 
period. A.t that time he resigned because 
he had been elected a member of the consti- 
tutional convention oif 1873. In 1877 he 
was elected county commissioner and served 
for one term, during which the Children's 
Home w;as built. The first architect foi' tlie 
present courthouse was alsoi secured during 
his term and the preliminary steps taken 
toward the building of the seat of justice. 
He exercised his official prerogatives in sup- 
port of all general measures which he be- 
lieved would contribute to the public good 
and his ser\-ice was acknowledged to be of 
■benefit by the community. In 1897 he was 
the Democratic nominee for the legislature, 
and in 1901 again received the nomination 
for that oftice, running- far ahead of the 
ticket, a fact which indicated his personal 
popularity and the confidence and trust re- 
posed in him 'b}' those who know him. As 
justice of the peace he has always ad\-ised 
arliitration and settlement without recourse 
i'> a lawsint. but when such could v.'>i be 



secured he has tried the cases that have come 
before him in a prompt and impartial man- 
ner, his decisions being strictly fair and 
just, being given without fear or favor. Al- 
though some of the cases which he has tried 
have been appealed, in nO' instance has the 
decision which he has rendered ever been 
reversed. He has been sent as a delegate to 
many state con\'entions of his party and 
twice to the natiojial conventions, having at- 
tended in 1868 the convention at New York 
which nominated Seymour for the presi- 
dency. On that occasion he was a strong 
advocate of Pendleton. In 1872 he attended 
the Baltimore convention and was an earnest 
advocate of Horace Greeley. The public ca- 
reer of Mr. Blose has e\'er been character- 
ized by unfaltering- de\-otion to the course 
which he .believes to be right and his loyalty 
as a citizen has ever been above question. 
He has a wide accpiaintance, not only in 
Clark county, but throughout the state, and 
the circle of his friends is a very extensive 
one. 



JAMES HOMAN. 

James Homan, the proprietor and man- 
ager of the Buckeye Incubator Company of 
Springfield, is of German stock, and re- 
moved to Springfield from Cincinnati in 1877 
when in his twenty-third year. A little brick 
schoolhouse in Clermont county, Ohio, and 
a partial course in the public schools of Cin- 
cinnati and Antioch College gave Mr. Ho- 
man an education, which self-culture and 
contact with men and affairs gleaned by a 
wide diversity of occupations, including that 
of a sailor before the mast, had materially 
broadened b}^ 1879, at which time he ma- 
triculated at the Cincinnati Law School, 
graduating therefrom in 1881. with the de- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



gree of Bachelor of Laws. In 1883 the law- 
was alxindoned for manufaciuring and the 
Springfield Urass Company was incorporated 
by Mr. Homan and others. In this company 
he remained until 1890, when the manufac- 
ture of .incubators, an industry then in its in- 
fanc}-, was brought to his attention, and 
foreseeing the possibilities for development 
which the business offered, he embarked in it 
at once, and, doing business under the name 
of the Bucivcye Incubator Company rapidly 
expanded the business from one selling four 
hundred inculjators annually to shipments 
of more than ten thousand a year and to 
every civilized country on the globe. He 
has advertised e.xtensively in foreign papers, 
with the result that he has secured a liberal 
patronage from abroad. The incubator 
which he manufactures is of such excellence 
that it sells on its own merits. The gigantic 
proportions and the stable chaiacter of 
the growth of the business are indisputable 
proof of the quality of these goods. They 
are of value to those engaged in raising 
]>oultry and consequently a lxx>n to the hu- 
man race. This fact. Mr. Honrn says, 
should entitle him to be classed with the 
philanthn^Msts rather than the manufactur- 
ers. This enterprise gives employment to 
an average of fifty men. and the business is 
a direct benefit to Springfield, not only on 
this account, but also because nearly all of 
its supplies are purchased in the home 
market. 

In 1876 ]\Ir. Homan was married in Cin- 
cinnati to Cecelia Heffernan. of Fayetteville, 
Ohio. Their daughter Nellie is now the 
wife of John Knecht. the vice-president of 
the Cincinnati Screw & Tap Company. Mrs. 
Homan is a men'ber of St. Raphael's church, 
•,nd he contrilnites to the support of the 
church and to many benevolent interests. He 
and his wife have a nleasant home at Xo. 



206 South Yellow Springs street, where they 
have resided since 1877. 

^Ir. Homan exeicises his right of fran- 
chise in supix>rt of Republican principles and 
at local elections, where no issue is involved, 
iie votes independently. He has been a suc- 
cessful man in business, quick to recognize 
and utilize an oi>portunity and has steadily 
worked his way upward until the name of 
his house is well kmown, not only in this 
country, but in foreign lands. He is liber- 
al in his donations to movements pertaining 
to the general good, is unostentatious in 
manner, never seeking public notoriety, in 
business he is conscientious, is dom.estic in 
his tastes and habits, and in Springfield has 
n-ade manv warm friends. 



.\D.\M BAKER. 

Adam Baker, who carries on general 
farming and stock raising in German town- 
ship, was bom April 26, 1841, on the farm 
where he now lives. His parents. Adam and 
Susan (Klinefelter) Baker, were both na- 
tives of "S'ork county, Pamsylvania, where 
they were reared, educated and married. 
con ing thence to Ohio in 1836. For a 
few n-.onths they conducted a hotel in Spring- 
field and then the father purchased a farm 
of one hundred and thirty acres, upon which 
our subject is now living. There was 
upon the place a mill and distillery, and he 
not only engaged in the cultivation of his 
land, but operated both the n ill and the still 
for eight or ten years, when he sold them, 
giving his entire attention to farming and 
stock raising. He lived t<.) be alx>ut sixty- 
seven years of age. departing this life in 
1863. In politics he was a Republican, and 
for a number of years he served as county 
commissioner. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



735 



In tlie family there were twehe children, 
of whom Adam is the eleventh in order of 
hirth. These are as follows: George \\'., 
w ho died at the age of eighteen years ; Sa- 
rah Ann, who died at the age of thirty; 
Elizabeth, who biecame the wife of Peter 
Flerree, and died in Clark county, leaving 
three children; William, B., who married 
Huldah Baker and died in this county, leav- 
ing tix'C children; Cornelius, of Springfield, 
who married Sarah Amick, by whom he had 
three children, and after her death wedded 
Mrs. VoTce; Joana, the wife of Alexander 
Baker, of Springfield, by \\-hom she has two 
children; Elnora, who is living in Spring- 
field ; and John W., who married Letitia 
Snyder, by whoan he has two children" the/r 
home being in Topeka, Kansas. 

Adam Baker, whose name introduces 
this record, was reared on the home farm 
and in the public schools he acquired a fair 
English education. He received ample train- 
ing at farm labor and when twenty-two years 
of age he began to provide for himself, start" 
ing out on his own account soon after- his fa- 
ther's death. He carried on the home farm 
for his niiitlier for some time, an estate then 
comprising eight hundred acres. Today Mr. 
Baker OAvns three hundred and twenty acres 
of that property, constituting one of the 
valuable and well improved farms in his 
locality. ;\. glance at his place indicates to 
the passer-by that the owner is thrifty and 
enterprising and that he follows pro'gressi\e 
methods and uses the latest improved ma- 
chinery in the care of his land. He also 
deals in stock, keeping on his place good 
grades of cattle, horses and hogs. 

On the loth of October, 1869, Mr. Baker 
was united in marriage tO' Miss Amanda 
^^'ilson. who was lx)rn in Champaign comi- 
ty, Januarv 2, 1846, a daughter of John and 
Sarah Ann (Swartz) \\'ilson. Her father 



was also a native of Chan.paign county, 
Ohio, but her mother's birth occurred in 
\'irginia. They were married in Champaign 
count}- and there continued to reside until 
1854, when they removed to German town- 
ship, Clark county, where they made their 
home throughout the remainder of their 
lives, both dying in 1893, when seventy- 
three years of age. Throughout his active 
business career Mr. Wilson was engaged in 
buying and selling stock. He was a Demo^ 
crat in politics, and being- one of the promi- 
nent men of his community, he was called 
upon toi fill many local offices. In his family 
were nine children, four sons and five 
daughters. 

In his political views Mr. Baker is a Re- 
publican, but he has never sought or desired 
office, though he has frequently served as a 
delegate to the conventions of his party. 
Fraternally he is connected with the Knights 
of P}thias lodge at Tremont and is a \'er_v 
prominent Mason. When about thirty years 
of age he became a member of Clark Lodge, 
Xo: 1 01, F. & A. M., of Spring-field, and has 
now attained the thirty-second degree of 
the Scottish Rite in the consistory at Cin- 
cinnati and belongs to the Mystic Shrine at 
Davton. 



EDW.\RD L. BUCHWALTER. 

In the year 1873 Edward L. Buchwal- 
ter became a resident of Springfield and has 
since been identified with business interests 
here — interests which have grown and de- 
\eloped until they ha\'e become of much im- 
portance to the city, as well as to the cnvner, 
ffir to-day Mr. Buchwalter is at the head of 
one of the leading industrial concerns of this 
part of the state, being the ]3resident of the 
Superior Drill Company. 



'36 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lie was born in Ross count}-, Ohio, June 
J, 1841, a son of Levi and Margaret (Ly- 
ons) Buclnvalter. The father died in 1900, 
when eighty-se\en years of age, but the 
mother is still living at the age of eighty- 
five years. Born and reared upon a farm, 
our subject acquired his preliminary educa- 
tion in the district schools and later be- 
came a student in the Ohio L'ni\ersity at 
Athens, Ohio, where he pursued a scientific 
course. He was alx>ut twenty years of age 
at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. 
He enlisted as a private in Con'ipany A, One 
Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, 
and served for three years and seven uionths, 
during which time he was successivel)' ap- 
pointed to the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant 
and captain. He was with the department 
of the ^Mississippi in the campaign under 
Gaieral Sherman in the fall of 1862, and 
w as under General Grant at Vicksburg in the 
spring and summer of 1863, being present 
at the time of the surrender of that great 
Confederate stronghold. He was twice 
wounded, the first time when before \'icks- 
burg under General Sherman, December 28, 
1862, being struck by an exploding shell. 
The regiment retreating two hundred yards, 
he was left upon the field among the dead, 
it being supposed that his life was also ex- 
tinct, but after a half hour he regained con- 
sciousness and crawled back over the field 
to his regiment. This wound left him hard 
of hearing, which is the only ill effect he 
had received from his arn.y experience. Mr. 
Buch waiter was a secontl time wounded by 
a minie ball. May i, 1863. This was again 
before Vicksburg, but he was then under 
General Grant in tlie engagement called the 
Thompson Plill fight. He sustained a flesh 
wound, which caused him much pain and 
troulile for several weeks. His jironiotion to 



the rank of captain came in 1864, and he 
was honorably discliarged at Vicksburg. 

Returning to his home in Ross county, 
Mr. Buch waiter began farming and stock 
raising, devoting all of his energies to this 
vocation in connection with his father until 
1873. when he came to Springfield and ac- 
cepted a position with Jauics Leffel & Com- 
pany, water wheel and engine manufactur- 
ers, continuing with the firm until the fall 
of 1883. At that time he joined Roliert 
Johnson, A. Winger, Richard H. Rodgers 
and C. E. Patric in the organization of the 
Superior Drill Company, of which Mr. Buch- 
walter liecame the president. Later Charles 
S. Kay and others became members of the 
company, ^^'hen the organization was ef- 
fected the company bought out the firm of 
Tliomas, Ludlow & Rodgers, manufacturers 
of grain drills. The success of the Superior 
Drill Compan}- is a matter well known. The 
merit of the Superior drill has made it the 
leading seeding machine of the country. 
'Tliey make large shipments annually to Au- 
stralia and other foreign comitries, in addi- 
tion to their extensive hoine trade. In De- 
cember, 1898, the Citizens National Bank 
of Spring-field was organized and Mr. Buch- 
walter was chosen its president and has 
held that position continuously since. He 
stands today among the strong and rejire- 
sentative business n^en of the city. 

In his political views Mr. Buclnvalter 
is an earnest Republican, with firm faith in 
the principles of the party, but he has reso- 
lutely declined to hold oflice. having many 
iiiv.es declined to become a candidate. He 
has, however, lieen active in matters of citi- 
zenship and of progress pertaining to the 
public good. For twenty-five years he has 
been a most efficient memJDer of the library 
board, and for twentv vears has been its 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



717 



president. He is a member of the board of 
trade and serves on the legislation and 
finance committees. Socially he is connected 
with Mitchell Po'St, G. A. R., and with the 
Ohio Comraandery oif the Loyal Legion. 

On the 1 8th of September, 1868, Mr. 
Buchwalter was united in marriage to Miss 
Clementine Berry, a native of Ohio. She 
is a graduate of the seminary in Delaware, 
04iio, and for a time engaged in teaching 
m a seminar}- of Lidianapolis, Indiana, and 
in Jacksonville, Illinois. She is very pro-mi- 
iient in club circles and takes a deep inter- 
cut in library work, being one of the pro- 
iroters of the traveling libraries. She has 
jjeen appointed a memter of the women's 
Ixiard of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition 
at St. Louis and was made first vice- 
president. 

Mr. Buchwalter still has great fondness 
p r the country and finds pleasure and recre- 
.iiion visiting his fine farm a few miles east 
111 Springfield. He also' owns the farm upon 
which he was born in Ross county, Ohio, 
and it is one of the finest farms of the state. 
In business matters his strict integrity, busi- 
ness conservatism and judgment have been 
uniforn ly recognized and therefore he has 
enjoyed the public confidence to an enviable 
degree, while naturally this has brought to 
the house of which he stands at the head, and 
to the banking institutions of which he is the 
riiief a lucrative and growing patronage. 



WILLI.VM \^'OOD. 

William Wood has a \'ery wide acquaint- 
ance in Springfield, and there are few who 
know him who do not give him their friend- 
slfi]) because he possesses the qualities which 
constitute a good man — a pleasing disposi- 



tion, which wins regard wherever seen. He 
has been a prominent and faithful official, 
has been connected in various wa)'s with 
business affairs here and is now conducting 
a successful trade as a cigar dealer. He was 
born at No. 120 East Main street in Spring- 
field, October 11, 1853, ^ud is'ason of Rob- 
ert I. ^^'ood. In the Eastern public school 
building he acquired his early education and 
afterward attended the high school where 
the Wigwam building now stands. Later 
he coritinued his studies in the new high 
school at the corner of High and Fact<;ry 
streets. He put away his books at the age 
cl sixteen and then began clerking in a 
grocery store for R. L. Holnian, where the 
J.euty building noiw stands. Subsequently 
lie began work for Ferrell. Ludlow & Rodg- 
ers, who were pioneers in the manufacture 
of grain drills. He worksd in their painting 
depaitment until the fire, when he entered 
the old Champaign works, leaving that shop 
in 1875, after which he gave his attention to 
music for two years. His father, who had 
Ijicen appointed deputy sheriff, was taken ill 
and W'illiam Wood then filled his position as 
a substitute, serving thus until the death of 
his father, when he was appointed to till 
tlie vacant position. He transferred tlie 
first prisoners from the old to the new jail 
building, and as bailiff he opened the first 
court in the new courthouse. He also cap- 
tured the first prisoners that escaped from 
the new jail. Under Sheriff James Foley 
he served as deputy, and during that tin;c he 
succeeded in capturing James and Barney 
Bray, and also C. Seitz, and Carrol!, of 
Dayton, who had rob-bed the residence of 
-M D. Levy. 

From 1875 until 1877 h^ ^"^'^s in charge 
of various orchestras in this part of the 
state as business manager and leader, and 
l)€came the organizer of the Big- Six band. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



])laying solo, alto and double bass horn in 
the orchestra. They furnished the first nni- 
sic for the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at 
Xenia, and played at their reunions for sev- 
eral years. When E. G. Cofifiii was elected 
mayor of Spring-field William Wood re- 
signed his position as deputy sheriff and was 
ai)pointed sanitary marshal. Later he re- 
signed diat position and was appointed su- 
pei intendent of the city prison, acting in that 
capacity^ through Mr. Coffin's temi, and 
through the administrations of C. S. Con- 
stantine and J. P. Goodwin, covering six 
years. He resigned undei- Mr. Goodwin and 
as special police took charge of the Arcade 
building. During his time as keeper of the 
city prison he had charge of the city govern- 
ment at night. Upon leaving the service of 
the city he Jjegan work for the United States 
E.\])ress Company as local messenger under 
R. A. James and on leaving that place, as 
a dqiuty he was put in charge of the carriage 
manufactory of James Driscol Sons Con;- 
pany. Upon their failure in 1890 he had 
charge of the affairs there under Sheriff' 
William B. Baker until a receiver was ap- 
pointed and rem.ained at the house until the 
business was closed out in 1893, when the 
plant and goods were sold to the P. P. Mast 
Buggy Company. 

At that time Mr. Wood began clerking 
in the grocery store of his brother, Charles 
A. Wood, with whom he remained until 
1895, when he established a private detective 
agency, having charge of the street railway 
business under Nelson, and also of the busi- 
ness of the Big Four Railroad Company as 
general detective until 1899, when he began 
dealing in tolxicco and cigars as a retail and 
wholesale merchant at No. 9 South Lime- 
stone street. He is a distributor of many 
high class goods, lx>th to the local and out- 
side trade, and his patronage is e.xtensive. 



In 1872, in Dayton, Mr. Wood was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary L. Mills, who was b<jrn in 
Columbus, Ohio, in 1855, ^ daughter of R. 
L. and Tirzah J. (Harris) Mills, the former 
born in New York in 1819, and the latter 
in Columbus, Ohio, in 1827. They now 
make their home with their children. At 
one time the family numbered nine children : 
John, now deceased ; Edward, who is living 
in Michigan ; Nettie, the wife of C. H. Hana- 
walt, a miller of Continental, Ohio; Mrs. 
Wood; Arthur, who lives in Covington, 
Kentucky, and rei)resents the National C;ish 
Register in Ohio and Kentucky; Harry, a 
n.oldei- in the employ of the O. S. Kelly 
Company of Springfield; Georgia, deceased; 
Alice v., of Columbus; and William, who 
has also passed away. This family removed 
to Springfield from Columbus at the solici- 
tation of the Whiteley Manufacturing Com- 
pany. Tlie father was a brass worker and 
remained in the employ of that company for 
five years, after whicli he went to Dayton, 
where he was emplo\ed by the Ohio Screw 
Company. JNIrs. Wood was educated in the 
public schools of the capital city and in the 
private school conducted by Miss Williams 
on Spring street, Springfield. By her mar- 
riage she has become the mother of two 
children, but Nellie died in infancy. Charles 
R., the son, born in 1879. attended the pu1>- 
lic schools of this city, in which he was grad- 
uated, afid because of his high standing and 
of his ability as a vocalist he was given one 
year's scholarship in Wittenberg College. 
He was also instructor of the \\'ittenberg 
quartet vviien only eighteen years of age. 
He possesses musical talent of a very high 
order and his ability in this direction ranked 
him with the leading musicians of the city. 
After spending one year in Wittenberg he 
took up the study of law under the direction 
of ex-Judge William L. Rockel. in whose 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



739 



office he remained for two and one-halt 
years. He then left that place and embarked 
in business with his father in order that he 
might have some time to give to the study 
of vocal maisic. For one year he served as 
director of the choir of St. Paul's Methodist 
Episcopal church. While in Mr. Rockel's 
office he organized the Apollo quartet, which 
under the direction of the Brockway Lec- 
ture Bureau, of Pittsburg, filled many en- 
gagements in different Young Men's Chris- 
tian Associations. In April, 1902, he went 
to Grand Rapids, Alichigan. and entered the 
employ of the Grand Rapids Malleable Irou 
Company as buyer and private- secretary for 
the firm, having charge of the private corre- 
sopndence. He was married in this city in 
November, 1901, to Tvliss Alice Packham, a 
•daughter of L. C. Packham, traveling sales- 
man for the Frump Manufacturing Company 
of Springfield. His musical talents at once 
aw-akened attention in musical circles of 
Michigan and he became instructor of the 
choir of Westminster Presbyterian church, a 
leading wealthy church of Grand Rapids. 
The choir is composed of seventy-five voices 
in addition to the soloists.. Mr. Wood is also 
the first tenor in the famous Apollo quartet 
(if professional singers and is instructor of 
the Young Men's Christian Association 
quartet. He was a member of Ingomar 
Lodge, K. P., of Springfield, and resigned 
his office as organist and prelate in that body 
on his removal to Michigan. 

William Wood, whose name introduces 
this sketch, is a Republican in politics and 
has long taken an active and helpful inter- 
est in the w-ork of the party, which he has 
represented as a delegate in city, county, ju- 
dicial and state conventions. He also at- 
tended the national convention in Chicago 
when Benjamin Harrison was nominated for 
the presidency. He belongs to the Knights 



O'f Pythias Lodge of this city, and he and 
his wife hold membership with the Presby- 
terian church. ■ 



ROBERT I. WOOD. 

For many years Robert I Wood was a 
well known and popular resident of Spring- 
field. He was connected with railroad in- 
terests and in this way he formed a wide 
acquaintance, being held in the highest re- 
gard by the traveling public and by those 
wdth who,m he came in contact in social cir- 
cles and in private life. 

The Wood family, of which he was a 
member, is of Scotch-Irish descent. His 
father was John G. Wood, who was born in 
Virginia and there learned the trade of a 
cabinet maker and furniture manufacturer. 
In the year 1843 he left the old home, com- 
ing to Springfield, where he established a 
cabinet and furniture shop, and later he em- 
barked in the undertaking business. He was 
one of the best known furniture manufac- 
turers of Clark county, and to-day in the 
homes of many of the prominent families 
of the city are seen evidences of his handi- 
work in fine articles of household furniture. 
He erected a large building at the corner of 
Foster and Main streets, having there an 
extensive shop and residence combined. He 
continued in the undertaking business until 
his removal to Illinois, where he resided for 
a time, removing thaice to Indianapolis. In- 
diana, where his last days were passed. He 
owned and operated a sawmill and planing 
mill in connection with his cabinet shop, in 
which he carried ou an extensive and profita- 
ble trade. Through good management, ex- 
cellent workmanship and honorable dealing 
he became well-to-do'. His first wife died 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ill \'ii"ginia and lie afterward married as^aiu. 
There were two sons by tlie first union: 
William, who resided in Galesburg, Illinois, 
and at his death left a wife and two daugh- 
ters; and Roljert I., of this review. The 
cliildren of the second marriage were Sarah, 
Edward and James, and were lx)rn in 
wSpringfield and went to Illinois with their 
fatlier in 18O8. John G. Wood was a man 
of a deep religious nature and became one 
of the founders of the High Street Metlio 
dist Episcopal church of this city, holding 
various offices in the church during his resi- 
dence in Springfield. He was also a member 
of the Indejiendent Order of Odd Fellows. 
Robert I. Wood was born in \'irginia 
in 1830, ami from the Old Dominion came 
to Springfield. In the subscription schools 
of Virginia he began his education, the first 
thirteen years of his life having l>een passed 
there. In 1843 ^^^ came with his parents to 
Spring-field, Ohio. Here he completed his 
education, and during the greater part of his 
life lie was engaged in railroad work, occu- 
pying the position of baggage master and 
later he won promotion, being conductor on 
the Little -Miami road, running between 
Springfield and Xenia He continued in 
that position for a quarter of a century, be- 
ing a most trusted employe of the company 
and a popular representative of the road 
among those who traveled over his line. At 
lenglli he resigned his position to accept po- 
litical service. He was given the ofifice of 
deputy sheriff and continued in that capacity 
for several years, discharging his duties with 
promptness, fearlessness and fidelity. About 
187c) he retired from office as he had entered 
it — with the confidence and good will of all 
concerned. He w-as familiarly and lovingly 
called among his many friends by the name 
of '"Bob." .Always approachable and genial 
he was at the same time obliging and kindlv 



in disp<:>sition and courteous in manner, and 
thus the circle of his friends was almost co- 
e.xtensive with the circle of his acquaintances. 
Robert I. W'ood was united in marriage 
to Xancy Ann Marshall, who was born in 
Christianburg, Champaign county, Ohio, in 
the year 1832. Her father was Dr. Lorenzo 
Marshall, a leading and influential physi- 
cian of Champaign county. ITiree children 
were lx>rn unto Mr. and Mrs. Wood, of 
whom one son died in infancy. The other 
sons, Charles A. and William, are both resi- 
ilents of Springfield, the latter living on the 
.^ite of the old fanily hon:€ here. The father 
died at the old home place at Xo. 120 East 
Main street and his remains were interred in 
Ferncliff cemetery. His widow lived until 
1895, when she, too, was called to her final 
rest. Mr. Wood was a memljer of the Odd 
Fellows' society, and in his life e.xemplified 
the beneficent and helpful spirit of that fra- 
ternity. 



A l'.R Al 1AM 0^■ERHOLSER. 

Abraham Overholser, a well known and 
representative farmer of German township, 
was Ixirn near Lawrenceville in that towa- 
ship, December 8, 1845, ^ •'^'^" '^^t Moses and 
Eva (R*ust) Overholser. The father was 
Ixirn in Rockingham county, of the Shenan- 
di>ah valley of Virginia, and was a little lad 
of five or fix years when he can.e to Oliio 
with his parents. Christopher and Reljecca 
(Goetz) Overholser. The grandfather set- 
tled in German township and l>ecanic thi' 
owner of two hundred and forty acres of 
land near Lawrenceville. 

Moses Overholser's birth wcurred .\u- 
gust 4, 1823, and he was married in Clark 
county, X'oveinber 16, 1844. to Eva Rust, 
who was Ixirn in this countv Mav 17, 182J. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



His death occurred May 7, 1902, wlieni he 
was laid toi rest in the cemetery at Lawrence- 
\iile by the side Oif his wife, who had passed 
away November 19, 1900. He was a farm- 
er by occupation and purchased fifty acres 
< 1 1" land wliereon he spent his remaining" days, 
althougii he purchased other farm property 
and became well-to-do'. In the family were 
seven children, of wiiom Abraliam, of this 
review, is the eldest. The otliers are as 
follows: Susanna, who became the wife of 
Jiibn H. Dom.er, by whom she had five chil- 
(hcn, and after his deatli married James 
Ivcckner, tiieir home being near Lawrence- 
\'iile; Elizabeth, who is the wife of William 
Roach, of German township, by whom she 
has eiglit children living and four deceased; 
Jane, now Mrs. Fred Michael, of Spring- 
lield, and the mother of four children 
li\-ing and one deceased; William, who 
marrieil ^lary Da\-is. and - with their 
tliree ciiildren live in Gernian township; 
Martha, who is the wife of . Dan M3crs, 
I'f German township, by whom she has four 
children; Moses, who married Emma Bal- 
lentine, of German township, and they have 
one child, and another child who is deceased. 
The father was a Democrat in political faith 
and was reared in the Lutheran church, but 
later became an active member of the Re- 
fi>imed church, in which he served as an 
elder. 

During his boyhood iVbraham Overhol- 
ser largely assisted in the support of the 
family. He acquired a fair common school 
education and was at luime until he attained 
the age nf twenty-one, when he began to 
cut wood for his father on the shares. He 
was married August 8, 1867, to Miss Hes- 
ter Jane Kessler, who was born in German 
township, December 30, 1849, a daughter of 
Israel and Drusilla (Grafton) Kessler. Her 
father was a nati\'e of Virginia and when 



twelve years of age came to Ohio with his 
father, John Kessler, vvhoi settled ou a farm 
near where our subject now makes his home, 
becoming the owner of o-ne hundred acres of 
land. Later, however, he removed to Fay- 
ette coumty, Ohio, and there died. The 
father of Mrs. Overholser was born in 
Champaign co-unty, and was there married to 
Israel Kessler, who was born April 27. 1812, 
and their marriage was celebrated Jamiary 
30, 1838. Mr, Kessler died June 23, 1876, 
and his wife, whose birth occurred Februar)- 
4. 1818, passed away Septeml/cr 21, 1859. 
The father afterward married again • and 
Mrs, Overholser was the eighth in order of 
birth of the twelve children born of the first 
union. By his secoaid marriage he had eight 
children, and of the twenty thirteen are vet 
living. 

F(jr three years after his marriage our 
sui)ject lived upon his father's farm, which 
he operated o« the shares. He afterward 
rented various tracts of land until 1877, 
when he purchased one hundred and thirty 
acres where he is now living. He has since; 
however, extended the boundaries of this 
farm arid it is now a valuable and highly im- 
proved tract, the rich and fertile fields re- 
turning to l:im good harvests. The home 
has been blessed with eight children. L')avid, 
who was Ijorn July 21, 1868, died Novem- 
ber 11, 1880. The second child died in in- 
fancy. Lewis Irvine, born October 15, 1872, 
was married October 17, 1895, tO' Ollie Al- 
lison, who died July 14, 1896, and had one 
child, Lula, now deceased, and on the 22nd 
ni December, 1897, he wedded Lavina Din- 
gledine. Elmer, bora October i, 1874. was 
married May 11, 1898, to Clara Keblinger. 
They have one daughter. Myrtle Marie, and 
live in Genr.an township, Walter, born 
March 16, 1877, was married August 16, 
1899, to Ollie Fenton, and to them were 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



born two children, one still living. Hester 
Emeline, while Orval is deceased. Eva, 
born Decanlier 22, 1879. '* at hon-.e. 
Martha, born September 5, 1881, was mar- 
ried July 24, 1902, to Charles Deaton, and 
they lived in Champaign county. Alice, born 
September 25. 1883,' completes the family. 
Mr. Overholser has been a stalwart 
Den.ocrat since voting for Seymour in 1868, 
but has never sought the rewards of of- 
fice. He and his family are all members 
of the Reformed church, in which his son El- 
mer is serving as deacon. He is now a pros- 
perous farmer, although he started out in 
life empty hancled and his history proves 
that success may be accjuired through earnest 
and persistent effort, when guided by sound 
business judgment and suj^plemented by 
honesty in business affairs. 



WILLIAM H. BRYANT. 

\\'illiam H Bryant is a representative of 
one of the early families of Ohio. In pioneer 
times Abram Bryant, his paternal grandfath- 
er, came to this state. He was of English 
ancestrj- and was born in Maryland, whence 
he removed westward to Champaign county, 
Ohio, taking up his abode in Concord town- 
ship, where he followed farming and stock 
raising, and at the time of the Civil war he 
had a government contract to furnish stock 
for the army. Subsequently he removed to 
Delaware county, Indiana, where he died at 
the age of seventy-five years. \\nien he 
came to O'hio he secured a good tract of 
land of about two hundred acres, and in the 
midst of the forest he developed a fami, 
bearing his part in the hardships and trials 
incident to frontier life. The machiner\^ for 
clearing the land and cultivating the fields 



was \ery crude in comparison with that used 
at the present time, but he labored diligently 
and, like other pioneer settlers, deserves the 
gratitude of the present generation Ijecause 
his labors proved of benefit not only to him- 
self but contribute<l to the foundation for the 
present prosperity and progress of the state. 
He had four sons who grew to manhood : 
Thomas F. ; Luke W.. a soldier of the Civil 
war who died in the hospital while a mem- 
ber of the army; Madison, who was also a 
soldier and is living near Dayton, Ohio ; and 
George, of Portland, Indiana. There were 
also five daughters: Sarah and Elizabeth, 
both deceased ; Jennie, who is living in Lo- 
gansport, Indiana: Edith, of New Corner, 
Indiana: and Helen, who has also passed 
away. The children were educated in the 
common schools, such as existed in Ohio at 
an early day. and Elizabeth, Jennie. Edith 
and Luke \\'. afterward l)ecame teachers. 
George, Helen and Thomas all remained in 
Ohio. The political faith of the family was 
that of the Whig party prior to the Civil 
war, and since that time its representatives 
have been stanch Republicans. In religious 
faith they were Methodists. 

Thomas F. Bryant, the father of our 
subject, was born in Chajnpaign county on 
the old family homestead, in 1828, was 
reared under the parental roof and obtained 
his education as did the other members of 
the household. He afterward rented land 
and thus made a home for himself until he 
was enabled to purchase a farm. He mar- 
ried Vianah G. Thomas, a daughter of 
Archibald and Catherine Thomas, b>th of 
whom reached advanced ages, the latter d\- 
ing at the age of eighty-six. Tlie father was 
of English lineage. He reared a large fam- 
ily of children, of whom three are living: 
Mrs. Sarah Rosenberger. of Ladora, Iowa; 
L. T., of Wabash. Indiana: and John E.. of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Springfield. The Thomas family came from 
Virginia to Ohio about 1827 and was estab- 
lished in Champaign coimty. The marriage 
of Thomas F. and Vinah G. Brj-ant was 
blessed with six children, three dying in early 
childhood. Oscar M., the eldest living, is a 
real estate broker, is married and resides in 
Washington, D. C. William H. is the sec- 
ond in order of birth. John T., a broker in 
merchandise at Sidney, Ohio-, is married and 
has five living children, two sons and three 
daughters. Tliese sons were educated in 
the public schools and remained 00 the home 
farm until they attained to manhood. Oscar 
also pursued a course in a business college 
in Springfield. After following farming 
for many years the father purchased a fann 
in Urbana, where his wife died in 1888, at 
the age of sixty-three years and his death 
occurred in J90J, when he was seventy-four 
y^ars of age. 

William H. Bryant, whose name forms 
the caption of this review, was born in St. 
Paris, Champaign coimty, March 12, i860, 
opening his eyes to the light of day on his 
father's farm just on the corporation limits 
of the town. In his youth he was carefully 
trained to habits of industry and economy, 
?nd in the public schools he mastered the 
branches of English learning-. He continued 
with his parents until 1882, when he became 
connected with mercantile life as a grocerv 
clerk in West Liliert}-, where he remained 
for a year. In 1883 he came to Springfield 
and entered tite store of Jacob N. Mills, who 
afterward sold out to J. B. North, with 
whom Mr. Bryant remained until 1890. In 
that year he entered the pO'Stal service as a 
letter carrier in this city, filling that position 
until 1893, when he resigned and went upon 
the road as a salesman, traveling through 
Indiana, Ohio, Kentuckv and West Virginia. 



He sold specialties until 1897, when he left 
the road and purchased the store in which 
he had entered upon his mercantile career as 
r clerk. Here, at No. 18 South Fountain 
a\-enue, he carries a full line of groceries 
and proA'isions, giving his personal attention 
to the management of the business. His 
capital was what he had saved from- his 
earnings as an employe, and this has been 
increased by the protits of a constantly grow- 
ing trade. 

In Springfield, in 1885, Mr. Bryant mar- 
ried Miss Emma Getz, who was born in 
Washington Court House, Ohio', in 1862, a 
daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Getz, who 
are both residents of this city. In their 
family were four sons and a daughter. Mr. 
and Mrs. Bryant have one son, Robert H., 
who was born in 1894, and the family home 
is at No. 217 Clifton Avenue. Inj politics 
Mr. Bryant is a Republican, taking an active 
part in the local work of the party He and 
his wife belong to St. Paul's Methodist Epis- 
copal church, and he is a member of Spring- 
field Eodge, I. O. O. E., and the United 
Commercial Travelers, and is a member and 
director of the Commercial Club and vice- 
president of the Springfield Grocers' Associ- 
ation. Fie is active in his labors for the 
interests of the city whose welfare is dear 
to him, and his aid is freely given for the 
benefit of many improvements which have 
contributed to general progress. 



W. A. SCOTT. 

Among those who have been identified 
with the bar of Clark county for more than 
a quarter of a century is W. A. Scott, who 
has achieved a reasonaljle ;legree of success 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



in his profession and has numbered among 
his clients man)' of the manufacturers and 
business men of the city. He was born in 
Uniontown, . Pennsylvania, April 27, 1847, 
and is of Irish descent, iiis grandparents hav- 
ing emigrated to America from Inniskillen; 
County Donegal, in 1783. His father, Rev. 
John Scott, D. D., was born in Eldersville, 
^^'ashing■to^ county, Pennsylvania, and, en- 
teiing the ministry in 1840, became one of 
the prominent ministers of the Methodist 
church, continuing his ministerial work al- 
most sixty years, or until his death, which 
occurred April 3, 1901. From 1863 until 
1869 Dr. Scott was located in Springfield, 
Ohio, as editor of the Methodist Recorder, 
the official organ of his denomination. 

As a student W. A. Scott entered Wash- 
ington and Jefiferson College, Washington, 
Pennsylvania, in 1861, continuing his at- 
tendance until 1863, when he joined the 
Union army as a private in Company B, 
Sixty-third 'Penns}-lvania Volunteer Infan- 
try, under the ocmmand of Colonel Alex- 
ander Hays. Having in November, 1864, 
been promoted to first lieutenant, he was 
transferred to the Army of the James, with 
which he served until his capture in Febru- 
ary, 1865. He was then committed to one 
of the noted prisons of the south — Castle 
Thunder, Richmond, Virginia, where he was 
convicted of being a spy and sentenced to 
death, but on the evening of April 2. the day 
previous to tlie capture of the city by Gen- 
eral Grant, he, with two ompanions, escaped 
while being escorted with other prisoners 
through the streets of Richmond en route to 
Danville. Concealing themselves in the 
cellar of a Unionist known to one of the 
number (himself a resident of the city, 
charged with being disloyal), the party re- 
mained in hiding until early in the morning 



of Ai)ril 3. when the strains of a Yankee 
Ijand playing the Star Spangled Banner an- 
nounced their delivery and assured them of 
safety. I^ejoining his company, which was 
one of the first to enter the city after its sur- 
raider, and after serving a few weeks in the 
vicinity of Richmond and Petersburg, Mr. 
Scott's regiment was ordered to Texas, 
where a large number of troops were sent 
at the clolse of t'.ie war as an army of ob- 
servation available for active service in Mex- 
ico in the event of the invasion of that coun- 
try by Maximillian promising to have a suc- 
cessful termination. 

Mustered out in 1866, after nearly a 
year's ser\ice at Indianola. Texas. Mr. Scott 
settled in Springfield, Ohio, and took up the 
study of law with Goode & (Bowman, then 
the leading law firm of the city. After his 
admission to the bar in 1869 he became. a 
member of the firm of Goode, Bowman & 
Scott, which relation continued until 1875. 
when the partnership was diss -vlved and Mr. 
Scott opened an office. He has since con- 
tinued in practice alone with the exception 
of two years, 1889 and 1890. when he was 
associated with his former partner, Judge 
James S. Goode. 

A. C. Black, then a prominent merchant 
and public-spirited citizen of Springfield, 
and Mr. Scott, by the raising of atout four 
thousand dollars through public subscrip- 
tions and donations, were instrumental in 
organizing and establishing the i)resent free 
pul)lic library of Springfield, which was later 
provided with its elegant home on High 
street through the liberality of B. H. \\'ard- 
er. Mr. Scott is president of the Springfield 
Light & Power Company, the successor of 
the first electrical company in Springfield, 
organized by him in 1885. Socially he is a 
Sigma Chi and a Knight Templar M.T^-m, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lieing a meir.lDer of Palestine Commander}-. 
While not taking a very active part in po- 
litial affairs, Mr. Scott has always sup- 
ported the Republican party since casting 
his first presidential vote for A'braham Lin- 
coln when in the army in 1864, being at that 
time only seventeen year of age. Since then 
he has never failed to cast his ballot for each 
presidential candidate of that party. 

On the loth of November, 1869, Mr. 
Scott was united in marriage to Miss M. 
Jessie Reeves, a daughter of Dr. W. H. 
Reeves, ;ind three children have been born 
unto them, namely: Martha, Lucy and 
Tchn W. 



DAVID XEER. 

David Neer, who has received high com- 
mendation for his services in behalf of edu- 
cation, is now filling the position of super- 
intendent of the township schools of Har- 
mony township, and makes his home in 
Plattsburg. He was born in Summerford 
township, Madison county, Ohio^, March 22, 
1861, and is a son of Simon and Elizabeth 
(Ellis) Neer. His father was a native of 
Virginia, born near Harpers Ferry in 1799, 
and was about nineteen years of age when 
he came to O'hio with his parents, Nirarod 
and Elizabeth (Ropp) Neer. The Neer 
family is of German origin and was estab- 
lished in Virginia in pioneer days. Tlie 
Ropps also come of German descent. 

On the removal of the grandfather and 
his family to Ohio they settled near Mari- 
etta and thence came to Clark county, taking 
up their abode in Pleasant township. The 
grandfather died in Marietta, however. 
The father of our subject was married in 
this county about 1832, his first union being 



with Jemima C. Shaul, by whom he had four 
children, all of whom are yet living. Math- 
ew is a resident of Clark county ; Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Archer makes her home in Logan coun- 
ty, Ohio; Mrs. Matilda Jones is also living 
in this county; and Mrs. Sophia Clippinger 
is located in Bellefontaine, Logari county. 
For his second wife Mr. Neer chose Eliza- 
beth-Ellis, and their children are five in num- 
ber : John and Mrs. Jane Cooper, who are 
twins and are residents of INIadison county ; 
Mrs. Margaret Smith, of Summerford ; Saul 
E., of Urbana, this state; and David, of this 
review. The father was a fanner by occu- 
pation and carried on farming throughout 
his entire life. He died in Pleasant town- 
ship, Clark county, on Christmas day of 
'1865, and his wife passed away in IMadison 
county in 1874. He was laid to rest in 
Pleasant township, while his wife was buried 
in Summerford. 

The subject of this revicAv was only four 
years of age at the time of his father's death. 
He afterward made his home with Jasper 
Botkin, with whom he lived until he was 
married. He attended the country schools 
and when about nineteen }-ears of age went 
to Delaware, where he pursued his studies 
for three years. He then began teaching in 
Oak Grove, in Pleasant township, and for 
ten years continued his work as a teacher 
in country schools. He next secured a posi- 
tion in the village of New Moorefield, and 
in 1899 he was elected principal of the high 
school of Plattsburg and superintendent of 
the township schools. He is a successful edu- 
cator who has the ability to impart clearly 
and concisely to others the knowledge which 
he has acquired in a way that will leave its 
impress upon the young mind. He regards 
education not as something to be learned 
and put aside, but as a preparation for life 



746 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



w nrk. scmetliing that will Ije used daily, and 
\\ itli tliis understanding his own lalx)rs have 
been most effecive in tlie schoolroom. 

Mr. Xeer was married in South Charles- 
ton. August 6, 1889, to Miss Delia Cass, 
who was Iwrn in South Charleston, where 
lier parents, Washington and Francina 
(Bricker) Cass, are now living. She is a 
graduate of the high school of South 
Charleston, of the class of 1885, and for 
three }ears successfully engaged in teaching 
in that place and in Brighton. By her mar- 
riage she has become the mother of two chil- 
dren : Milesi Marie, who was born in 
Moorefield township, Clark county. June 9, 
1891 ; and Lucile Francina, born in Xew 
IMoorefield December 17, 1894. 

The parents hold membership in the 
Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Xeer 
served as a trustee of the church while living 
in Vienna. He is now acting as superin- 
tendent of the Sunday school at Plattsburg. 
In politics he is a Republican. Socially he 
is connected with the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows of Catawba, in which he has 
filled all of the chairs, and with the Knights 
of Pythias fraternity in Vienna. Mr. Xeer 
is a man of broad mind and scholarlv attain- 
ments, who- has read largely and is most 
conscientious and earnest in liis work, in- 
spiring the teachers and pupils under him 
with much of his own zeal and interest in 
the cause of education. 



GEORGE .\. SPEXCE. 

George A. Spence is a well known farmer 
and stock-raiser of Pike township, naking a 
specialty of the breeding of thoroughbred 
Ohio improved Chester white hog?. He 



was born in German township, this county, 
January 30, 1852, and is a son of Mark and 
Mary ( Harshbarger ) Spence. When lie was 
only eight m.onths old his parents removed 
to the farm upon which he is now living, the 
father having there a good tract of land of 
three hundred and sixty acres. Upon this 
place he spent his remaining days. The 
family was established in Clark county many 
years before b}' William Spence, the grand- 
father of our subject, who located within its 
borders on Christmas day of 1820. He was 
born, reared and married in England and 
on crossing the Atlantic to the new world 
took up his abode in Ohio. He owned a 
large tract of land and was a representative 
agriculturist of pioneer times. From him 
Mark Spence inherited a tract of land and 
then purchased the interest of the other heirs. 
From that time forward he devoted his ener- 
gies untiringly to the work of improving his 
property and made his farm a more valuable 
one. In his political affihations he was a 
Whig but never sought or desired public 
ofTice. although just prior to his death he 
was elected one of the county commissioners. 
He died January 8. 1878. at the age of fifty- 
seven years, respected by all who knew him. 
His widow still survives him and attained 
her seventy-sixth year on the i8th of Oc- 
tober, 1902. 

George .-\. Spence. their only child, was . 
reared to manhood on the old home farm, ac- 
(|uiring a good common-school education. 
.As he gained strength and stature he as- 
sisted more and more largely in the work of 
dexeloping and improving his father's land 
and thus gained practical experience in farm 
work which has proven of much value to him 
since he assumed the management of the 
home place. As a companion and helpmate 
for life's journey he chose Miss Anna J. 




MARK SPENCE. 




GEORGE A. SPENCE. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



75 « 



Friermood, a daughter of Reuben and Mary 
( Kibbinger) Friernio<jd, their marriage be- 
ing celebrated in Champaign county on the 
i2tli of February, 1880. Unto them have 
been born four children : Mary Etta : DeUa, 
whn died at the age i>f nineteen months: 
Xelhe Blanche and Russell. 

]\[r. and Mrs. Spence have a very pleas- 
ant home in Pike township not far from 
Xorth Hampton, and their place is noted for 
its hospitality. The farm comprises six 
hundred and seventeen acres of valuable 
land, and of this he has purchased almost 
two hundred acres since his father's death. 
In 1890 his barn was destroyed by fire. Im"- 
mediately he rebuilt, putting up a very fine 
barn, fifty by one hundred feet. His home 
was erected partially by his grandfather, and 
to tin's additions were made by the father and 
also by our subject, so that the residence is 
a commodious and pleasing one. In addi- 
tior, to the cultivation of the fields Mr. 
Spence is engaged extensively in the raising 
of thoroughbred Chester white hogs, and 
has gained a wide reputation in this regard. 
All of the other stock upon the place is of 
a high grade and his farm in its various 
equipments indicates that the owner keeps 
in touch with the ad\-anced methods of the 
day. 

Mr. Spence is a stanch Republican in his 
poHtical views and his first presidential vote 
was cast for Hayes in 1876. He is a mem- 
ber of the Grange and also belongs to the 
Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Junior 
Order oi United American Mechanics at 
Nrirth Hampton. In both of these he is 
serving as a trustee. Having spent his en- 
tire life in Pike townshi]^, Mr. Spence has a 
wide acequainfance in the locality and has 
witn.essed much of its growth and develop- 
ment. He represents an honored pioneer 



family, and, like those who have preceded 
him, he has been loyal to the best interests 
of citizenship and helpful in matters pertain- 
ing to the general good. 



ED\V.\RD W'. WILLIAMS. 

Edward W. Williams is one of the 
younger rq^resentatives of journalistic inter- 
ests in Clark county. The New Carlisle 
Sun, of which he is the editor and proprietor, 
has entered upon the second year of its ex- 
istence under favoralile circumstances ow- 
ing to the business ability and enterprise of 
the owner. Mr. Williams w-as born in 1877 
within two miles of New Carlisle, on a farm 
that was' purchased from the government by 
his grandfather, Henn,' H. Williams. The 
latter came from Brier Creek, West Virginia, 
about 1828, and located on the fann; which 
is now the property of the father of our sub- 
ject. In the family of Flenry H. Williams 
were five children : Elihu S., J. C, W^ alter, 
H. H., and Elizabeth. Of these AValter and 
Elizabeth are now deceased. 

J. C. Williams, the father of our subject, 
spent his boyhood days on the old homestead 
and attended the public schools, acquiring 
there his education. Throughout his entire 
life he has followed the occupation tO' which 
he was reared and is regarded as one of the 
wide-awake and progressive farmers of 
Bethel township. When he had reached 
man's estate he was married to Miss Emma 
Rupp, a daughter of Samuel Rupp, who was 
a tanner by trade and came from Pennsyl- 
vania to Ohio, locating three miles south of 
New Carlisle. The home of Mr. and Mrs. 
J. C. Williams was blessed with six children. 
Clara, the eldest, is now the wife of W. T. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



SIruiker, a resident of Miami county, Ohio, 
and unto them have been born six children 
— Rosco. Walter. Roy, Emma. Ruth antl 
Lawrence. Amiie. the second of the fam- 
ily, died at the age of eight years. Lizzie, 
w!io died in January. 1889, was the wife of 
E. E. ^Mitchell and had three childrai-^ 
Blanche, Cora and Florence. Harry mar- 
ried Effi'e Hardacre. John is assisting his 
father on tiie home farm. 

Edwaril W. Williams, the youngest 
niejiiber of the family, spait his boyhood 
days under the paraital roof, working in the 
fields through the months of summer, while 
in the winter seasons he attended the public 
sclxxds. He graduated from Olive Branch 
high school in the spring of 1894, and in 
the fall of the same year he entered Witten- 
berg College, of Springfield, Ohio, from 
which institution he graduated upon a classi- 
cal course in the spring of 1898. Not de- 
siring to make farming his life work, he 
viewed the business world in order to select 
a location and vocation, and determined to 
devote his attention to journalism. On the 
22nd of March. 1901, he issued his first edi- 
tion of the Xew Carlisle Sun. which he has 
since published, being editor and proprietor 
of this enterprising little journal which now 
has a circulation of about seven hundred. 
It is a good advertising medium and is a 
well edited countiy paper, devoted to gen- 
eral news and to items of local interest. It 
is neat in appearance, presents fairly all 
questions of pubilc interest and well merits 
the patronage which is accorded it. 

Mr. W^illiams was united in marriage to 
iliss Viola C. Funderburg. of Xew Carlisle, 
and the hospitality of the l)e.st homes in the 
town is extended to them. Thev have a 
little daughter, who was Ixim August 26, 
1902, and christened Martha Louise. So- 



cially Mr. Williams is identified with the 
Odd Fellows Stxiety. and his religious faith 
is indicated by membership in the Lutheran 
church. A Republican in politics, he edits 
his paper in the interest of that party and 
does all in his power to promote the growth, 
and secure the adoption of Republican prin- 
ciples. 



WILLIAM S. KIDDER. 

William S. Kidder is the proprietor of 
tile White Star Laundry of Springfield, and 
his business qualifications and aiergy have 
gained for him a desirable success. He was 
lx>m in the city which is still his home, his 
natal day being the 9th of January, 1858. 
His father, Joseph L. Kidder, comes of Eng- 
lish and Irish ancestry and is now a resi- 
dent of Lima. Ohio. He was born in Ak- 
ron, this state, in 1828. and was formerly 
engaged in the manufacture of cigars and 
fine-cut tolxicco. Later he conducted a res- 
taurant, but is now engaged in the laundry- 
business. He came to Clark county in 185,^. 
and remained a factor in business circles in 
this It.'cality until his removal to Lima. He 
married Matilda Steele, who was lx)rn in 
Xew York in 1828 and died June 5, 1895. 
Her parents were Marshfield S. and Mar>- 
Steele, both of whom died in Springfield, the 
foniier at the age of seventy years, while the 
latter passed away in 1898, when about nine- 
ty-eight years of age. her birth having oc- 
curre<l in 1800. TheA' had hing Ijcen resi- 
dents of Clark county. In their family were 
five daughters who are yet living, but only 
one is a resident of Springfield — Phoebe, the 
wife of John Ingram, of East High street. 
I'nto Mr. and Mrs. Joseph L. Kidder were 
born three children, but one died in infancy. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



753 



The others are: William S. and Carrie M. 
The latter was born in IMnscatine, loiwa, and 
is now the wife of C. B. Stauffer, of Chi- 
cago. Both were educated in the public 
schools in Springfield, in a seminary and in 
Bridgeport, Connecticut. 'Mrs. Stauffer was 
married in Springfield and thence ranoved 
to Cliicago. She now has three children. 
In his political views Joseph L. Kidder, the 
father of our suljject. was a Republiam, took 
an active interest in the growth and welfare 
t»f his party and for several years he served 
as a member of the city council. He also 
belonged to the Independent Order of Odd 
I-'ellows. passing all of the chairs in the or- 
ganization. 

William S. Kidder, whose name intro- 
duces this record, pursued his education in 
the public schools and also took a special 
course in \\'ittenl3erg College. He was em- 
ployed at various places for a time and after- 
ward entered into partnership with his fath- 
er, in 1887, in the establishment and control 
of the laundry. He has since given his time 
and attention to this line of business. They 
established the Peerless Laundry, which they 
conducted for ten years, and in 1897 they 
purchased the White Star Laundry, com- 
bining the two. Employment is now fur- 
nished to forty o]5eratives, and two wagons 
are upon the road, collecting and delivering 
goods. Mr. Kidder has various branch of- 
fices in the city and also in other districts 
of the state, having established agencies 
throughout Ohio. He is carrying on a 
wholesale business with a main office at No. 
43 South Fountain avenue, and the works 
are at the corner of Limestone and Pleasant 
streets. The business has been built up from 
a vei"\- small l>eginning and has reached large 
proportiohs. The plant is equipped with all 
modern machinery for facilitating the work 



and everything is conducted in a first-class 
manner, so that the White Star Laundry re- 
ceives a very liberal and growing patronage. 

In 1899 Mr. Kidder was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Eleanor G. Steen, of Bellefon- 
taine, Ohio, a daughter of Milton and Mattie 
B. (Bigham) Steai. Her father, who is 
now deceased, was a prominent attorney and 
banker of Bellefontaine. Mrs. Steen now 
resides in Dayton, Ohio. 

Mr. Kidder holds membership in the 
Presbyterian church and is a supporter of all 
church and charitable work, being a gentle- 
man of broad and humanitarian principles. 
He is a member of Anthony Lodge, F. & A. 
-M. ; Springfield Chapter, R. A. M. ; Spring- 
field Council, R. & S. M. ; Palestine Com- 
mandery, K. T. ; and Antioch Temple of tlie 
Mystic Shrine, of Dayton. He belongs to In- 
gomar Lodge, K. P. ; to the Lagonda Club ; 
the Commercial Club : and the Springfield 
Golf Club. He has never had time or desire 
for political preferment, but votes the Repub- 
lican ticket where great issues are invol\-ed 
and casts his ballot independenitly at local 
elections. He possesses the true western 
spirit of progress and enterprise, and his bus- 
iness ability has been demonstrated by his 
successful control of the extensive interests 
which have grown up under his supervision. 



JOHN A. SHIPMAN. 

John Ambler Shipman was \\-ell known 
in Springfield. He was associated for many 
years with mercantile and industrial inter- 
ests and was also prominait in public affairs. 
He served ior four years as the jxjstmaster 
of the city and was a most creditable official, 
his administration of the affairs of the office 
winning him high commendation. There 



75^ 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



were in liis life record many elen ents worthy 
of emulation, and among- those who have 
l)een prominent in Springfield's affairs John 
Ambler Shipman deserves to be numbered. 
He was born in this city August i ) , 1829. 
It was thai a mere hamlet, giving little 
promise of the bright future before it. His 
father, Clark Shipman, was one of the pi- 
oneer settlers of Kentucky, and then again 
Ixjcame identified wath early progress and 
improvement by his removal to Clark county. 
A wide-awake man, well fitted for leader- 
ship in public thought and action, he held the 
rank of brigadier general in the state militia. 
His death occurred in 1830. His wife sur- 
vived him for mtn-e than a half century, pass- 
ing away in 1884, at the advanced age of 
eighty-four years. Mrs. Shipman bore the 
maiden name of Ruth Ambler and was a 
daughter of John Ambler, one of the most 
active and prominent pioneers of the county. 
He came from Xew Jersey to Springfield in 
1808. and from that time forward until his 
death was a leading factor in the events 
which have formed the history (jf city and 
county. His life was an honor to his fam- 
ily and to the entire community because of 
his devotion to the general good and because 
of what he accomplished in behalf of the 
public welfare. Soon after his arrival in 
the county he purchased a farm in Mad River 
township, and not finding agricultural pur- 
suits congenial he sold that propert}- and re- 
moved to Springfield, buying a large tract 
of land which is now^ within the city limits. 
He then turned his attention to merchandis- 
ing in the early days of the city and also con- 
ducted a hotel. He thus led a busy life, yet 
he found time to devote to public affairs and 
to assist materially in the improven:ent and 
substantial u]>building of his community. 
His aliility and enterprise, his practical judg- 



ment and his large public spirit were mov- 
ing powers in many a scheme for the ad- 
\-ancement of the city and county, and he 
was alwa}-s ready with hand and purse to 
do whate\-er he could for the embryo me- 
tropolis. He donated the land upon which 
was built the First Presbyterian church of 
the city and contributed largely toward the 
erection of the house of worship. When the 
.county seat was removed to Springfield he 
was elected county treasurer, his kitchen 
serving as his office. A brickmaker by trade, 
he built the first brick house in Springfield, 
and this property is now owned by his grand- 
son. E. 'Si. Shipman, at Xo. 150 ^^>.st Main 
street. Ruth Ambler was born October 30, 
1799. and on the 24th of August, 1815, gave 
her hand in marriage to Clark Shipman. 
Unto them were born three children : John 
A.. Warren and Annie, all of whom are now 
deceased. 

John Ambler Shipman was but a year 
old when his father died. He remained with 
his mother through the period of his youth 
and attended school until fifteen years of 
ag-e, when he was apprenticed to learn the 
cabinet-maker's trade. Subsequently he es- 
tablished himself in the furniture business 
in Main street, and one year later he bought 
a building at the corner of Main and Caitcr 
streets. His business increased so rapidly 
that after a year he erected a more com- 
irodicus place on South Fountain avenue, be- 
tween Main and High streets, and there con- 
tinued in trade with excellent success for 
some time, his patronage steadily growing 
and bringing to him a very gTatif>nng' in- 
come. Later, however, he disposed of his 
business and accepted the superintendaicy 
of the Foos & ^ilulligan Furniture Company, 
which position he held until 1877, when, 
upon the rcc<'>mmendation of General J. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



755 



Warren Keifer and Senator Sherman, he 
was appointed postmaster of Springfield by 
President Grant, and was reappointed b\^ 
President Hayes, so tliat he continued in the 
office for eiglit years, or until 1885. He left 
the position as he had entered it — with the 
confidence and good will of all concerned. 
He was business-like and he instituted sys- 
tems and methods that promoted promptness 
and accuracy in all departments of the office 
and in the distribution of mails. After leav- 
ing the office he lived in retirement through- 
out his remaining days. Pie had made ju- 
dicious investments in real estate, and among 
other property be owned a fine brick resi- 
dence on South Yellow Springs street, which 
was bis home until he was called to his final 
rest. 

In 1859 ]\Ir. Shipman was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Fannie Grant, also^ a native of 
Springfield, and a daughter of \Villiani and 
N'ancy (McCormick) Grant. Tbey became 
the parents of three children : J. Warren, 
who resides in this city ; Annie, who is living 
in the old home on South Yellow Springs 
street : and Earl ^I. The mother was called 
to hei- final rest in 1896, and Mr. Shipman 
died on the 2nd of June, 1901, at the age of 
seventy-seven years. 

He was a most courteous gentleman of 
the old school, well liked because of his def- 
erence for others, because of his dignity and 
genuine worth. He belonged to Springfield 
Lodge, Xo. 33, I. O. O. F. ; to Lagonda 
Lodge, No. 61, I. O. R. M. ; and in his politi- 
cal views he was an earnest Republican. He 
represented the second ward in the city 
council and served as chairman of the finance 
committee. Progress and patriotism seemed 
to be the key-note of his character. He was 
deeply interested in everything pertaining to 
the general good and co-operated in every 



movement for the welfare of his community 
along social, intellectual and moral lines. 
Both he and his wife were consistent and ac- 
iwt members of the First Presbyterian 
church. They left behind them the memory 
of upright lives to serve as a blessed bene- 
diction to all who' knew them. The name 
of Mr. Shipman, because of the active part 
which he took in public affairs, was insepara- 
bly interwoven with the histoiy of his native 
cit}-, where his residence overed a period of 
more than seventy-one years. 

Earl M. Shipman was born March 29, 
1874. and at the usual age entered the pulilic 
school. Later he pursued a course in Nel- 
son's Business College, and for three years 
he was employed in the office of the Big Four 
Railroad Company. In 1892, terminating 
his connection with the railroad company, 
be entered into partnership with his brother, 
J. Warren, in the transfer business, which 
they continued with success until 1901, when 
they sold out, and Earl Shipinan is now liv- 
ing retired. He was married May 24, 1898, 
to Miss Neva Hartsock, a daughter of Will- 
iam and Georgiana Plartsock, and a native 
of Wavnesville, Ohios although both her 
parents are now residing in Springfield. 
The union of this couple has been blessed 
with one daughter, who has been given her 
mother's name. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ship- 
man are naembers of the Episcopalian church 
and the fomier is identified with the Repub- 
lican party. 



PROFESSOR DANIEL EBERSOLE. 

Professor Daniel Ebersole has since 
1894 teen iconnected with educational work 
in Springfield, and since September, 1900, 
has been the principal of the Southern schoul. 



756 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



He was lx)rn in Bethel township, Clark 
county, September 25, 185 1, and is a son of 
Peter Eljersole, whose birth occurred in the 
same township in 1824. The Ebersoles 
came to this country from Holland and set- 
tled in Pennsylvania. When the coloaiies 
could no longer endure the joke of British 
oppression and resolved to sever all allegi- 
ance to the British crown Jacob Eliersole. a 
great-grandfather, joined the colonial arnly 
and was a member of a Pennsylvania battery, 
while his brother. Christian Eliersole, served 
as a member of Washington's staflf. An- 
other great-grandfather of our subject, John 
Keller, likewise became a pioneer settler of 
Pennsylvania and was a member of the 
Pennsylvania Infantry in tlie war of the Rev- 
olution. He was l>iu-ied in Bethel township, 
while Jacob Ebersole was laid to rest in Pike 
township. Clark county. Abrajii Ebersole, 
a son of the great-grandfather settled on 
Mill creek, near Cincinnati. John, another 
.son, settled in Pike township, this county, 
and Polly, their sister, was one of the pioneer 
teachers of this county. Jacob Ebersole, 
the grandfather of our subject, was boi'n 
near Liuicaster, Pennsylvania, and when a 
young man went to Virginia, but on account 
of the slavery system of that state he re- 
moved to Ohio about 1809 and built a cabin 
in Springfield towiiship. where Peter Sintz 
fonnerly resided. He was a well educated 
man for his day, and was one of the first 
school teachers of this county. He like- 
wise engaged in preaching the gosj>el as a 
minister of the Dunkard faith. Purchasing 
land from the governmient be began its de- 
\-eIopment and for many )ears carried on 
farming. He died at the age of seventy 
years, while his wife, who bore the maiden 
name of Salome Keller, lived to lie eighty- 
one vears of aq-e. She came to this countv 



from Virginia, having been married there. 
They had four sons and five daughters, of 
whom two are yet living: Joel, of German 
township, who is now eighty-one years of 
age; and John, who resides upon a part of 
the original homestead in Bethel township, 
at the age of seventy-seven. 

Peter Ebersole, the father of our subject, 
was l:)orn upon his father's farm, acquired 
his education in the district schools near his 
home and was early trained to habits of in- 
dustry and economy upon the old homestead. 
He married FTannah Frantz, who was 
torn in Bethel townsliip in 1828. She 
came of German ancestry, the line be- 
ing traced to Michael Frantz. who. on 
leaving the fatherland, in 1727, becairie 
a resident of Pennsylvania. Daniel Frantz, 
the great-grandfather oi our subject, was 
a pioneer settler of Bethel township and 
a representative agricuilturist there. The 
ancestors of the Keller, the Frantz and the 
Elja-sole families were all early settlers of 
Pennsylvania and were of pure German and 
flolland extraction Peter Ebersole and 
Hannah Frantz were married in Bethel 
tOAmship in March, 1849 ^md theie began 
their domestic life on the farm which was 
the birthplace of the father of our subject, 
and on which he dietl in the year 1900. His 
wido\y still survives him and is yet living 
in Bethel township. Unto them were born 
nine children, four sons and lour daughters 
who are yet living, and one son that died at 
ihe age of three years. Those who still sur- 
vive are: Phoebe, the wife of Jacob Snell, 
of Indiana; Daniel, of this review; Salome, 
the wife of J. A. Keplinger, of German 
lov.n^hip; Sophia, the wife of Marion Garst, 
of German township: John P., a resident 
farmer of North Dakota; Eliza, the wife of 
Ira Garst, of Iowa: Jacob S.. a Baptist 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



7S7 



preacher at Coshocton, Ohio; and Willis, a 
resident farmer of North Dakota. The jjar- 
ents afforded their children the opportunity 
of attending the comnioii schools of Bethel 
township. The father and mother were 
identified with the German Baptist or Dimk- 
arfl church, and the father was a stalwart 
Republican in his political views. lie held 
several minor local offices in the township 
and was a respected and worthy citizen. 

Professor Ebersole came of honored pi- 
oneer families, whose connection with Clark 
county has proven of benefit to the substan- 
tial development of this part of the state. 
'Ic was reared upon tlie old family home- 
stead until lie had attained his majority, 
when, desirous of accpiiring more advanced 
educatioji than heicoiild secure in the district 
schools which he had attended, he pursued 
a scientific course in Lebanon N. N. U. At 
the age of twenty he began teaching in the 
district schools, and with the money earned 
in this way he met the expenses of a college 
course covering two and one-haJf years. He 
afterward engaged in teaching for twenty 
>ears in Bethel and adjoining- townships, and 
then came to Springfield in 1894. He first 
had charg-e of the North Street school, and 
has been gradually advanced' until he has 
reached the important position of principal 
>if the Southern school. 

On' August 20, 1878, in Lebanon, Ohio, 
Trofessor Ebersole was united in marriage 
to Agnes Hathaway, who was born in War- 
ren county, this state, in 185 1, and comes of 
old English .stock, her ancestors having been 
pioneer settlers O'f Warren ccnmty. Unto 
the Professor and his wife has been born 
one daughter, Mildrecl, whose birth occurred 
in T884. She is a graduate of the high 
<chon] of this city and is no-w a sophomore in 
Wittenberg College. Professor Ebersole has 



been a member oi the executive committee, 
having 'in charge the Clark county institute 
work. He is also an active member of the 
School Masters' Club and has a deep and 
abiding interest in his work, his own zeal 
and enthusiasmj inspiring the teachers who 
serve under him. He has, too, the faculty 
of commaniding the respect and eliciting the 
co-operation of the students, and as a factor 
in educational circles he has left his impress 
upon the maital de^-elopment of this city 
and county. Fraternally he is connected 
with the Tribe oi Ben Hur and both he and 
his wife are members' of the St. Paul's Meth- 
odist Episcopal church, in which he is serv- 
ing as a manber of the official board, while 
for several years he was superintaident of 
tlie Sunday schoo'l. He cast his first presi- 
dential vote for U. S. Grant, and in his 
political affiliations has since been a Repub- 
lican. Professor Ebersole is widely known 
in Clark county, and his career has added 
luster to an untarnished family name. He 
is not so abnormally developed in any one 
direction as to become a genius, but his is 
a well rounded character, resulting from due 
attention given to the social side of life, to 
moral obligations and toi the duties of citi- 
zenship as well as those of a professional 
career. 



THOMAS WOO'SLEY. 

One of the most prominent and honored 
pioneer families O'f Clark county is that of 
which Thomas Woosle}- was a representa- 
i\\e. He became an early settler of this 
locality and through the days when this re- 
gion was upon the frontier he took an active 
part in the wo'rk of progress and improve- 
ment, his labors not onl}'- resulting in benefit 



758 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to the people of his own generation, but to 
all posterity as well, for he was among- those 
\\ ho laid the foundation for the present and 
the future prosperity and upbuilding of the 
county. 

His birth occurred on Honey creek, in 
Ross county, July 25, iSio. His parents 
were James and Elizabeth Woosley, both of 
whom were natives of Virginia and had be- 
come residents of Ross county about 1806. 
In 1814 they came to Clark county, settling 
at South Charleston. The father was of 
\'\''elsh descent and the mother was of Ger- 
man lineage. In order to provide for his 
family James ^^'oosley carried on agricul- 
tural pursuits, being a fanner in moderate 
circumstances. By his marriage he became 
the father of eight children, of whom Thom- 
as was the second in order of birth. The 
eldest, Sarah, became the wife of Kendall 
Truitt. Benjamin, the third in order of 
birtli, is represented elsewhei-e in this vol- 
un-.e. Joshua, who was a fanner, went west 
to Missouri, and there died, leaving a son, 
Charles Woosley. David 'was also a farmer. 
Margaret l)ecame the wife of David Vance, 
and was the youngest of the family. 

Thomas \\"oosley of this review was 
reared to manhood on the old homestead 
amid the wild scenes of frontier life. He 
came with his ])arents to the county in 1814, 
when the Indians in their motley garb still 
roamed through the forest and many kinds 
of wild animals also had their haunts in the 
green wfX)ds of this section of the state, 
Tlie land was in the condition in which it 
came from the liand of nature and everj- 
thing was new aiiid wild. Thomas Woosley 
assisted in the arduous task of developing a 
new farm and for many years carried on 
agricultural pursuits. He married Margaret 
Truitt, and unto them were born five chil- 



dren, two of w hom reside in the west, while 
Mrs. Mar\- Pringle is living in Madison 
township and two are now deceased. In 
1 86 1 the father was again married, his sec- 
ond union being with Sarah Davisson, of 
Aladison township, who was born near Me- 
chanicsburg. Mr. \\'oosley owned a farm 
near South Charleston and there lived for 
a number of years, after which he removed 
to the town. He was a Republican in his 
political affiliations, but never sought ofiice. 
He held membership in the Methodist Epis- 
copal church, was class leader for many 
years, and also steward. He died in the 
faith of the church December 7. 1887, when 
he had reached the ad\'anced age of seventy- 
seven years. He was a man of the highest 
respectability whose life was in harnony 
with his Chrisitian faith and teachings, and 
who in his relations with his fellow men was 
always straightforward and honorable. He 
well deserves mention among the prominent 
pioneer settlers of the count}-, for he lx>re an 
acti\-e and helpful part in reclaiming this 
portion of the state for the uses of the white 
man. 

David Woosley, the brother of Thomas, 
was a child when the family came to Clark 
county. • He had been born in Ross comity 
January 12, 1813. He, too, shared in the 
hardships and trials incident to frontier life 
and assisted in the difficult task of hewing 
out a farm in the midst of the forest. He 
first married a Miss Painter, who lived, how- 
ever, for only a few weeks after their mar- 
riage. Later he wedded Mrs. Nanicy Shapp, 
nee Moss. She had two children by her first 
marriage. Le Roy and Emmett, the former 
now residing near Sydney. Ohio, and the lat- 
ter in Paris, Illinois. Five children were 
lx)m of the second union : Thomas. Eliza- 
beth, Benjamin. Da\-id and Henrv. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Benjamin \^'oosley, the third member of 
the older g-aieration, was born October 30, 
1815, in Madison township, Clark county, 
and was here reared. On the nth of De- 
cember, 1838, he was united in marriag-e to 
Miss Keturah S. Hunt, whoi wa/S born De- 
cember ID, 1 81 7, and died October 10, 1881. 
For his second wife he chose Miss Margaret 
A. R. Burchiiell, this wedding being' cele- 
brated April 6, 1886. Of this marriage 
there were born a son and a daughter, twins, 
but both died in infancy. The father died 
May 20, 1887. He had started out in life 
a poor man, but had become quite wealthy, 
having alx>ut one hundred and fifty thousand 
dollars in money and stocks in addition to 
t\\-e!\-e hundred acres of land which he 
owned. In the settlement of his property his 
widow received twenty-five thousand dollars. 
Mr. Woosley was laid to rest in South 
Charleston. Although not a member of any 
church, he was most generous in his support 
of churches, and each year gave one hundred 
dollars to the work. In all movements and 
measures pertaining to the g'eneral g-ood he 
was deeply interested and his co-operation 
was active and earnest. 



WILLIAM J. BAIRD. 

William J. Baird is living in Pleasant 
township, Clark county. He owns and oper- 
ates a farm' near Vienna Crossroads and is 
numbered among the native sons of this lo- 
cality, his birth having occurred east of the 
village of Harmony, on the 27th of March, 
1826. His father, Peter C. Baird, was born 
in Westmoreland county, Pennsyjvania, in 
1792, and his father was a Revolutionary 
soldier and acted as a guard for the captured 
Hessians. It is understood that he allowed 



prisoners to escape, having overheard them 
sa}-ing that they would never go back to Ger- 
many but would become citizens of Ameri- 
ca. He thus added to the number of loyal 
adherents to the colonial cause. Peter C. 
Baird, the father of our subject, was one of 
a family of six children: Mrs. Hester 
Smith; Elizabeth, the wife of John Wilson; 
Mary, the wife of John Hodge; Peter, the 
father of our subject; John, who wedded 
Miss Kirkpatrick; and William, who mar- 
ried Miss Sarah Hodge. After arriving at 
years of maturity, Peter C. Baird was united 
in marriage to Frances Wilson. They be- 
came the parents of eight childrenj of whom 
the subject of this review is the ddest. The 
others are : Clarissa, the wife of John Mills ; 
Dorothea, deceased; Caroline, the wife of 
Joseph r)ietrich ; WilHs, who was twice mar- 
ried ; Louis, who married Sallie Patton; 
Robert, who was killed in the Civil war 
when a young man; Susan; and Mary Ann, 
who died when about twaity years of age. 
William J. Baird resided with his father 
until thirty years of age. He was then mar- 
ried, on the loth of March, 1857, to Maty 
E. Hayward. and they became the parents 
of three children : John Oscar, who was 
born February 20, 1858, and married Susie 
Slagle: Margaret, who was bonu March 10, 
1S60, and married George Everhart; and 
Louis R., who was born April 10, 1863. 
The first wife of Mr. Baird died October 
9, 1864, and he was again married Febru- 
ary 19, 1867, his second union being with 
Nancy Jane Kimball, who was born August 
5, 1840. Her father wa„s Giles K. Kimball, 
and her mother bore the maiden name of 
Eveline Turner. Both parents camel from 
Maryland to Ohio and in their family were 
twelve children. Madison married Ruth 
Laughlin and for his second wife he chose 



760 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Leona (Austin) Crawford. Samuel died 
in childhood. William died unmarried. 
Francis married Mary Flack. Alfred 
wedded Lizzie Markley. Lizzie hecame the 
wife of Charles Hodge. Alzina l^ecame the 
wife of Charles Mitch. Aaron wedded Mary 
Moody. Ella mamed Tom Everhart. 
Amanda became the wife of Grant McCart- 
ney. Andrew wedded Edith Crawford. By 
the second wife our subject has five children, 
all of whom are now living: Clara Eliza- 
beth is the wife of Frank C. Jones, by whom 
she has four children ; Milton J., who resides 
in Pleasant township, married Floy Neer, 
and they have one child ; Nellie Alzina is the 
wife of Clark E. Jones; Eva Albina is the 
next of the family : Laura Ellen is the wife of 
Miner Slagle. and they have one child. All 
these children were born on the home place 
in Pleasant township and are still living. 

At the time of his marriage Mr. Baird of 
this review took up his alxxle upon a farm. 
He has always carried on agricultural pur- 
suits and is known as an enterprising, wide- 
awake farmer. He has also given considera- 
ble attention to the raising of stock, includ- 
ing hogs, cattle, sheep and horses. He is an 
excellent judge of all kinds of domestic ani- 
mals, and thus his purchases and sales have 
been judiciously made. He has placed all 
of the impro\-ements upon his farmi, for when 
it came into his possession it was a tract of 
woodland. It is called the Sugar Grove 
fann l>ecause of the large maple orchard 
upon it. Indians worked the sugar grove 
at a very early day and the tomahawks 
which they used in chopping the trees are still 
occasionally found in the grove. Every- 
thing alxmt the place is neat and thrifty in 
appearance, and from the time of the early 
sugar-nniking in the spring until crops are 
gathered in the late autumn Mr. Baird is 



found busy about his work, carefully super- 
intending everything that is carried on in 
connection with the improvanent of the land 
and his stock dealing interests. His mem- 
ory goes back to an early epoch in the devel- 
opment of this portion of the state. He 
can remember when there were nothing l)ut 
"corduroy" roads here and when the forests 
stood in their primeval straigth, the land be- 
ing all uncleared. Old stage coaches, too, 
made trips from town to town during' his 
boyhoot] days. There was a general muster 
held twice a year, and this was made a festal 
occasion for large districts. Ever}'body that 
I)ossibly could attended the muster, and it 
was a period of sociability and much gener- 
ous hospitality. 

In his religious views Mr. Baird is a 
Presb}terian, and his wife belongs to the 
Christian church. Formerly he was con- 
nected with the Supreme Order of the Star 
Spangled Banner or Know-Xothing party. 
In early life he gave his political support to 
the Whig party, and upon its dissolution he 
joined the ranks of the Republican party, of 
which he is now an earnest ad\'ocate. He 
has served as township trustee, filling the 
oftke years ago for several tenns. A self- 
made man, all that he possesses has come to 
him as the result of hard work. As one of 
the pioneer settlers of Clark count)- he well 
deserves representation in this volume 



THOM.AS F. XAVE. 

Thomas F. Nave, who is filling the posi- 
tion of township trustee of Springfield town- 
shij), and makes his hon:e in tlie city of 
Springfield, was born on a farm in Green 
township, this county, February 7, 1849. 
His father, Jacob Nave, was torn in 181 1, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



761 



in a log- caliin which stood on the same fami 
where the birth of our subject occurred. 
Tlie mother, who bore the maiden name of 
Mary Knable, was a native of Fayette coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania, born in the year 1816. 
After their marriage they settled on the old 
homestead in 'Green township, Clark county, 
Ohio. The Nave family had been es- 
tablished in this county in 1803 by Jacob 
Xave, the grandfather of our subject, 
who took up his abode here when this 
section of the state was a part of Greene 
county. He served his country as a 
soldier in the war of 1812. Of Vir- 
ginian birtih, he had removed from the Old 
Dominion t'o Pennsylvania and thence came 
to Ohio. ■ His wife, who bore the maiden 
name of Katherine Garlough, was also a na- 
tive of Virginia. The maternal grandfather 
of our subject was John Knable, who' mar- 
ried a iliss Eichelbarger, a native of Penn- 
sylvania. Unto the parents of our subject 
were Ixirn the following children : John G., 
Katherine, j^Iargaret, Jacob H., Enoch K., 
William O., Thomas, R, Harriet R., Eliza P., 
Ezra I^. and Irviia E. 

Tbomas F. Nave spent his boyhood days 
on the home fami and pursued his education 
in the district schools. He remained under 
the parental roof until fifteen years of age, 
when he accepted bis first business position, 
working by the month. He continued farm- 
ing, working first for others and then for 
himself in the operation of rented land, 
being thus engaged until the spring of 1883. 
He then removed to Springfield, where he 
spent part of the time during the years 1886 
and 18S7 in connection with the flour and 
feed Inisiness. At length, however, he closed 
out his business in that line and afterward 
gave much of his attention to carpentry 
work. Prior to 1886 he was also upon the 



road as a tra\'eling salesman for Whiteley, 
Fassler & Kelly, and later for himself, widely 
selling agricultural implemeits. He still 
continues carpentry work and for several 
years he has carried on contracting. In the 
spring of 1900, however, he was elected 
township trustee for Springfield township, 
and the duties of this position have since 
claimed much of his time and attention. He 
has always been an active Republican, firm 
and unfaltering in support of the party. 

On the 26th of Novemter, 1879, Mr. 
Nave was united in marriage to Miss Sarah 
Eaybourn, a daughter of James and Maiy 
(Skillings) Layboum, of Green township, 
Clark county, where Mrs. Nave was born 
and reared, her father having been one of the 
. early farmers of the locality. Two children 
have coane to bless this union : Jennie L. 
and Mary C, both at home. The parents 
are members of the Pleasant Hill Free Will 
Baptist cliurch, althoiigh the}' now attend the 
sen'ices of the High Street Methodist Epis- 
copal church, of which their daughters are 
members. Socially Mr. Nave is connected 
with Red Star Lodge, K. P., of which he 
is a charter member and ha® passed through 
all of its chairs. He is likewise connected 
with Company 44 of the Uniformed Rank. 
He has always lived in this portion of the 
state and has gained many f riendsi among the 
large circle of acquaintances which he has 
m.ade during his connection with this part 
of Ohio. 



JOHAXN CHRISTIAN ACKER^IANN. 

Johann Christian Ackerir.ann. who re- 
sides in Pleasant township. Clark connty, 
where he is successfully carrying on agricul- 
tural pursuits, was born in Hesse-Cassel, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Germany, July 28, 1841. His father, Henry 
Ackennaiin, was also a native of that local- 
ity and was there united in marriage to Miss 
Catherine Koch, who was Ixjrn in the same 
neighborhood. IMr. Ackemiann engaged in 
teaching school, following that profession 
for many years. 

The subject of this review on leaving his 
native land went to South America and for 
three ye;irs he remained in Buenos Ayres and 
Montevideo. He was in Geneva, Italy, on 
his way home from South America in 1864. 
.\t that time he enlisted as a member of the 
crew of th.e United States steamship Kear- 
sarge, with which he was connected for four- 
teen months. He then came to the United 
States, landing at Boston. In the meantime 
the ship had made ^. voyage to Africa, where 
many of the crew suffered from yellow fever 
and because of this the)- were quarantined at 
Lislx)n for six weeks, after which they pro- 
ceeded on their way to the American port. 
Mr. Ackemiann was employed in caring for 
the sick on lx>ard the ship. After reaching 
the United States the more rigorous climate 
of New England caused him to contract a 
fever and he was sent to the hospital in Bos- 
ton. While lying sick there his ship left port 
and he was forced to remain behind. On 
this account he could never receive a dis- 
charge or a pension. He was left penniless 
and as .soon as he regained his health he 
began work on a farm. Later he 
went to Philadelphia. He was robljed, lx>th 
in that city and in Boston, of what little he 
])ossessed. On leaving Philadelphia he 
walked thirty-six miles in three days. It 
was cold w inter weather in the month of De- 
cember a'ld the snow lay ui)<>n the ground 
to the height of the fences. He did not know 
the lang-uage of the people and he slept out 
in the cold and was without food for three 
davs. .\t length, however, he secured work 



upon a farm, where he remained until he 
had saved thirty dollars. He was a miller 
by trade and had followed that pursuit in 
South America, ^\'hen he had earned the 
sum mentioned he went to woric in a n.ill 
in Redingen and afterward ranoved to Lan- 
caster, Pennsylvania, where he was paid 
eight dollars per month for his work. Later 
he again went to Philadelphia, and proceed- 
ing to the emigrant office, he made known 
his wish to get a ticket for the west. He 
obtained a ticket taking him to Springiield. 
Ohio. Thus he became a resident of Clark 
coimty. For three years he worked in a mill, 
receiving ten dollars per week for his serv- 
ices. Later he was employed in the Poos 
oil mill for six months and subsecjuently in 
the paint mill, later turning his attention to 
agricultural pursuits. He is now engaged in 
general farming and stock raising. He also 
does a threshing business and is engaged in 
the business of clover hulling in addition to 
his other interests. Pie also manufactures 
Hog Chick, which is a hog and chicken 
cliolera cure. He invented this famous cure 
himself and through this mejuis has assisted 
many of his neigh1x>rs in saving their stock. 
He is now carrying on a good Imsiness and 
has become one of the prosjierous and sub- 
stantial agriculturists of his community. 

On the 10th of Deceml^r, 1868. Mr. 
.Vckern.ann was united in marriage to ^Irs, 
Catherine Hartn.an. Slie died in 1874 and 
later he went tO' his old home in Germany 
and brought Ixick to this countn' Aliss 
Magdalena Gemmell, to whom he was mar- 
ried in Springfield. December 10, 1874. 
They became the parents of nine children, 
namely : Henry. Katie. Lillie, John, Gertie, 
Charles. Louie. Harry and Friederick. 

Mr. Ackemiann cast his first presidential 
vote for Grant. Later he Ijecame a Dena>- 
crat. supporting that ])arty until Grover 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



753- 



Cleveland becaiT.e its candidate for the presi- 
dency. He now votes with tlie Rq>uhlican 
part\-. Mr. Ackermann has led a busy and 
useful life and certainly is to be commended 
for what he has accompilslied. Starting out 
in life without a dollar, he has steadily pros- 
pered in his work and his earnest toil has 
livi might to him a comfortable living. 



LADRU M. LAYTOX. 

Ladru ;\I. Layton has gained a reputa- 
liiin as an educator, reader, impersonator and 
lecturer which extends beyond the confines 
of Ohio and which has g"ained for him re- 
nown in other districts beside those in which 
he is well known because of his citizenship 
in Springfield. He is a man who' deserves 
great credit for what he has accon^plished 
in life, because he owes his intellectual ad- 
\'ancemait entirely to his own efforts. He 
n-ay well he called a self-educated and a self- 
n^ade man and his life history proves con- 
clusively that the road to success is open to 
all who have the determination to continue 
therein. Professr>r Layton is now princi- 
ple of the Dibert avenue school in Spring- 
field and has been connected with the puljlic 
school system of this city as an educator 
since 1891. He is probably yet more widely 
known by reason of his splendid ability as a 
reader, possessing the highest elements 
which contribute to artistic success in this 
line. 

Professor Layton is one of Springfield's 
native sous, his birth having occurred on 
the 27th of September, 18G9, and his father, 
Orrin A. Layton, was born in Mad River 
township in 1847 and represents one of the 
old and honored pioneer families of this 



portion of the state. It was in the year 1801 
that Joseph and Robert Layton came froan 
Pennsylvania to Ohio, settling on Mad 
river. The former was one of the first trus- 
tees of Mad River township and afterward 
served as justice of the peace and was also 
one of the first judges of the court of com- 
mon pleas of the county. They came of a 
distinguished family and in person, in talents 
and in character Professor Layton of this 
review is a worthy scion o^f his race. John 
E. Layton, the grandfather of our subject, 
owned one of the first farms that was de- 
veloped along Mad ri\-er. He served his 
country as a lieutenant of the Civil war and 
came of a race of people noted for their 
longevity. Orrin A. Layton, the father of 
our subject, pursued a conin'.on school edu- 
cation and was reared under the parental 
roof. He has one sur\-i\ing sister, Mrs. 
^V. W. Latta, who is now li\-ing in Lidiana, 
her husband jjeing the owner of Haw- Patch 
stock-farm. For some years Orrin A. Lay- 
ton was in the railroad postal service and 
about 1886 he accepted the position of bag- 
gage man with the Big Four Railroad Com- 
pany, in which capacity he has since served. 
He married Jennie Serviss, a sister of O. S. 
Serviss. She died in 1876 at the age of 
twenty-eight years. 

Of their family twO' died in infancy, leav- 
ing Professor Layton. oi this review, the on- 
ly surviving child. He was the second in or- 
der of birth and pursued his education in the 
public schools of Springfield, being grad- 
uated in the high school with the class of 
1887. For two years he acted as bookkeeper 
for the firm of A\'eldon & Merrill and in the 
meantime he prepared for college and pur- 
sued his studies in tliat direction. In 1891, 
he began teaching in the North street school 
as its superintendent. Later he acted as- 



764 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



principal 'A the Lagonda school and in 1897 
he came tc his present position as principal 
of the Dibert avenue school. He is a novice 
in his work, is verj- thorough and earnest 
and inspires the teachers and pupils who are 
under his direction with much of his own 
interest in educational afifairs. He is con- 
stantly studying improved methods and to 
make his work efifective in preparing the 
young for the practical and responsible 
duties which come in later life gives much 
of his time and attention. 

Professor Layton was married in this 
city in 1897 to Miss Ida Fleming, who was 
Ixjrn in Ouincy, Ohio. She was one of a 
family of four children : Delia, who is now 
occupying the position of forelady in the 
office of the paper knowii as the Farm and 
Fireside; Elizabeth, who is employed in the 
sane office; Maude, the wife of Mr. 
Buchholtz, a druggist, and Mrs. Layton. 
The mother of this family is still living, her 
home being in Springfield. Mrs. Layton 
is a graduate of the high school of this city 
and foi- ten years was a successful public 
school teacher here. Both the Professor and 
his wife hold membership in the Methodist 
Episcopal church and he belongs to Anthony 
L<..dge, F. & A. M.; Springfield Chapter. 
R. A. M. ; Springfield Council. R. & S. M. ; 
and Palestine Commander}-, K. T. He has 
held office in both the blue lodge and chap- 
ter. He also belongs to the Beta Theta Pi. 
a college fraternity. 

Professor La>-ton is peculiarly gifted as 
a reader, an impersonator and lecturer, and 
has developed his talents in this direction 
until he now ranks among the leading read- 
ers and impersonators of the country. He 
has received unsolicited letters to this effect 
from various prominent men in the country, 
while newspaper comments have given him 



high praise. The Commercial, published at 
Louisville. Kentucky, said : "Mr. Layton, 
as reader and impersonator, made a great 
hit. Especially worthy of notice was his 
reading of Oliver Twist, in which he im- 
personated Fagin while in jail on the day 
prer\-ious to his execution." ]\Iany other 
equally favorable notices have been ]>ublishe(l 
by the press. At a church entertainment 
gi\'en in Springfield Professor Layton read 
Dickens' Christmas Carol. One of the home 
papers in speaking of this, said : "When 
any man can commit to memory accurately 
a story which requires one hour and thirty- 
five minutes in-the recital, he becomes an ob- 
ject worthy of consideration. When lie re- 
cites it in a well modulated voice and in 
a manner careful of the elementary demands 
of rhetoric and oratory, he becomes worth 
money. But when he combines all of these 
and in addition tells about a Christmas din- 
ner in so realistic a manner as to make his 
audience hungry, when his very mention of 
poor little Tim with his crutch and his will- 
ingness to be sacrificed for others" good 
makes people cry; when his delineation of 
every character entering into this most de- 
lightful of all Christmas stories, is true and 
vivid in every detail, he becomes a pride and 
a pleasure to any city in which he claims 
residence and is so near being a professional 
in the art that his own inclination alone 
stands between him and success on the stage. 
It was a serm.on and a play com'bined. It 
delighted everyboily. Tlie lesson it taught 
to all can never be forgotten, and after last 
evening Springfield people are Ijrought to 
appreciate Mr. Layton and his exceptional 
talent, in this direction as thev never have 
done before." For the past ten years Pro- 
fessor Layton has been reading in public and 
his services in this direction are in great de- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



765 



mand. He is also well known in connection 
with institnte wuvk and has been president 
of the Clark Count}- Teachers' Association. 
He has done reading and given lectures in 
institutes, his work in this direction covering 
the state of Ohio as well as parts of Indiana 
and Kentucky. He is a member of the 
Schoolmasters Club of this city and he 
leaches elocution, giving private lessons and 
doing considerable coaching for contest 
Work. Perhaps no better idea of his ability 
m this direction can be gained than from 
some of the letters written him by prominent 
educators. J. \V. Withers, president of the 
Western Normal University, under date of 
'August 14, 190 1, wrote: "This will certify 
that I have been associated with Mr. Ladru 
Layton in institute work here during the 
week just past. His special subject was 
reading. Without solicitation or suggestion 
on his part I desire to testify to the effi- 
cienc\- of his work. I beljeve him to be a 
gentleman of the truest type, open, sincere, 
unaffected. His sdections were from our 
choicest literature and his rendering of them 
was natural, his analysis and interpretation 
most excellent. His work was deservedly 
popular, he drew the crowd and has made 
for hiUiSelf a warm place in the hearts of 
his fellow teachers. I cheerfully commend 
his work." From the pen of Professor 
Daniel Albright Long, president of Antiodi 
College, of Yellow Springs, Ohio, came the 
following: "It was my pleasure to see and 
hear 2\lr. Ladru Ai. Laytun when he gave 
one of his almo.st inin-.ita'ble elocutionary en- 
tertainments. He is one of Ohio's brightest 
and best ^'oung men. A member of one of 
the oldest and best families, cultured in 
mind, captivating in manners, he will hold 
his audience spellbound from the beginning 
to the close. Do not fail to hear Lavton." 



It will thus be seen that Professor Layton 
has had marked influence upon the educa- 
tional development and intellectual culture 
of his city and state, and his life record sets 
at naught the old adage, "The prophet is 
never without hoaior save in his own coun- 
try." He has here won distinction, and 
while he has the warm friendship of many 
w ho have known him from boyhood as. well 
as those with whom he has become acquaint- 
ed in his later years, perhaps no one has 
more thoroughly enjoyed his w!ork as a pub- 
lic reader or rejoiced more truly in his ad- 
vancement in this direction than these same 
friends of his early youth and of his home 
town. 



CASSIUS W. MINXICH. 

Cassius \V. Alinnich, who throughout his 
entire life has followed farnung, was born 
near Donnelsville, Clark county, on the farm 
which is yet his home and \\-hich was at 
one time the proi^erty of his grandfather, 
Michael Minnich. It was there John Min- 
nich, the father of our subject, was also 
bom and reared. When he had arrived at 
years of maturity he wedded Caroline Lay- 
ton and they became the parents of the fol- 
lowing children : Michael, li\'ing in the 
west • Clinton, who married Elizabeth Hig- 
gins, a daughter of Levi Higgins. 
and their home is now on a farm near 
Donnelsville; Felix, deceased: Cassius W. ; 
Mary Ella, the wife of J. M. Latta, a resi- 
dent of Chicago^, Illinois, and they have two 
children, Keith and Jessie. Jessie is the 
wife of Frederick Humphries, a resident 
farmer of Bethel township, Clark county, 
and they have four children — ]Mar\-, E\'an, 
Feli-X and Rodger. John ^.linnich. the father 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of our subject, always carried on agri- 
cultural pursuits up to the time of the Civil 
war. when he put aside business and personal 
considerations in order to aid in the preser- 
vation of the Union and went to the front as 
quartenraster in the Forty-foiu-th Ohio 
Regiment. 

On the old home place Cassius W. Min- 
nich spent the days of his boyhood and 
youth. He worked in the tiekl performed 
the tasks assigned him in the schoolroom 
and enjoyed the pleasures of the playground 
in much the manner of farmer lads of the 
period. The occupation to which he w'as 
reared he has made his life work and yet 
lives on the old family homestead, where he 
has a well cultivated tract of land, the 
fields being fertile and productive and an- 
nually yielding to him gt>od harvests. He 
was married to Miss Ida Higgins, a daugh- 
ter of Levi Higgins, a farmer of Bethel 
township. In 1885. however, Mr. Miraiich 
was called upon to mourn the loss of his 
w ife, who died leaving three children : Carl, 
Kenneth and Alice, all yet with their father. 
Mr. Minnich is a Mason in his social re- 
lations and is true to the teachings of the 
craft. In his political views he is a Repub- 
lican. His fellow townsn.en. recognizing 
his worth and ability, have called him to 
public office and for three terms he has 
capably served as^ township trustee, dis- 
charging his duties with promptness and 
hdelitv. 



JOHN W. JEXKIXS. 

Perhni)S every civilized country on the 
face of the globe has furnished its quota of 
citizens to Springfield. In the cosmopolitan 
citizenshij) here there is no more important 



or \aluetl eleir.ent than that which comes 
from Wales. The national characteristics of 
determination and perseverance are found 
exemplified in the life of John W. Jenkins, 
wJio was born in Wales, in 1855, and is a 
sou of William and Ann (Lew-is) Jenkins, 
who were likewise natives of the same coun- 
tr\-. In the year i860 the father anigrated 
to America and established a home in 
Youngstown. Ohio, after which he sent for 
his wife and children who joined him a year 
later. Both the parents of our subject are 
now deceased, the father having passed away 
about twelve years ago, while the mother's 
death occurred three years ago. They reared 
nine children : William, who niarried Lucy 
Rosser and is now living near Pittsburg, 
Pamsylvania: John W. ; Mary Ann, de- 
ceased; James, who wedded Lizzie Moran 
and is living in Marion, Ohio; Benjamin, 
who wedded Edith ^Morgan, of Perry coun- 
ty, Ohio, by whom he had two children, 
William and Benjamin, Jr.; Benjamin, who 
was killed on a railroad at Dennison, Ohio, 
in 1892; Edwin, of Alarion. Ohio, who mar- 
ried E\'a ScoA'ille, of that place b)' whom he 
has tliree children, Mary, Abigail, deceased, 
and ah infant; William George, of New-ark, 
Ohio, who married Mary 'iloran and has 
one child, Xorbert; David, who is living in 
Marion, Ohio, and wedded Ella Aloran, by 
whom he has one child : and Thomas, \\\vi 
n-'arried Ruth McCarder and is living in 
.Marion with their one child. 

John W. Jenkins was only six years of 
age when he came with his mother to the 
United States, joining his father in Youngs- 
town. Ohio. He obtained his education in 
the schools of this state and has here lived 
since he Ijecan.e an .\merican citizen. He 
is now engaged in the oi)eration of a stone 
(juarry and the manufacture of lime. His 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



767 



quaiT}- Ts located alx)ut three and one-half 
miles from Springfield. There he has grad- 
ually de\'eloped a business which has now 
reached large proportions and yields him a 
good profit annually as a return for his in- 
vestments and for his labor. He has three 
kilns which are used in the manufacture of 
lime and he regularly employs fifteen mai in 
making this commodity and in quarrying 
stone. His products find a ready sale upon 
the market and his trade is coutinually grow- 
ing. 

In August, 1875, Mr. Jenkins was united 
in marriage to Rachel Evans, a daughter of 
John and Gwenlliann (Jones) Evans, who 
came from South Wales to the Ulnited 
States in the- year 1862. In their family 
were six children : Margaret, whoi was mar- 
ried in Wales to David W. Davis and is liv- 
ing in Perry county, Ohio; Daniel, who was 
married in Wales to' Sarah Jones aud is 
living in Marion, Ohio; Tliomas, who 
wedded Mary Ann Williams, of Wales, 
their home being now in Marion ; John, who 
was. married in Marion, where he now 
lives, toi Mary Jane Owen, who was 
born in this co^mtry; ]\lary, the wife of 
John R'. Roberts, of Murr\^ City, Ohio; and 
Mrs. Jenkins. The last named was born in 
^\'ales and has become the mother of five 
childrai : William John, ftow twenty-eight 
years of age, married Ettie Elliott and is 
li\-ing in Medway, Ohio; Rachel Mary, liv- 
ing in Mansfield, Illinois, is the wife of 
Walter Thomas, a railroad agent; Gwenll- 
iann, who' is living at home with her par- 
ents ; Da\-id Harrison, who is fifteen years 
of age; and Edna Marguerite, who died in 
]\Iarch, 1898. The fraternal, political asd 
church relations of Mr. Jenkins indicate 
his upright character. He is a Knight of 
Pythias, a Republican and a Presbyterian. 

41 



He is true in every trust reposed in him, to 
duties of citizenship and of prij;ate life and 
is a worthy sou of his adopted country and 
of his native land. 



TIMOTHY D. BEACH, ^I. D. 

Dr. Timothy D. Beach, who is engaged: in 
the practice of medicine in Catawba, has re- 
sided here since 1875 and during the twenty- 
sevai years which have since passed he has 
steadily advanced in public affairs because 
of his capability as a member oif the medical 
fraternity and the sterling qualities o.f his 
manhood. He was born in Brown township, 
Franklin county, Ohio, January 17, 1848, 
and comes of a family whose ancestry is 
traced back to England, although represen- 
tati\-es of the name came to Am.erica in 
early colonial days. His great-grandfather, 
Obel Beach, was one of the heroes of the 
Revolutionary war, while Uri Beach, Sr., the 
grandfather, was a large land owner and 
manufacturer in connection with othei* busi- 
ness interests, becoming well-to-do. His 
death, however, occurred in 1832, when he 
was in the prime of life. 

His son, Uri Beach, Jr., the father of our 
subject, was born in Madison county, Ohio, 
January 13, 1826, and grew to manhood in 
Amit\-. From early boyhood he followed 
farming. He was the fifth in order of birth 
in a family of seven children, there being 
four sisters older and two brothers younger 
than himself. His two brothers were sur- 
geons in the army during the Civil war. 
Only one of the sisters is now living, IMrs. 
Iklaloney Kilgore, of Bloomington, Illinois, 
who is eighty-three years of age at this 
writing. 



768 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



When only nineteen years of age, Uri 
Beach, Jr., was married to Eleanor Do^vn- 
ing. who was bom in 'Franklin county, a 
daughter of Timothy Downing, one of the 
old settlers of that part of the state and a 
representati\e of an old family of English 
ancestry. Her birth occurred Xovember 22, 
1825, and when a young lady she engaged 
in teaching in the district schools. As Uri 
Beach was the eldest son in his father's fam- 
il}- and the iDiu-th child, when he was young 
he had only limited educational privileges, 
but he obtained a good, practical education 
in the school of experience and Ijj' reading 
kept well informed on the questions of the 
day. In his business affairs he prospered 
and is now one of the largest stock dealers 
of Ohio, lie began shipping stock in 1854 
and has continually increased his oi>erations 
in this line of business, raising, feeding and 
shipping stock on a verj- extensive scale, 
so that he is to-day one of the most prom- 
inent representatives of this industry in the 
state. He oavus a farm in Franklin county 
and well merits his prosperity which is the 
direct result of his own lalx>r. Quite prom- 
inent in pnijlic affairs he has been elected 
and served for nineteen consecutive years as 
assessor of his to\niship. His ix)litical sup- 
port is given the Republican party. Both he 
and his wife are members oif the Methodist 
Episcopal church and take an active part in 
its work and upbuilding. Economical, help- 
ful and energetic. Airs. Beach has proved 
of great assistance to her husband and to- 
gether they ha\e worked on until now all 
the comforts and many of the luxuries of 
life are enjoyed by them as the result of 
their earnest lalxic in former years. 

Their union was blessed with seven chil- 
dren, but three are now deceased, John hav- 
ing died in infancy, in 1861, while Eva 



Noble, who was born in 1854, and graduated 
in 1876 at Ohio Wesleyan Uni\ersity and 
became the wife of Rev. J. D. Simms, died 
in 1882. Etta, bom in 1862, was a graduate 
of Delaware College and died in 1890. Four 
of the family are still living: Timothy D., 
of this re\iew; Isaac \V., who was born in 
1850, and is living retired in Plains City; 
Elizabeth, who was bom in 1854 and is the 
wife of H. B. Converse, a farmer and stock- 
man residing in Plains City; and Uri, who 
was bom in 1868 and is living on the home 
farm, being actively interested in the stock 
business as a memljer of the firm of Beach 
& Sou. The father provided his children 
with liberal educational advantages, all 
having attended college and under the 
parental roof each remained until attaining 
mature years. 

Dr. Beach, like the other members of the 
family, spent his boyhood days in his par- 
ents' home. He began his education in t!ie 
district schools and afterward attended the 
Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. He 
entered that university at the age of nine- 
teen, pursuing an elective course. By teacli- 
ing in the common schools of Ohio, he 
worked his way through college and also 
prqjared to enter u^xju preparation for the 
practice of medicine. In 1870 he matriculat- 
ed in Starling Aledical College of Columbuj, 
Ohio, where he pursued a medical course and 
was graduated with the degree of AI. D. He 
then went to Alton, Ohio, where he remained 
for eighteen months when, desiring to fur- 
ther perfect himself in his chosen vocation, in 
1874 he entered Bellevue Medical College of 
New York city, winning his degree in 1S75. 
He then came direct to Catawba, where he 
has since remained. He located here as a 
stranger with no capital and began the slow 
and difiicult task of winning the public con- 



•^HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



769 



fidence and of gaining public patronage. 
His successful conduct of several difficult 
cases, however, established him in public re- 
gard and he has never lost the position which 
he thus won as a capable and leading mem- 
ber of the medical fraternity. He acquired 
a lucrative practice and also won a wide 
circle of friends. 

On the 28th of November, 1876, in 
Madison count)', the Doctor was married to 
Miss Talitlia Bales, who was born in that 
county, Januaiy 17, 1855, ^""^ ^^"^^ educated 
in the district school and at Delaware, Ohio. 
Her father, Thomas Bales, was a farmer by 
occupation. Unto th.e Doctor and his wife 
have been born five children : Le Roy, who 
was boTU April 20, 1S78, married Nellie B. 
Funk, O'f Springfield, and follows the ma- 
chinist's trade in Springfield, Oihio'j Alta, 
who was born December 29, 1879, ^"^ is 
the wife of Edward Fitz Gibbon, a prosper- 
ous farmer of Champaign count}', by whom 
she has a daughter, Grace; Ada, born April 
10, 1886; Downing, born October 7, 1888; 
and Darwin, bom January 3, 1894. Mrs. 
Beach owns a valuable farm of six hundred 
acres in Madison county, Ohio'. The family 
home is in Catawba, where the Doctor and 
his wife have many wiarm friends. 

The Doctor enjoys a very large practice 
which makes heavy demands upon his time 
and it is well that he is interested in his 
chosen life-work, for it leaves him little op- 
portunity for active participation in other 
affairs of life. When twenty-one years of 
age he was made a !Mason and belongs to 
Madison Lodge, No. 221, F. & A. M., of 
West Jefferson. He is the only examiner 
in his township for m.any of the old life in- 
surance companies, including the Mutual 
Benefit, the Life Assurance Coanpany of 
New York; the Equitable Life Assurance 



Society, of New York; the Northwestern, of 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the Central, of Cin- 
cinnati; and others. Dr. Beach made his 
own way through college and the self-re- 
liance and determination which he then dis- 
played proved that he possessed a strong 
character that would oivercoine all obstacles 
and difficulties and steadily advance toward 
success. Opposition and hindrances have 
seemed to serve only as an impetus for re- 
newed effort on his part and by close study 
and broad reading he has continually pro- 
moted his usefulness until he has had no 
difficulty in maintaining- a position in the 
foremost ranks of the medical fraternity in 
this part of the state. 



SAMUEL ARTHUR. 

Samuel Arthur, a farmer of Clark comi- 
ty, owning and operating a good tract of land 
in Mad River township, was born October 
20, 1853, on the place known as the Dilla- 
hunt farm, which \^■as then owined by his fa- 
ther, Joseph Glasgow Arthur, who was boi-n 
in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, October 
23, 1 81 2. He was a son of Joiseph Arthur, 
Sr., a native of Pemisylvania, who came to 
Clark county, Ohio', in 1829, and died here 
in 1843. He was a son of a man who came 
from the north of Ireland to America and is 
oif Scotch-Irish descent. Joseph Arthur 
wedded ]\Iary McLaughlin, and she, too, \vas 
of Scotch-Irish descent. Her mother was a 
JMiss Glasgow ini her maidenhood and came 
from Scotland, and hence it was that the 
name of Joseph Glasgow was given 
to the father of our subject. In 1829 
Joseph G. Arthur accompanied his par- 
ents to Ohio and after arriving at years 



770 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of maturity he wedded Xancy Ann Albin, 
a da'iigliter of George and Martha (Lay- 
ton) Albin. She was born July 20, 
1819, in Clark county, Ohio. Her grand- 
father, Joseph Layton, was one of the 
three original presiding justices of Clark 
county at the time of its organization. His 
people were among the early settlers of the 
state, coming to Ohio, when it was yet a ter- 
ritory. In the family were several childrai 
and the settlement was made southwest of 
Springfield. Both John Albin and his wife 
were buried in the Ebenezer cemetery in 
Green township in the year 1820. He was a 
soldier of the Revolutionary war and both 
the maternal and paternal grandfathers of 
our subject served through the war oi 1812. 
Joseph G. Arthur died in September, 1887. 
In his famil)^ were eleven children, of whom 
five are living. The family record is as fol- 
lows : ]\Iartha, the deceased wife of Jacob 
Haines, by whom she had five children ; 
George, a lawyer of Springfield : Joseph, who 
served in the Civil war ; Jasper, deceased ; 
Margaret, who became the wife of Ezra D. 
^Miller and has two children; Lemuel, who 
has passed away; John, a farmer of Clark 
county; Samuel, also an agriculturist; 
Charles, Franklin and Andrew Jackson, all 
deceased. 

In November, 1875, Samuel Arthur was 
united in marriage to Miss Rosabella ilc- 
Clure, who was of Scotch-Irish descent ajid 
a daughter of George and Harriet (Dory) 
!McClure. The mother's people wei-e from 
England. In the family were twelve chil- 
dren : David Doiy, a gardener; Rosabella,- 
the wife of Mr. Arthur ; Charles Jeflferson, 
aj ranchman, of Colorado; Harriet Ann, who 
is a bookkeeper; John, who followed farm- 
ing but is now deceased ; William, who was 
also a farmer; George Robert, a fanner now 



deceased ; Elizabeth, who passed away ; 
Seth, a machinist; Thomas, a gardener and 
florist; Mary, the wife of Elmer Kahl; and 
James Edward, a grocer of S])ringfield. 

The home of ^Mr. and !Mrs. Arthur has 
been blessed with three children: Dora 
Belle, born August 14, 1876; Alice Carey, 
born September 17, 1878; and ;Margaret. 
born October 11, 18S4. Dora Belle is the 
wife of Edward Brantner, a teacher of Clark 
county. Alice Carey is the wife of Claude 
Arthur J^ayton, of Green township, this 
county, and they have two^ children : Arthur 
Barnes and Lois Angeline. 

Throughout his entire business career 
Mr. x-Vrthur has followed farming and has a. 
valuable tract of land which is well im- 
proved. He belongs to the First Congrega- 
tional church of Springfield, with which his 
family are connected, his membership there- 
with dating from 1892. He was a meml>er 
of the Clark County Grange at Tremont. 
but his memljership is now with the Grange 
at Enon. He has always been a Democrat, 
following in the political footsteps of his fa- 
ther and grandfather in this respect. 

He has been township trustee for three 
}ears and for two tenr.s was a member of the 
board of education, while frequently he has 
served as a delegate to the county conven- 
tion of his party. 



CHARLES E. BREXIXG. 

Charles E. Brening, whose skill as a 
draftsman and machinist has qualified him 
for important positions, is now serving as 
superintendent of the E. \\'. Ross Company 
and is a member of the firm of Brening 
Brothers. He was born in the Empire state. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



liis birth having occurred in Oswego county, 
Xew York, June i6, 1859. His father, 
Charles A. Brening, was a native of Ger- 
many and when only four years old canie to 
the United States and settled in Onondaga 
county, Xew York, where he was reared to 
manhood, dex'oting his time to the work of 
the field. After arriving at years of matur- 
ity he wedded Christina Earhardt, who was 
born in Germany. His father was a machin- 
ist and devoted the best years of his life to 
his trade, serving as superintendent of differ- 
ent factijries, including a large one in Syra- 
cuse, Xew York. He was well qualified for 
the onerous and im.portant duties which de- 
volved upon him, but now he is living re- 
tired in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. 
Charles E. Brening acquired his early 
education in the public schools and after 
completing his studies there he entered the 
Fulton Seminary at Fulton. Xew York, 
where he diligently devoted his energies to 
the mastering O'f learning therein taught. 
On putting aside his text books to learn the 
more difficult lessons in the schools of ex- 
perience he sought employment in the line 
of a machinist, learning the trade with the 
E. \\'. Ross Company, which at that time 
was engaged in the manufacture of water 
wheels and mill work. Later on he was in- 
structed in the line of his chosen calling by 
Professor Sweet, who was a skilled me- 
chanic and practical workman, who for sev- 
eral years after that period was professor 
in Cornel! University. After complet- 
ing his trade Mr. Brening entered the 
employ of the firm of Heild & Morris, 
having a situation in their engine works 
at Baldwinsville. Xew ^'ork. There he 
remained for some time, after which he 
entered the services of the Thompson & 
Kn^gsford Engine & Boiler works, in wlrich 



he worked on fine machinery. He became a 
draftsman, designer and maker of patterns 
and acquired a high degree of proficienc}' in 
this line. Later he returned tO' the E. W. 
Ross Company, then at Fulton, Xew York, 
as foreman oif their machine works, the 
company being at that time n:anufacturers 
oif water wheels and feed cutters. In i886 
the E. W. Ross Company remo\'ed its works 
from Fulton, Xew York, to Springfield, 
Cfliio, and continued their line of manufac- 
tures here. Mr. Brening accompanied them 
to their more westerly location. The coni- 
pany made large additions to the plant, con- 
structing new buildings and putting in 
modern machinery. In the winter of 1900 
the works were destroyed by fire, and all of 
the machinery was ruined and nearly all of 
the patterns were thus swept away. At that 
tin.e there were manv orders in the hoaise to 
be filled, but as the patterns were burned it 
was a serious question as to what was to be 
done. The company at once began the erec- 
tion of new buildings while Mr. Brening. as 
draftsman, undertook the work of again 
making the patterns. He possessed an ex- 
cellent memory and added to this was his 
executive force and mechanical skill. \\"\\h 
a large force of workmen he began reproduc- 
ing the patterns and at the time the buildings 
were completed he was read}' with these, a 
fact which indicates his capability in coping 
with an emergency. 

On the 23d of Ottober, 1886, Mr. Bren- 
ing was united in marriage to Miss Cora ]\L 
Howard, of Fulton, Xew York, a daughter 
of Joseph H. Howard. Socially he is iden- 
tified with Springfield Lodge, Xo. t^^i' I- O. 
O. F. His long connection with the house 
of which he is now a representative, covering 
almost the entire period of his ir.anhood, in- 
dicates in an immistakable manner that he 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



enjoys in the highest degree the confidence 
of those wlioin he represents. He has long 
since left the ranks of the manj- to stand 
among the sviccessfnl few because of his 
comprehensive knowledge of mechanical 
principles, his precision, care and promptness 
in execution and his honorable relations in 
all trade matters. 



CHARLES T. RIDGELY. 

Charles T. Ridgely. of die Ridgely Dec- 
orative Comijany, Ijeing secretary and treas- 
urer of the fiiTn, was l)orn at the corner of 
Columbia and Yellow Springs streets in 
Springfield on the 15th of February, 1856. 
Among his friends are many who have 
known him from toyhood and this is indica- 
tive of an honorable career, worthy of the re- 
sjject and confidence of his fellow mai. He 
is the eldest son of J. T. Ridgely and in 
the Western school building he pursued his 
education until thirteen years of age. whai 
he began to earn his own living. He has 
since depended upon his own exertions, and, 
although he has encountered difficulties and 
obstacles in his path, he has steadily ad- 
^■anced until he to-day occupies a very credit- 
able position among the business men of the 
cit\-. He began learning tiie trades of paint- 
ing and paper-hanging under the direction 
of his father. At the age of nineteen, how- 
ever, he was forced to abandon the former, 
which proved detrin.ental to his health. In 
1S75 he entered the wall paper department 
c>f the store of C. H. Pierce & Company 
and for seventeen years represented tliat 
house as a paperhanger, being particularly 
skilled in that line of artisanship. In 1892 
he accepted tlie jwsition of manager of tlie 



wall paper department of the business of E. 
H. Wrens, with wiiom he rar.ained for one 
year and on the expiration of that period 
he began business for himself. It was on 
the 1st of November, 1893, when the Ridge- 
ly Decorative Comixmy was formed with 
J. T. Ridgely as president, H. G. Ridgely 
as \ice president, and C. T. Ridgely 
as secretary and treasurer. Our subject had 
the management of the business until 1899, 
when he began manufacturing the Ridgely 
trimmer on an extensive scale. He invented 
and developed the C. T. Ridgely wall paper 
cutter in September, 1888, made valual^le 
improvements in July, 1889, and has since 
devoted considerable attention to the manu- 
facturing of these devices and placing them 
upon the mrrket. The first year over two 
hundred maciiines were sold. It was then 
put into the hands of jobbers and the output 
for the season of 1902 was over eight thou- 
sand. In 1895 he patented an entirely 
new machine and made improvemaits from 
year to year. In 189S he produced another 
new machine and in 1892 he patented an ad- 
justable straight-edge cutter. The maciiines 
and cutters have been manufactured in 
Springfield since 1899 and Mr. Ridgely is 
giving his entire attention to this branch of 
the business. He finds sale for his goods 
throughout the civilized world and he ad- 
vertises to a considerable extent in foreign 
journals. This business has been developed 
practically since 1895 and he has met with 
desirable success in the enterprise. \\"hile 
engaged in the wall paper business he saw 
tlie need of a device for trimming wall paper 
without danger of cutting fingers, as former- 
Iv a straiglit knife had been used. He then 
conceived the idea of a rotary cutter and 
later developed and patented the machine 
which he has improved and perfected from 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



time tO' time and which, because of its ex- 
cellence and utiHty, finds a ready and exten- 
sive sale throughout the world. 

]\Ir. R'idgely was married January 6, 
1S77, to IMag-gie Hearn, of Yellow Springs, 
Ohio, who was born there and died in Au- 
gust, 1877. In 1879 he was again married, 
his second union being with Miss Ada Sharp, 
who was born and reared in Troy, Ohio, 
her natal day being in Deceml>er, 1866. 
She is a daughter of William Sharp, who 
died in X'ovember, 1900. His wife was a 
jMiss Baird, and was of Scotch ancestry. 
Unto l\Ir. and Mrs. Ridgely have been born 
tiiree children : Baird, who died at the age 
of fifteen month.s ; Charles Verrey, born Au- 
gust 14, 1886; and Roderick Lea, born in 
September, 1889. The sons have been edu- 
cated in the Springfield public schools and 
are now students of the violin under Robert 
Brain at tlie Conservatory of Music in this 
city. They may well be termed nuisical 
prodigies, ha\ing remarkable skill and tal- 
ent. They have studied music for about six 
years and have given many concerts of a 
very high order. The parents may well 
be proud of the marked ability O'f the sons 
in this direction, for their talait has long 
since advanced them beyond mediocrity as 
performers on the violin. The family home 
is at No. 508 West Mulberry street, and 
here hospitality reigns supreme. Mr. Ridge- 
ly purchased the lot and built the house in 
1890. 

He is a valued member of Red Star 
Lodge, K. P.. and of Division Xo. 44, of the 
Uniformed Rank. He is also connected 
with Al Vembo Temple, D. O. K. K., and 
with the local lodge of the Benevolent and 
Protective Order of Elks. He is a charter 
men:ber of the ^ilodern Woodmen camp 
here, belongs to the Commercial Club and 



is the vice-president and director of tlie 
IMatinee Gentlemen's Driving Club of this 
city. ]\Ir. Ridgely deserves great credit 
for the success which he has accomplished 
in business and for giving tO' the world de- 
vices of much practical utility and value in 
industrial circles. The story of his achieve- 
ments, shoA\ing that he has overcome obsta- 
cles and difficulties and by perseverance has 
gained success, should inspire many young 
nren to increased diligence and persever- 
ance. 



JOHN B. SPARROA\'. 

In a biographical history of an\- county 
it is interesting to note the large nundjer of 
agi'iculturists who form an important part 
in such a record, and as the prosperity of a 
state is usually indicated by the successful 
business men living within its borders. Ohio' 
may well be proud of her representative 
citizens who till the soil and cultivate the 
fields.. Am.ong this class of substantial busi- 
ness men was numbered John B. SparroAV, 
who for sixty-four years made his home 
upon the farm where he died in Green 
township, Clark count}-. He was ben 
in Springfield township, July 3, i8_'9, and 
wrs a son of John and Mahala (Kelley) 
Sparrow. His father was a native of Mary- 
land and was but seven years oi age when 
brought by his parents to OhiO'. His par- 
ents were Joseph and Marjr (Dudley) Spar- 
row. The former was a farmer by occupa- 
tion and on coming to Ohio settled upon 
the farai which is now at the intersection 
of the Selma and Clifton pikes. He cleared 
this land for Mr. Perrin, whose heirs still 
own the place, and spent his remaining days 
upon the farm, living to be an old m.an. His 



774 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



son, John Sparrow, tlie father of the sul)ject 
of tliis review, also followed the occupation 
of farming and lived to be seventy-three 
years of age. Coming to Ohio at an early 
period, he w itnessed many changes and im- 
proven'.ents in the state and did his share 
towari,! ihe general progress and develoi>- 
ment of his community. His wife, Mahala 
(Kelley) Sparrow, was born near Flemings- 
burg. Kentucky, and was about a year old 
when her father, Joseph Kelley, became a 
soldier in the war of 1812. She came to 
Ohio with her gnmdfather, James Kelley, 
will I settled in Siiringfield township, on the 
Clifton road. Here he became the owner 
of a large tract of land, partly in Springfield 
and partly in Green townships. Her father 
served for al>out one and a half years in 
the war under General Harrison, The 
maternal grandmcT-ther of Mrs. Sparrow 
was Mary Detrow. The Kelleys \sere a 
very large family and the members were 
quite well-to-do. A little history nf the 
family was gotten out a few years ago, 
when there were five hundred and fifty- 
seven descendants of Joseph Kelley. John 
and Mahala (Kelley) Sparrow became the 
parents of ten children, of whom Mr. Spar- 
row i>f this jeview was th.e second in order 
of birth: .\bsalom married .\deline Copes, 
was a private in the Union anny, a 
meml)er of the On.e Hundred and Tenth 
Ohio \'olunteer Infantry, and being taken 
sick and sent to the hospital, he was there 
given the wrong medicine and died soon 
afterward, and was ])uried near Petersburg; 
John B. was the next in the family; Joseph 
married Mary Hatheway and now resides 
in Greene county ; Charlotte married James 
Finlcy. who died in the Union army ; Mary 
Jane becan:e the wife of W'illiam Bellinger 
ai-.d resides in Darke countv; Sarah married 



Aver}- Griffith, who was killed by the last 
gim that was fired at Petersburg, where 
he hes buried ; Elias married ^largaret Berg 
a;id resides in Greene county ; Richard, who 
married Lavina \\'ike, was a member of the 
One Hundred and Tenth Ohio \"olunteer 
Infantry and was wounded in 1864. which 
closed his military career; William married 
Sarah McClusky, and resides in Clifton ; the 
last were twins, who died in infancy. 

John E. Sparrow was nine y«irs of age 
when his father removed to Green township, 
settling upon the present hon:e farm, be- 
longing at that time to the Marquart estate. 
This farm he and his father cleared and 
improx'ed, making it a comfortable home, 
and here Mr. Sparrow spent the remainder 
of his life. In the common schools of his 
district he pursued his education, and in 
the vacation seasons he assisted his father 
upon the home place, remaining witli him 
until he was twenty-one years of age. For 
a _\ear or two he engaged in chopping wood 
and making rails and then began to buy and 
raise stock and became an extensive dealer 
in the same, ship])ing to Cincinnati and 
Buffalo. In this enterprise he was very 
successful. 

On Alarcli i. J 855, was celebrated the 
marriage of John B. Sparrow and Miss 
Anna Johnson, a native of Highgate. Eng- 
land. Her parents were Mark and Esther 
(Firth) Johnson, and on coming to America 
they located for a time in Rensselaer comity, 
New York. From there they removed to 
Clark county in 1854 and Ijought property 
in Springfield. Her father died in 1864, at 
the age of forty-two years, while the mother 
died in Springfield in Xovember, 1902, at the 
age of eighty-eight years. INIrs. Sparrow- 
was nearly ten years of age when with her 
parents she crossed the Atlantic to the new 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



77 S 



world, and the most of her hfe has been 
spent in Clark county. After their marriage 
Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow lived upon the farm 
where she now resides, with the exception 
of the first year. Mr. Sparrow, at the time 
of his death, owned two liundred acres 
of land, which is cultivated and im- 
proved, being well adapted for general 
farming and the raising of stock, in which 
he was extensively and successfully engaged. 
Ten children graced the union; of Mr. 
and Mrs. Si^arrow : Clarinda married Fish- 
er Littleton and resides in Yellow Springs, 
and five children have been born of this 
union ; Rosetta married Charles Dudley and 
resides in Springfield; Sanford married 
Minnie Forbeck, of Mad River township, 
and they have one child; George, who is a 
resilient farmer oif Green township, mar- 
ried Lenorai Easton, and they have four 
girls ; Oscar married Emma Hurst and they 
reside on the home farm ; John Burgess, 
who resides near the home place, married 
Nettie Wheeler, and in his family are three 
children; Mary, who married William 
Huston, is the mother of two children and 
resides in Greene county, Ohio; Lillie mar- 
ried Ford Kershner, has four children and 
is also a resident of Greene co-unty ; Oliver 
married Alberta Horn and lives at home; 
and Warren completes the family. 

Mr. Sparrow was reared a supporter of 
Democratic principles, and while firm in his 
advocacy of the party and its interests, he 
never sought or desired office. He and 
his w ife, together with most of the members 
of the family were earnest workers in the 
Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. 
Sparrow was for thirty years a class lead- 
er and for twenty-five years superintend- 
ent of the Sunday-school For thirty-five 
years also he was a member of the Inde- 



pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Through- 
out his long residence in Green township Mr. 
Sparrow was ever regarded as a substantial 
and prominent citizen, ever exerting his in- 
fiuence on the side of right and for the gen- 
eral welfare of his community, anil jjy all 
he was known toi be a n:an of sterling in- 
tegrity and a good Qiristian gentleman. He 
died August i8, 1902, on the hoare place and 
was buried at Emery Chapel, Springfield 



this countv. 



T. J. CREAGER. 



Life is meaningless unless it is universal 
and coherent. It is in the helpful spirit of 
the times that wc recognize the best signs 
of the future. There is in cooperation a 
recognition of the strength of unity : a real- 
ization of the fact that the greatest good 
can be accomplished through concerted ef- 
fort of the individuals in behalf of the w hole. 
We are led to this train of thought b)- re- 
flecting upon the life record of Mr. Creager, 
who is now filling the im.portant position of 
secretary of the Trades and Labor Assem- 
bly of Springfield, and whose efforts in be- 
half of various lalxir oi'ganizations have 
gained for him more than a local reputation. 

Mr. Creager, wdio has been a resident of 
Springfield since 1873, '^^''^s born in Flagers- 
town, Maryland, July g; 1861, a son of 
George D. and Nancy (Giles) Creager, both 
of whom are living in this city and are na- 
tives of Marvdand. ' The father was born 
in March, 1838, and died September 17, 
1902. The m.other is sixty-four years of 
age. They were educated in the public 
schools of their native state and both were 



776 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



respected citizens of their community. In 
^Maryland tlie fatlier followed tlie occupa- 
tion of an upholsterer, and in 1873 he came 
to this city and was employed in the 
paint departn.ent of the Lagonda shoi>s. 
Later he had charge of the paint shops of 
the Buckeye works, owmed l>y the P. P. Mast 
Company, and from 1892 until his death was 
engaged in house, painting as, a contractor. 
He was a. well read man, a progressive, en- 
terprising citizai, and in his political^ vie^vs 
a Democrat. Unto hiniself and wife were 
bom six children, but three are now de- 
ceased. Lucy, who liecanie the wife of Will- 
iam ^\■hite, a compositor, died in 1900. Dan- 
iel, wlio was born in 1862. died in 1885. 
Harry died at the age of foin- years. T. 
J., the subject of this review, is the eldest 
of the family. Howard is married and is 
an employe as a trimmer by the Springfield 
Metallic Casket Company. Ned S. is en- 
gaged in house painting. 

T. J. Creager of this re\-iew began his 
education in the public schools of Maryland 
and continued his studies in the schools of 
this city until he entered the printing office 
of Elifritz & Winters, publishers of the 
Transcript. He learned his trade in that 
office. The firm was merge<l into the \\'in- 
ters Engraving & Lithographing Company, 
Mr. Creager remaining in the house for a 
time after this change was made. He was 
also etiiployed In' the Barrett Publishing 
Company, printers of legal blanks, in whose 
employ he remained until January, 1901, 
when he was elected to his present position 
as secretary- of the Trades and Labor As- 
sembly, of Springfield. 

In May. 1890, Mr. Creager was united 
in marriage to Miss Ida M. Poling, who was 
lx)rn in Clark county, a daughter of T. S. 
Poling, who now resides on \\'e.st Jefferson 
street, in this citv. He was f<~)m:er]v a fann- 



er and later was employed in the Lagonda 
shops. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Creager have 
l)een born a son, Alfred, whose birth oc- 
curred in October, 1898. The family home 
is at Xo. 230 Rice street. 

Mr. Creager cast his first presidential 
vote for Grover Cleveland in 1884. In 
local ]X>litics he is found as the supporter 
of the men w-hom he thinks best qualified for 
office without regard to party affiliation. He 
was a delegate to the conference that or- 
ganized the populist party and was a dele- 
gate to its conventions until 1896. 'Die fol- 
lowing year he was the chainran of the 
state executive committee of the Populist 
party, was a delegate to the state convention, 
a member of the central coimiiittee and at- 
taided all the state conventions until 1897. 
at which time the Union Reform jKirty was 
organized, having but one plank in its plat- 
fonn, that for direct legislation. He was 
secretary- of its state committee for two 
years and has been one of its active workers 
from its organiation to the present time. 

Mr. Creager becane a charter memljer 
of Springfield Typograpliical Union, Xo. 
117. at the tin-e it was instituted in July. 
1882. and lias Ivecn a cx^.uinuous nember 
since that date. He has Iteen elected from 
time to time to the various offices provided 
by the union and in each instance faithfully 
discharged the duties imposed. In tiie year 
1900 he was selected as its representative to 
attend the forty-eighth annual convention of 
the International Tyjxjgraphical Union, held 
in Milwaukee, ^^'isconsin. an honor that was 
not unworthily Ijestowed. Mr. Creager 
joined the Knights of Labor in April. 1883. 
and remained a meir.ber of Mad River As- 
sembly. Xo. 2582, until its existence was 
terminated in 1896. Throughout the pericxl 
of years when the Knights of Lalx>r flour- 
ished he took a most active part in tiie work 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of tlie movement and participated in its state 
and national meetings. Since the organiza- 
tion oi the Trades and Labor Assembly, in 
the year of 1890, Mr. Creager has been a 
c(Mitinupriis member. In the twelve years he 
has been a delegate to. this body, he has, 
■with the exception of the first fe\y years, rep- 
resented his local Typographical Union. 
For the past two years he has been secretq,r}r 
of the assembly, and with the assistance of 
his associates has. discharged the numerous 
duties, incident to the nature of the office to 
the satisfaction of both the assembly and tlie 
affiliated unions. For a number of years 
he has been a member of the Labor 
Day celebiration committee, which is ap- 
pointed by the Trades Assembly. These 
celelM-ations have been so successfully con- 
ducted by the assembly since it was in- 
stituted that Labor Day is not only the most 
generally ohsen'ed holiday of the year, but 
the greatest of all. It is attended with 
parades in Mhich the wage-earners and 
varioiis industries join, enteii:aining and in- 
structive speeches are delivered and various 
high class amusements provided for the en- 
tertainment of those present. In this work 
\\ith which Mr. Creager'has been associated 
much has been done to bind together the 
various unions in the g^eneral brotherhood. 

He prepared and read a paiper at the 
centennial celebration of Springfield, held at 
the Clark county fair grounds, in August, 
1901, on the Histoiry of the Labor Organiza- 
tions of Springfield, which, with other 
papers, was published in the Centennial 
Book. 

During the twenty years of his connec- 
tion with the labor movem.ent in this city 
nearly seventy unions have beai instituted 
consisting of skilled and unskilled labor. 
Throngh them "Teat lienefits have been se- 



cured and better conditions generally pre- 
vail. While at first this mo'vement was 
opposed and antagonized and met with bitter 
oipposition aniong many classes of people, it 
is. to-day recognized and endorsed by all fair 
minded people as one of the popular insti- 
tutions of the country and trades unions 
and trades organizations are admitted to be 
the only practical means of bettering the in- 
tellectual, social, moral and financial condi- 
tions of the working people and throitgh 
them the welfare O'f tlie entire country. Mr. 
Creager has been unfaltering, earnest and 
loyal in his stipport of the cause with which 
he is now so prominently identified. His work 
oni committees and in connection with recent- 
ly organized unions has been o-f value iu: es- 
tablishing the rights, of the working men and 
bringing about a more just condition of 
aiffairs, and has made him popular with his 
fellow citizens who recognize his helpful 
spirit in behalf of his felloav men and honor 
him f'lr it. He has many friends through- 
oiut Springfield, where he has resided since 
his boyhood days, and in this volumedie well 
deser\-es mention amoiig the men whose lives 
have had to do with the molding of the city. 



SETH W. SMITH. 

From early ages the cultivation oi the 
soil, the production of the land, has formed 
the x'ery foundation of the prosperity of 
man. The first mention in history, sacred 
or otherwise, of the pursuits of man are 
those of pastoral occupations, the raising of 
grain, the tending of the flocks : and while, 
in later centuries other industries of vast im- 
portance and magnitude ha\-e sprung up, 
yet the basis of all wealth, the mainspring 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



of all prosperity, is the product of the land, 
which cheerfully yields to the touch of the 
agriculturist the vast treasures which are 
there ready for cultivation. The substan- 
tial upbuilding of a commonwealth ds due 
to the energy and toil of the man who plows 
the field, and well is he repaid for his labor. 
Among the n-.en who have helped lay broad 
and deep the prosperity of the community 
in which he lives is the subject of this re- 
view, who was born on the farm where lie 
now lives, January 24. 1S43. His parents 
were Seth and Deborah (Wildman) Smith, 
and the father was born in East Tennessee, 
where thev were temporary sojourners, as 
the grandfather. Setli Smith, was born in 
Pennsylvania, and had gone dience to Vir- 
ginia. Having lived fourteen years in Ten- 
nessee, they remo\-ed in 1800 to Highland 
county. Ohio, and in 181 1 settled upon the 
farm where 'SU. Smith now resides. At 
this early day the grandparents were of 
course among almost the first pioneer set- 
tlers in this part of the Ohio, and the coun- 
try was in an unde\eloped state. The ex- 
periences which they encountered were 
varied and interesting. Indians were plenti- 
ful, but were peaceably inclined. Tlie grand- 
father purchased the Fitzhugh survey, 
which was supposed to coiriprise one thou- 
sand acres, but ]3ro\ed to contain eleven 
hundred and twenty acres. On the land 
was a primeval log house, which they occu- 
pied until 1817. when they manufactured 
brick on the farm and constructed a sul> 
stantial two-story brick house, which stood 
for many \ears. or until 1899, when the sul> 
ject of this record had it torn down and 
erected his present commodious and mod- 
ern residence. The grandfather resided in 
his home in Clark county until he was an 
old man, honored and respected by all who 



knew him. He had come to Ohio when it 
was but a territory, landing at Paint Falls, 
Ross coimt)', to which his older brother, Ja- 
col), liad come in 1796. Of the brothers 
left in Tennessee, some of tlieir descend- 
ants removed to Vermilion county, Illinois, 
whence some members of the family re- 
moved to Oregon. In the pioneer spirit 
which caused the grandfather to seek a 
home amid the wild scenes of Ohio, may 
l)e tracetl with interest those sturdy qualities 
inherited from his ancestor, the great-great- 
grandfatlier of the subject of this review, 
who was born in England about 1680 and 
was one of those who, actuated by their 
Christian faith, became a follower of Will- 
iam Penn, and with him, accompanied by 
two other brothers, came to America. One 
of the brothers settled in Xew York, or 
one of the New England states, and one in 
the Carolinas. There has been no reliable 
account of the descendants. 

One son, the great-grandfather, Joseph 
Smith, was born about 1720. He was edu- 
cated and reared in the Quaker faith, as 
was also his wife, who in her maidenhood 
was Rachel Bales. After his marriage he 
settled in ^Maryland,- near Bladensburg. and 
rented a farm and conducted a mill on Per- 
mugen creek. He used to see a man passing 
his mill with grist, going to anotlier mill, 
so one day he made bold to ask him why 
he did not stop there, and was told that the 
man was a poor man and the other miller 
only took one-eighth, whereas he had been 
told that ilr. Smith took one-tenth. On ex- 
plaining that this was a less amount than 
one-eighth, Mr. Smith ever after had the 
man for a customer. The great-grandfather 
finallv removed to a farm five miles from 
W'inchester, Maryland, where they remained 
for a number of vears on rented land. After 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



779 



a few years the}- decided to make a change 
and accordingly dro\e across the mountains 
to where BrownsviUe, Penaisylvania, now 
stands, but, not Hking the location, they re- 
turned without unloading their goods. 
\\'hile crossing the mountains they were at- 
tacked by robbers, but drove theni off. The\^ 
returned tO' the farm they had occupied near 
Winchester, and there spent their remain- 
ing days. 

Among their many children was Seth, the 
grandfather of ]\Ir. Smith, the name being 
thus handed down to the third generation, 
the subject of this review. In the grand- 
father's family Avere the following children : 
Jacob, who died at the age of three years; 
Sanniel, aged live years at the time of his 
demise; I\Iary, who married David Littler; 
Rachel, who married Xathan Linton ; Ruth, 
who m.arried Jeptha Johnson ; and Seth, the 
youngest child. 

The last named grew to manhood in 
Clark county, receiving a good education 
for the period. The country was still new 
at that time and the educational advantages 
enjoyed were not those of the present time, 
but the brave and energetic spirit inherited 
from his forefathers and cultivated by his 
own efforts was his, and he did much to- 
ward promoting the gro(\\-th and develo^p- 
ment of his community. He inherited about 
two hundred and sixty acres of land from^ 
his father, which he cultivated and improved, 
adding to it other tracts until he became 
tlie owner of considerable land and in turn 
gave each of his children a good farm. In 
his remembrance Lidians wei-e vei-y thickly 
settled around the locality in which the fami- 
Iv lived, but they were friendly inclined and 
made very little trouble. A\'hile the family 
lived in Highland county one evening they 
had been away from home and on returning 
fi.und the house lighted up and on looking 



in they found the floor covered with Lidians, 
who had come in and built up a fire, desir- 
ing to warm and rest themselves. On re- 
ceiving their supper they departed in peace. 
On one occasion a young Lidian became 
enamored o'f his sister, the aunt of the sub- 
ject, and desired to make her, as he termed 
it, his "pretty squaw." As the recipient 
of this adoration did not favor his suit, he 
showed his disfavor by taking a lump of 
charcoal, chewing it, spitting it in his hands 
and rubbing it over his face. 

Seth Smith, the father, was born in 
ijyS, and when he was thirteen years of 
age, shortly after the family had settled in 
Clark coimty, the country was shaken by 
great earthquakes, and the inhabitants were 
very nvuch alarmed. He was an anti-slavery 
man, a great temperance man, and earnestly 
did he advocate the principles in which he 
believed. He. was a birth-right Friend, be- 
ing a direct descendant on both sides of 
the family of members of that sect. He 
was the father of seven children. Of these 
Samuel died in Februiary, 1901. He mar- 
ried Esther Cook, who died in September, 
1885. They left three children. Ruth mar- 
ried Samuel Hadley, of W'ihnington, Clin- 
ton county, Ohio. Oliver married ]\Iargaret 
Negus, lived in Green township, and died 
in. California, leaving six children. Seth, 
the father of the subject of this review, died 
in 1S76, while his wife passed away in 
1857, both being buried at Selma, Ohio. 

The boyhood days of Seth \\'. Smith 
were spent upon tlie home farm. He re- 
ceived the advantages of a good connnon 
school education, which was supplemented 
by attendance at Earlham College, Rich- 
n-.ond, Indiana, for two years, and one year 
in the Agricultural College at Lansing, 
Alichigan, thus being- well fitted for the 
practical duties of business life in after 



780 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



years. In 1872 lie was married in Alliance, 
Ohio, to Aliss Marion Griffith, and the 
}oung couple rock up their residence on the 
old homestead. iJe was married the second 
time in 1878 in Clinton county, Ohio, at 
Xew Vienna, the lady of his choice being 
Miss Hannah Le\v-is, who was born there. 
lh;s union has been blessed with five chil- 
dren, namely: Oscar L. ; Lewis H.; and 
Mary Emma, while two died in early in- 
fancy. Mrs. Smith is a daughter of Isaac 
and Maiy (Hoskins) Lewis, and is a very 
estimable lady. Mr. Smith has been identi- 
fied with agricultural interests here, and his 
individual interests have been blended with 
the welfare and improvement of his county 
and townsliip. His efforts have been attended 
with the success they deserve and today he 
is a representative and substantial citizen 
of Green township, respected by all. 



WILLIAM S. G. DILLAHUNT, M. D. 

A thorough understanding of the prin- 
ciples of the medical science and broad ex- 
perience in the practice of his profession has 
made Dr. Dillahunt a successful physician 
of Pitchin. He was born near Hagerstown, 
Washington county, Maryland, Septeinber 
6, 1852. His father, Alexander Dillahunt, 
was a planter and owned a large number of 
slaves. He and his brodiers, howe\'er, be- 
came convinced that the practice of slavery 
was contrar}^ to the laws of humanity and 
liberated their bondsmen about 1850. On 
this account they were subjected to great 
persecution in the neighborhood in which, 
they lived and in consequence of this they 
left the south, disposing of their property at 
great loss, and came to Clark county, Ohio. 



The first to make the removal was George 
Dillahunt, who established his home here 
about 1S50, and in 1853 Alexander Dilla- 
hunt followed. Tlie latter located in Mad 
River township, where he purcliased one 
hundred and sixty acres of land and later 
1x)ught an additional tract of sixty acres, 
spending his remaining days in this county. 
In early manliood he had married Hannah 
I\Ialone, and they became well known resi- 
dents of this portion of Oliio. 'Hie father 
died in 1887, at the age of seventy-six years, 
and the mother's death occurred in 1898, 
when she had reached the advanced age of 
eighty years. Mr. Dillahunt was a hard- 
working man, thrifty, careful and persever- 
ing in his labors, and eventually became 
well-to-do. 

In the family were twelve children 
eleven of who:n reached years of maturity, 
while ten are still living, and eight of the 
number are yet in Clark county. Catherine 
is the wife of Robert Latimer and lives in 
Springfield; Sarah is the wife of Job 
Hanes, and lives in Mad River township 
near Boone station. Lewis, who served for 
four years in the Union army during the 
Civil war, is now living near Indianaix)lis. 
Alexander M. resides near Enon. Melcha 
is the wife of Michael Seifert, a resident of 
Logan county, Ohio. Eliza is living in 
Springfield. Mary is the wife of Jonas Re- 
bert, of Springfield. William G. is the next 
yomiger. George resides in Mad River 
township. Alice is the wife of Robert Pa- 
den, of Springfield. Emma becan:e the wife 
of W. J. Corns and died in Springfield, and 
Albert died in infancy. 

The Doctor spent his boyhood days on 
the home farm, where he rauained luitil 
sixteen years of age, when he altered \\ it- 
tenberg College, completing the work of the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



sophomore year. At that time he left the 
iiistitutioii and began teaching in the coun- 
try schools of Clark county, and while thus 
engaged he took up the study of medicine, 
reading privately until he conld arrange to 
become a medical student in college. In 
I ^yy he matriculated in tlie Eclectic Medical 
College of Cincinnati, and was graduated 
in the class of 1878. For a year thereafter 
he engaged in teaching and then at once be- 
gan practice, locating in Pitchin. Here his 
ability soon won recognition and his patron- 
age has since been drawn from a wide terri- 
tory. He iias successfully handled many dif- 
ficult cases, Uiereby proving his skill in the 
line of his chosen life work. He is a member 
of the Ohio State Eclectic Association and 
has prepared and read a number of papers 
before that organization. 

In 187S the Doctor was married to Miss 
Mary E. Reynard, of Springfield, Ohio, a 
daughter of George and Mary (Nelson) 
Reynard. In 1S79 the Doctor purchased 
thirty-five acres of land where he now lives 
and the family has a pleasant home here. 
Four children \vere born unto our subject 
and his wife : Eva, now the wife of Charles 
Peterson, of Springfield, by whom she has 
one child, Arnold; William Simpson Gor- 
man, Agnes and Ruth, who are still at home. 
For ten years the Doctor gave his political 
supiwrt to the Democracy. For another dec- 
ade he voted with the Probibition party, and 
is now a Republican. He was reared in the 
Lutheran faith, but belongs to the Baptist 
church. He is also a member of the Junior 
Order of American Mechanics and at one 
time held membership relations with the In- 
dependent Order of Odd Felloiws. For 
twenty-four years he has lived in Pitchin, 
devoting his time almost entirely to the du- 
ties of a constantly grovcing practice, which 
is indicative of the confidence and regard 



entertained for him by the public. He has 
been a close and earnest student and has 
kept informed concerning all new ideas rela- 
tive to the healing art. Quick to adopt 
methods which he believes will pro'\e bene- 
ficial in his work, he has thus maintained his 
position as one of the leading^ members of 
the medical fraternity in this part of Clark 
county. 



MARSHALL ^I. FOX. 

^larshall M. Fox is one of the leading 
pliotographers of Springfield, where he has 
carried on business since 1893, his skill and 
excellence of workmanship securing for him 
a good patronage. He was born in Doug- 
las county, Illinois, No'vember i, 1869, and 
is a son of George and Hannah (Kendall) 
Foix, both of whom are now residents of 
Urbana, Champaign county, Ohio. In their 
family were seven children, of \^•hom the 
subject of this review is the fourth in order 
of birth. Richard K. is now engaged in 
the wholesale grocery business in Spring- 
field, and others of the family are Orin 
Ward, George, whoi is head engineer and 
electrician in Paxton, Ford county, Illinois, 
and a sister, who remains at home. 

In the public schools of his native state 
Marshall M. Fok pursued his education and 
in 1887 he came to Ohio with his parents. 
He entered upon the study of photography 
in Da}'ton, where he remained for a year, 
after which he v.ent to Xenia, wliere he en- 
gaged in the business for five years. In 1893 
he came to Springfield, where he entered the 
employ of Delmar Spellman, with whom 
he remained until 1898, when he purchased 
the business. Undei" his guidance the patron- 
age of the studio has increased many fold. 
Mr. Fox is a thoro<ugh master of the art of 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



phctdgrapliy, having- a comprehensive un- 
derstanding of tlie business. He reads and 
studies everything bearing upon the art and 
by exjieriment and experience, also by 
utilizing the knowledge which he has gained 
from the work of others, he has kept abreast 
of the most improved methods of the times 
and has made his work of such an excellent 
character tliat he has gairicd a very exteii- 
sive and profitable business. He not only 
understands the best methods of developing, 
but also of preserving pictures, of posing, 
and tlie use of lights and shadows to bring 
out the best effects. His work is of a high 
order and commends him to the support of 
all who desire services in his line. 

Mr. Fox is a valued memljer of the 
Eenev()lent and Protective Order of Elks, 
belonging to the lodge in Springfield. He 
has made his own way in life and deserves 
great credit for what he has accomplished, 
having justly won a very creditable position 
among the photographers of this section of 
the state. 



TAMES H. EXGLE. 



James H. Engle, who is extensively and 
successfully engaged in general farming and 
stock raising in the township of Moorefield, 
owning and operating a farm on section 7, 
was lx>rn, in Harmony township, February 
27, 1S48, and is a son of John and Eliza 
( Melvin) Engle. The father was born in 
Jefferson county, Virginia, and died in 1873, 
Vihile his wife survived him for several 
years. In his political views he was a stanch 
Democrat, as were all of his sons except 
Jnn-.es H. He and his wife were the par- 
ents of nine children, five of whom grew to 
vears of maturitv and are still living: Sam- 



uel, who n.arried Alice Fautzinger, and has 
one child, is employed in the shops at La- 
gonda, Ohio; Jane is the widow of William 
Beard, and resides with her five children 
near Mechanicsburg. Ohio; James H. is the 
next vounger; Benjamin resides on the old 
homestead in Harn'.ony township; Silas 
married Jane Yeazell, has two children and 
resides on the old home place. 

James H. Engle grew to man's estate 
on the home farm, situated two miles west 
of Vienna, on the National pike. He re- 
ceived the Ijenefit of a common schtx>l educa- 
tion, acquired in tiie sclicxjls of his district, 
which he attended during the winter months, 
while during vacation seasons he assisted 
in the work of field aJid meadow, remaining 
on the home farm until he had reached the 
age of twenty-two years, when he Ijegan 
farming on his own account. His first mar- 
riage took place on the 2nd of March, 1876, 
when lie was joined in wedlock to Miss 
Aliranda Xeer, of Pleasant township, a 
daughter of Nathan and Mary Ann (Hunt- 
er) Neer. Their married life wa3 ended 
two years later by the hand of death. On 
the 1st of December, 1881, James H. Engle 
was again married, his second union being 
with Miss Isabel Hodge, a daughter of Eli 
and Savina ( Spencer) Hodge. One son has 
been born of this union, Walter, boni Feb- 
ruan,' 25, 1883. Mr. Engle is the owner of 
a fann of one lumdred and sixty-three acres, 
which he purchased in 1882, and has placed 
under a high state of cultivation. He re- 
modeled the barns and in 1902 built a fine 
residence, conunodious and substantial, and 
constructed upon modern plans of architec- 
ture. In his political affiliations he is a stanch 
Republican, having advocated the cause of 
the party since casting his first presidential 
ballot in'1872 for Ulysses S. Grant. At pres- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



783 



he is sen-ing" liis second term as trustee of 
IVIooreheld township and for sixteen years 
lias been a member of tlie board of eckica- 
tion. He is a friend and advocate of good 
schools, belie\ing that in those institutions 
of learning- is promulgated the future pros- 
perity of the country. He has never beai 
known to withhold his support from any 
measure or movement for the general good 
and in hini Clark county recognizes one of 
her \alued and representative citizens. 



ELIAB MYERS, M. D. 

Eliab AI}'ers, who for man\' years suc- 
cessfully practiced medicine, and whose con- 
tributions to medical literature and kindred 
subjects have made his life of value to his 
fellow men, was Ixarn in Springfield, Ohio', 
December 17, 1848, and is a son of J. N. 
Rhers, who came to the Buckeye state from 
Phoenix, Baltimore county, Maryland, in 
the year 1837. The ancestry of the family 
can he traced back to Jonathan Meyers, the 
great-great-grandfather of our subject, whoi 
settled in York county, Pbinsylvania, in 
1 708. There he purchased a farm and car- 
ried on agricultural pursuits. His son, John 
Myers, changed the spelling of the name, 
■dropping the first "e."" The family is a very 
old German one, identified with the Key- 
stone state from an early period in its devel- 
opment. !Many of the number have become 
prominent in professional life as ministers 
and in other of the learned professions and 
the descendants have usually Ijeen connected 
with the Lutheran and Reformed churches. 
John Myers was united in marriage to Miss 
Negley, and unto them were born nine chil- 
dren, all of whom lived to an advanced age 



— between seventy and ninety years — with 
the exception of the father of our subject. 
John Myers came with his family to- Clark 
county and purchased Ixjttoni land in Mad 
River township, where he carried on agri- 
cultural pursuits until his death. • Both he 
and his wife were buried in the old George 
Keifer cemetery, on the farm now owned by 
L. J. M. Baker. 

J. N. Myers was born in York county, 
upon the home farm that had been in the 
possession of the family since 1708. His 
natal day was in 1810. and after arriving at 
years of maturity he wedded Miss Mary 
Catherine Miller, who was born: in York 
county in 1812. As before state, the year 
1837 witnessed their arrival in Clark comi- 
ty. In 1838 he purchased a farm in Bethel 
township, which he traded in 1840 for what 
are known as the Valley ^lills, south of 
Enon. He learned the trade of a wheel- 
wright in early life and followed that pur- 
suit until his removal to Clark county. Here 
he carried on agricultural pursuits only un- 
til 1840, when he removed to Valley Mills 
and turned his attention to- the operation 
of a saw and flour mill and a distillery, re- 
siding there until 1847. ^^ '^1''^" removed 
to what is now West Springfield, and rented 
a sawmill south of the Buck creek bridge, 
owned by James Leffel. This he operated 
until 1851. He also bought the home which 
is now the last house on West Main street. 
A portion of this tract of land is now in- 
cluded within Snyder Park. In connection 
with Mr. Lemon, Mr. Myers went to Dial- 
ton, in Pike township, and 'built a steam 
sawmill, the first in that part of the county. 
This they operated for a time, Air. Myers 
renioi\-ing his family to- the new home in 
1852. The mill was conducted until i860, 
when it was converted intoi a wheel nianu- 



784 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



factoiy, the firm engaging in the manufac- 
ture of wheels for the Thomas & Mast Com- 
pany, agricultural implement builders. Thus 
]\Ir. ^Myers was engaged until his death. In 
1864 the entire plant was destroyed by fire, 
which occasioned great loss, as there was no 
insurance, but he at once rebuilt and re- 
mained an enterprising and progressive citi- 
zen of Dialton until his death. He was the 
real founder of the town and his business 
affairs were conducted most of the time 
alone, as he had a partner only a short time. 
He died October 2, 1866, while his wife long 
sunived him, passing away on the ist of 
January, 1896. In their family, were thir- 
teen children, but six of the number died in 
early childhood. Tliose who reached ma- 
turity were as follows: Sarah J-, born in 
1838. in Phoenix, Alaryland, was n-:arried 
in 1851 to John Bosserman, an old settler 
of Springfield, who died in 1888. and she is 
now living in Vernon county, Missouri ; Re- 
becca, born in 1839, is the wife of James 
Edmiston, a farmer living in Bethel town- 
ship. Champaign county ; John, bom in 1841, 
at Valley Mills, died at Dialton, in January, 
1902: Jacob, born in 1842, was associated 
in business with his brother John until 
1893. when he went to the west and is now 
a general ranchman at Walla Walla, Wash- 
ington ; Catherine Ann, born in 1845, ^s liv- 
ing in Gennan township, Clark county, and 
is the wife of Samuel Dingledine; Elia'b is 
the next younger; Alice Ida, bom in 1854, 
is the wife of James M. Jenkins, of Shelby 
county, Ohio. 

Dr. Myers was educated in the common 
schools and when a young man engaged in 
teaching in Dialton and in the western part 
of the county. He read medicine with Dr. 
R. Rector, of North Hampton, Ohio, and re- 
ceived private instruction in languages. 



Later he engaged in teaching and in reading 
medicine for four years and pursued se\'eral 
courses of lectures in the Medical College of 
Ohio, at Cincinnati, where he was gradu- 
ated in March, 1873, ^^"''^'1 the degree of M. 
D. He then began practice at North Hamp- 
ton, whei-e he remained for one year, after 
which he was located in Fairfield, Greene 
count}', where he practiced until the winter 
of 1879. Dr. Myers then came to Spring- 
field, where he qiened an office and engaged 
in general practice. In 1S85 he pursued a 
special course of study in the Bellevue Medi- 
cal College of New York, and at all times he 
has been an earnest and indefatigable student 
in his efforts to broaden his knowledge and 
thus make his services of greater benefit 
to his fellow men. He was appointed a 
meir.ber of the board of pension examiners 
under President Cleveland in April, 1885, 
and within six weeks had the board estab- 
lished. He remained in that office until 
1889, when he resigned, continuing in the 
practice of medicine until 1891. In that 
year he took up the subject of embalming, 
since which time he has beai lecturing and 
writing on the subject and has been teaching 
since 1894. He has compiled and published 
two works on embalming, the first issued in 
1897 and the second in 1900. He lectures 
to state associations in this countrj- and to 
embalmers' associations in Canada and is a 
regular contributor on that topic to various 
papers published in the United States and 
to foreign journals. His text books have 
l>een sold throughout the civilized world. 
He lectures in the larger cities and also gives 
demonstrations, and has made deep research 
concerning the subject, now giving his en- 
tire time to tliis line of investigation. 

The Doctor was married in 1873 to An- 
nettie ;M. Baker, who was lx>rn in Enon, 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



785 



Clark county, in 1857, a daughter of Dr. 
A. A. Baker. They have one son, John EI- 
wood, who was born in Fairfield, Ohio, Oc- 
tober 2, 1877, is ^ graduate of Wittenberg 
College of the class of 1898 and is now in 
the employ of the Champion Chemical Com- 
pany. The Doctor resides at No. 736 East 
High street. He purchased the Spinning 
property and rebuilt a modern home, which 
is one of the model residences of the city, 
constructed after original designs. He be- 
longs to Anthony Lodge, F. & A. M., 
Springfield Chapter, R. A. M., and Spring- 
field Council, R. & S. M. He was made a 
Mason in 1870, in i\Iount Olivet Lodge, in 
Addison, Ohio, and in 1875 was demitted 
to Osborne Lodge, in which he ser^-ed as 
master during 1878-79, and later he was 
demitted to Anthony Lodge. His son has 
also taken the degrees of the lodge, chapter 
and council, the Doctor conferring upon him 
the degrees of the san:e. In 1875 Dr. Myers 
also became an Odd Fellow and has filled 
the offices of the subordinate lodge. He 
and his wife are members of the High street 
Methodist Episcopal church. Their pleas- 
ant and attractive home is noted for its 
gracious hospitality and is a favorite resort 
with many friends of the Doctor and his 
estimable wife. A native of Springfield, he 
has always resided in this vicinity and en- 
joys the warm regard of many \\\\o have 
known hiui from boyhood, as \\-ell as the ac- 
ciuaintances of later years. 



J. H. REYiXOLDS, M. D. 

Successfully engaged in the practice of 
medicine and surgery in Lawrenceville, Dr. 
Reynolds has attained a creditable position 



in the profession where advancemait de- 
pends upon individual merit, upon strong in- 
tellectuality, close application and a consci- 
entious performance of duty. He was born 
in Green township, Clark cotuiity, August 
8, 1848, and is a son of Henry and Julia 
Ann (McKinney) Reynolds. His great- 
grandfather, James Re)-nolds, wasi born in 
Ireland, rati away from home in his youth 
and went to sea. He afterward located in 
Wales and there married Margaret Edwards. 
In 1771 he crossed the Atlantic and settled 
in Virginia, where the grandfather and the 
father of the Doctor were born. 

The father was a brickmaker and also a 
bricklayer and carried on business alo^ng 
these lines for about forty years. As he ac- 
quired some capital he made in\'estments in 
real estate, becoming the owner of one hun- 
dred and twenty-five acres oi land in Spring- 
field township. He removed to that place 
in 1850 and there he spent his remaining 
days. His birth had occurred in Montgom- 
ery county, Virginia, and he was a youth of 
about eleven years when he came to Clark 
county with his parents, WMliam and Eliza- 
beth (Tuggle) Reynolds. The grandfather 
was a carpenter in early life and he, too, 
became a farmer of Clark county, follow- 
ing that pursuit in Green township. He 
owned land there and developed it into a 
rich and arable tract, carrying on his farm 
work until his death, which occurred when 
he was seventy-eight years O'f age. 

After arriving at years of maturity the 
Doctor's father had married Julia Ann Mc- 
Kmney, who' was boni in Clark county, 
probably in Green township. Six children 
graced this marriage, of whom the Doctor 
is the fourth in order of birth. Nancy be- 
came the wife of John Warren and died in 
Logan county, Ohio, leaving two children. 



786 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Olive married Thomas Hill, of Kingman, 
Kansas. William Wallace is living on the 
old homestead in Springfied township witii 
his wife and six children, the former having 
borne the maiden name of Mary Pilcher. 
J. H. is the next younger. Elizabeth is at 
li< nie. Rachel is the widow of James Titui 
and lives on the old homestead. The father 
. died in 1884, and the mother passed away 
m 1878. 

Dr. Reynolds spent his boyhood days in 
the usual manner of farmer lads of the per- 
iod and his early educational advantages, 
afforded b\- the common schools, were suj)- 
pleinented by one year's study in W'itten- 
berg College. Before he entered college he 
had engaged in teaching and afterward fol- 
lowed that profession for about six years, 
thus earning the money which enabled him 
to prosecute his medical studies. Having 
determined to make the practice of medicine 
his life work, he tegan studying in 
Piattsburg under the direction of Dr. 
H. F. Wildasin and later he pursued a 
course in the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical 
Institute, which he entered in 1874, being 
there graduated in the spring of 1876. He 
at once located in Lawrenceville, where he 
remained for about five years, and in 1881 
went to Springfield, where he continued to 
practice until 1886. In that year he removed 
to West Jefferson, where he remained until 
jMarch, 1890, when he returned to Law- 
renceville, wiiere lie has since en joyed a good 
practice. 

Dr. Reynolds was married September 28, 
1876, to Miss Sarah J. Ballentine, of this 
place. She was born in German township 
and is a daughter of James V. and Rosanna 
(Domer) Ballentine. Two children grace'd 
lliis union; Edgar L., who is a telegraph 



operator in Springfield: and Julia A., at 
iiome. 

The Doctor was reared in the faith of 
the Democracy and has always adhered to 
that party. He is one of its prominent man- 
bers and active workers in this locality ajid 
has served as a delegate to various conven- 
tions. In 1883 he was Democratic nominee 
for coroner, but as his party is in the minori- 
ty in this locality he was not elected. In 
189 1, however, he was elected clerk of his 
township, and in 190J was again chosen 
to that office, while in 1898 he was nominee 
for infirmary director. He belongs to 
Springfield Lodge, Xo. 2,2i, 1- O- O. F., of 
which he is a past grand. As a student of 
his j)rofession he has ever been earnest and 
thorough, reading broadly and investigating 
closely all subjects which he bdieves will 
prove of benefit to him in his work. He 
has thus progressed in his profession until 
he has long since left the ranks of the many 
and stands amons; the successful few. 



GEORGE OTSTOT. 



Moorefield township is a representative 
district of Clark county. The rich farming 
tracts of this community are pleasing to 
the eye of the beholder, and the illustrious 
ivongfellow migin have been describing this 
locality when he penned these words: "West 
and south there were fields of grain, and 
orchards and cornfields, spreading afar and 
outsretched o'er the main, and away to the 
nortliward." One of the fine farms of tliis 
township is owned by George Otstot, and 
upon it he is extensively engaged in the 
raising of stock and liie cereals adapted to 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



soil and climate. He was boirn in Spring- 
field township, southeast of Springfield, Oc- 
tober 19. 1S44, and is a son o-f William and 
Rei>ecca (Knaub) Otstot. His father was 
a native of Pennsylvania, having been born 
in Lancaster county, December 25, 181 1. 
He came with his parents from Pennsyl- 
vania to Ohio when about eighteen years 
of age. His father was Adam Otstot, who 
had been a wealthy man oi the locality in 
which he lived, possessing about forty thou- 
sand dollars, but he had gone security for 
another and lost all his fortune. Coaise- 
quently he was virtually penniless on com- 
ing to Ohio. His son, William, the father 
of d.e subject of this review, was thus early 
obliged to make his own way in the world. 
He received a fair common, school educa- 
tion in the district schools. By his energy 
and determined effort he became the owner 
of one hundred and eighty acres of land, 
which he cultivated and developed into a 
good farm. He was married in Clark coun- 
ty, Ohio, February 15, 1842, to Rebecca 
Kjiaub, also a native of Lancaster coun.ty, 
Pennsylvania. .She had come with her par- 
ents to Ohio when about twelve years of 
age and was a daughter of George and Mary 
(Jacobs) Knaub. They became the parents 
of thirteen children: Mary married John 
Macbeth, and resides in Springfield ; Joseph 
is also a resident of Springfield; George of 
this review is the next younger; John resides 
in Springfield township ; Jane is the wife of 
Lewis Batorf, living in Springfield; Sarah 
resides with her n:other; Rebecca is the 
wife of Thomas Crabill and makes her home 
in Columbus ; .Amanda died at the age of 
nine years ; Clara, now deceased, was the 
wife of William E. Tuttle, and left six chil- 
dren; William lives in Moorefield township; 
Henry lives in Springfield ; Charles resides 



on the old home place in Springfied to\\-n- 
ship; Florence is the wife of Wilbur Tuttle 
and resides in Springfield. The father of 
this family, though never 'being an aspirant 
for office, was a stanch adherent to Repuij- 
lican principles and was a member of the 
First Baptist church. His death occurred 
July 15, 1895, in Springfield, but his wife 
is still li\ing at the age of se\-enty-eight 
years. 

George Otstot pursued his studies in the 
common schools of his tO'wnship and re- 
mained on the home farm with his father, 
assisting in the work of field and meadow, 
and after reaching his majority receiving 
wages for his labors. On the 25th of Janu- 
ary, 1S77, he was united in marriage to Miss 
Anna H inkle, who was born in Springfield 
township, a daughter of Josq>h and Mar- 
garet Jane (Alt) Hinkle. Her father was 
born in Lancaster co-unty, Pennsylvania, in 
February, 1828, and died in 1878, while her 
mother died July 15, 1902, at the age seven- 
ty-nine. Mrs. Otstot is the eighth in the 
family of thirteen children, eleven of whom 
grew to years of maturity and eight are still 
living. Adam and Geocge died in infancy : 
Maria became the wife of James Macbeth ; 
Rebecca is the wife of John Stewart and re- 
sides in Springfield; John died leaving one 
child ; Llenry resides in .Springfield ; Mary 
married Joseph Foreman and resides in 
Springfield township; Amanda is the wife 
of George Oates and they reside in Spring- 
fiedl ; Margaret died in early womanhooil; 
Joseph makes his home in Springfield; Belle 
is the next younger; James resides in 
Springfield tOAMiship. Mr. Otstot, in connec- 
tion with his brother Joseph, purchased a 
farm of fifty-two acres, south of Springfield, 
in 1878', having for one year after his mar- 
riage resided on rented land. This farm 



788 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ihe brothers still own and the subject of this 
sketch made his home thereon for five 
years. He then removed to another farm 
which he rented for seven years, then rented 
the Bowman farm for three years, at the 
end of which time he purchased eighty-three 
and one-half acres in Spring-field and sold 
it later to a brother, removing from the 
Bowman place to the farm owned by Mrs. 
Tutlle. which he purchased. Remaining 
there three years, he then sold his property 
to his brother and purchased one hiuidred 
and sixty-five acres where he now resides. 

Unto ;Mr. and Airs. Otstot were born 
two children. Josqjh, born March 31, 
1878, died at the age of twenty-one and is 
buried in Ferncliff ; and Ada is living on the 
old home place. Mr. Otstot is a public spir- 
ited and progressive man oi his communit}-, 
taking an active interest in the development 
and improvement of the same. In politics 
he is a stalwart Republican, as are all his 
brothers. He strongly advocates the cause 
of the party, but is content to take no active 
part im the affairs of state, although ever 
desiring the success of the ixirty, which he 
has supported since casting his ballot for 
Ulvsses S. Grant in 1868. 



JAMES CRABILL. 

Effort long continued when guided by 
sound business judgment cannot fail to win 
success, and such has been the case in the 
histon- of James Crabill, who is now living 
retired in Moorefield townhip after long 
years of connection with agricultural inter- 
ests. A comfortable competence is his, won 
through honest purpose and unflagging la- 
bor. He was born January 12, 1841, in the 



town of Spri'igfield. His paternal grand- 
parents were David and Barl>ara (Bear) 
CraI^ill. The\- v>ere natives of Loudoun 
county, \ irginia, where both were reared 
to years of maturity and were married, re- 
moving from the Old Dominion to Ohio 
alx/Ut 1814. Four of their children were 
born in Virginia and others were added to 
the family in this state until they were the 
parents of twelve children. All of these 
grew to m.'.ture years with the exception oTt 
one, \\\\o died at the age of sixteen, but two 
of the number are still living, William being 
a resident of Springfield, while Pearson 
makes his home on a farm in Moorefield 
township. Fi\e of the family never mar- 
ried. Thomas, the fourth child, lived on a 
farm in Springfield township and reared a 
large family. Julm. the eldest, died at the 
age of sixteen. Sallie became the wife of 
George Kiser and also reared a large family. 
Maria was the wife of Adam Vcazell and at 
her death left several children in Champaign 
coimty. Illinois. David married and had 
one child that died in infancy. James was 
the next younger. Mary became the wife 
of Joshua Crawn and left several children. 
Joseph never n arried. Susan became the 
wife of Rev. Enos Xeer and died in Cincin- 
nati. Pearson is a resident farmer of Moore- 
field township. William is living in Spring- 
field. Eliza became the wife of Daniel A. 
Jones and died in Springfied, while of her 
fi\e children three are living. The father 
of this family was in limited financial cir- 
cumstances when he came to Ohio, but here 
he got a good start, although later he went 
security for friends and thus lost all that 
he had made. With strong purpose and un- 
daunted courage, however, he began busi- 
ness life anew and became the owner of al- 
n-.ost twelve hundred acres of land, together 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



7S9 



with a large amoiunt of stock. His farm 
was wild woods wheii he settled here, the 
trees and brush growing so thick that it was 
impossible to see . a man on horseback a 
hundred yards away. His farm was called 
"Fairvievv" because as it was cleared there 
was obtained a beautiful view of the sur- 
rounding coimtry for miles to the northeast 
and an attractive feature oif the landscape 
is the stream of Black credc. Mr. C'rabill 
was an old line Whig. He died at the age 
of fifty-six years and his wife passed away 
when about seventy-five }-ears of age. 

Thomas Voss Crabill, the father of our 
subject, was born on Fairview farm in 
Moorefield township and was the third 
of the family. He acquired a fair coounon 
school education and then began farm- 
ing on his own account, following that 
pursuit throughout his entire life. He be- 
came the owner of seven hundred and seven- 
ty-six acres of land of the old homestead, 
most of which he bought. In Moorefield 
township he wedded Sydney Yea^ell, and 
unto them \\-ere born fourteen children, of 
whom our subject is the fifth in order of 
birth. These are: William, a farmer living 
southeast of Springfield ; David, of the same 
neighborhood ; Mary Jane, who died at the 
age of sixteen years; Ann Eliza, whoi be- 
came the wife of Joseph Winger and lost 
two children in early youth ; James, of this 
review ; Susan, who died in earh woman- 
hood ; Louisa, who became the wife of J. 
N. Tuttle and died in Clark county, leaving 
one child. Tslrs. Carrie Alt, of Clark county; 
Lavina, who became the wife of John Marsh 
and after liis death married Michael Wil- 
son; John, who is living on a farm in 
Springfield township and has three children ; 
Elizaheth, the wife of Alonzo Lefifel, of 
Springfield; Thomas, who is living in Co- 



lumbus and has three children ; Emma J. 
and Pearson, both of whom died in infancy ; 
Milton, who lives in Springfield and has 
two children; Joseph P., who resides on the 
old homestead five miles southeast of 
Springfield and has two children. The fa- 
ther of this family voted with the Republi- 
can party and was a member of the Presby- 
terian church. He died September 4, 1884, 
at the age of se\'enty-four years audi his wife 
is still living at the age oi eighty-seven. 

Jamesi Crabill is indebted toi the common 
schools for the educational privileges he en- 
joyed. Pie remained at home until his mar- 
riage, which took place October 17. 1876, 
the lady of his choice being Miss Clara E. 
Nicklin, of Moorefield township, a daughter 
of John B. and Catharine (Hoffman) Nick- 
lin. One child graces this marriage, Jessie 
B., born August 2, 1881. The family home 
is a fann of one hundred and sixteen acres 
in Moorefield to\\'nship, which Mr. Crabill 
largely inherited from his father. His pos- 
sessions now enable him toi live practically 
a retired life. In politics he is a Republican 
and his religious faith is indicated by his 
membership in the Methodist Ejiiscopal 
church at Springfield, to which his wife and 
daughter also belong. The family is well 
known in this section of the connty, for Mr. 
and Mrs. Crabill have spent their entire lives 
here and are well known as worthy people, 
who justly merit the esteem and good will 
of iheir manv friends. 



TAMES A. DICUS. 



James A. Uicus, whose labors have 
proven a co-operant for force in the commer- 
cial and industrial development of Spring- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



field tlirough many years and who is now- 
engaged in dealing in iron and steel work, 
boilers and machinery, is one of the substan- 
tial residents of the city who has the con- 
sciousness and deserves the credit of gain- 
ing all that he ix)ssesses through labor — 
earnest, untiring and honorable. 

He came to Ohio from Maryland in 
April. 1869. and his ancestral history is one 
of long and close connection with the latter 
stale. In early colonial days tlie first of the 
family in .\merica crossed the Atlantic to 
the new world and representatives of the 
family have ever been distinguished for their 
force of character, tenacity of purpose and 
fighting qualities. John Dicus. the great- 
grandfather of our subject, was a soldier of 
the Revolutionary war, serving m Captain 
Gales" Company. Maryland Artillery, as 
dnimmer. and taking part in tlie loug, san- 
guinary struggle which brought independ- 
ence to the colonies. 

James Dicus. the grandfather of our sub- 
ject, was born in Maryland and was a 
farmer by occupation, following that pur- 
suit throughout his entire business career. 
He wedded Miss Elizabeth Stevens, a 
daughter of Levi Stevens, also a Revolu- 
tionaiy soldier, belonging to the Second 
Maryland regiment, commanded by Colonel 
Thonas Price. Among the children of 
Jan es and Elizabeth (Stevens) Dicus was 
James Dicus. Jr.. also a native of Maryland, 
lx>rn near the city of Ellicott in 1812. There 
he spent his boyhood days and after acquir- 
ing his educatiiin in a private school, he 
went to Ealtinuire. where for many .years 
he was engaged in the manufacture of cot- 
ton goods, controlling a business of consider- 
able magnitude and importance. He 
wedded Mary E. Gosnell ; and thus in the 
maternal line our subject conies of an an- 



cestry- equally old, honorable and dis- 
tinguished for his mother was a daughter 
of \\'i]liam and Sarah (Clark) Gosnell, the 
former a soldier of the war of 181 2, while 
the latter was a daughter of Bishop Clark, a 
native of England and a distinguished citizen 
of that countr}^ as well as a notable 
divine. Tlie great-grandfather was alsc» 
a bishop of the church of England. The 
Clarks originally owned a tract of land 
which was known as Clark"s Camp Ground, 
situated in Baltimore county. Maryland, 
near the city of Baltimore. It was in Balti- 
more count}' that Mrs. Dicus was born and 
her death occurred in Springfield, Ohio, in 
June, 1897, while the father of our subject 
died in the year 1867. They were the par- 
ents of four children : James A., Josqihine. 
Mary E. and John Stevens. Josephine and 
John .Stevens are now deceased. 

James .\. Dicus of this review was born 
in Baltimore county. ^Maryland. May 31. 
1846, and having completed his literary 
education, he served a fcxir years" apprentice- 
ship to the patternmaker's trade and then 
embarked in business on his own accoimt as 
a dealer in implem.eiits, machines and boilers, 
continuing that connection with commercial 
interests until 1864, when he enlisted in 
Company D, Elevaith \'olunteer Infantry, 
as a private. Colonel \\illiam E. Landstreet 
commanding the regin.ent. On the organ- 
ization of the company Mr. Dicus was com- 
missioned first lieutenant and served with 
that rank until the close of the war. After 
the cessation of hostilities he returned to 
Baltimore, where he remained for a short 
time and then came to Springfield. Ohio, 
where he has since m.ade his home. Here 
he entered the emi)loy of the James Leflfel 
^Manufacturing Companv. acting as a pat- 
ternmaker for a few n:oiUhs. subsequent to 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



791 



which tiiT.e he was emploiyed by tlie ^\'hite- 
ley, Fassler & Kelly Manufacturing Com- 
pany, working in different capacities during 
the twenty-one years of his connection with 
that corporation, being gaieral superintend- 
ent of the shop for a part of the time, a 
position which he was well qualified to fill 
because of his practical experience and 
executi\-e force — qualities which enabled 
him to ca)>abh' direct the labors oif the men 
there en:ployed. Becoming connected with 
the Rodgers Iron Company oif Springfield, 
he was later n:ade president and in that 
capacity controlled the enterprise for ten 
3-ears, when he sold his interest. His next 
business crmnection was in a department of 
building activity for he handled structural 
iron and this not oaily called himi intoi dif- 
ferent parts of Ohio, but also intoi other 
states ^^•here he ohtained many contracts 
furnishing iron and steel for various build- 
ings, and to some extent he is. still a repre- 
sentative of this business. At the present 
time, howe\'er, he is conducting" a brokerage 
business, and. having gained a wide ac- 
quaintance among those who liad to do with 
mechanics, he has secured a liberal patronage 
which has grown until he is now at the head 
of a large and profitable trade. 

In April. 1S69. Mr. Dicus was married 
to Miss Catherine McDaniel, of Baltimore, 
in which city she was reared and educated. 
Her father was George McDaniel. Unto 
Mr. and Mrs. Dicus have been boirn four 
children: Maud McDaniel; Walter M., 
who A\as a most promising young man and 
was killed in an accident October 18, 1898; 
Josq^hine and Edith Jeanette. 

Mr. Dicus is a Republican in politics 
and for two years was a manber of the 
Springfield, Ohio, city council, while for 
seven vears he served as a tax commissioner. 



He is a member of Clark Lodge, No. loi, 
F. & A. M.. Springfield Chapter, R. A. M., 
Spring-field Commandery, K. T. and Cin- 
cinnati Consistory, therefby becoming a thir- 
ty-second degree Mason. He is also' a n.em- 
ber of the S}-rian Temple of the Mystic 
Shrine and he was department commander 
of the Union Veterans Union of Ohio and 
is also a member of Mitchell Post, G. A. R. 
His comfortable residence is located on 
East High street, the principal residence 
street of Springfield. Mr. Dicus is 
recognized as a prominent factor in local, 
political and fraternal circles and wherever 
he has gone he has made many warm 
friends. His business advancement has 
been continuous, being the direct result of 
earnest labor and capability and his life his- 
tory is an illustration of the fact that stands 
as one of the most commendable character- 
istics of our national existence^ — that men 
of worth, of laudable ambition and honesty 
O'f purpose can win success in this land. 



ELI WEST. 

The family of which Eli West is a repre- 
sentative was establishetl in Clark county 
w hen this portion of the state formed a part 
oif what was. then Champaign count}-. The 
West family is of Scotch-Irish descent. The 
great-grandfather, Edmund West, came 
from Virginia to this portio.n of Ohio and 
cast in his lot with the early pioneer set- 
tlers w-ho were reclaiming the wild land and 
laying broad and deep the foundation foi- the 
present development and prosperity of this 
section. He lived to an advanced age and his 
wife reached the ripe old age of ninety years. 
Their remains were interred in the Statler 
and Ward cemeter\- in Madison county. 



792 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECOl 



Alexander West, the grandfather of our 
subject, was born in this county and he and 
his wife also reached advanced years. He 
married a Miss Curl, wlio was interested 
in the Maiy Ball Brown estate. They be- 
came the parents of eleven children of whom 
three sons and a daughter are yet living: 
Edwin, of Mechanics burg; Samuel, of 
Pleasant township ; Thomas, of Springfield ; 
and Mrs. Mary A. Turpin, of North Lewis- 
burg. These are now well ad\anced in 
Aears. Samuel was a soldier in the Civil 
war, as was also his brother Juhn, who is 
now deceased. Samuel occupies the dd 
home place. 

Henry West, the father of our subject, 
was born in ^tladison county, Ohio, in De- 
cen:ber, 1832, and died May 2, 1872. He 
was reared to manhood on the home farm 
and became a mechanic, following the trade 
of a brick and stone mason in connection 
with agricultural pursuits. He was a Repub- 
lican in his political views but never sought 
office nor did he hold and except that of 
school director. Earnest Christian people, 
he and his wife were active members of the 
^Methodist Episcopal church. H^e married 
Sarah ^^'ood. who was born in Pleasant 
toAvnship and died here June 28, 1866. 
Her father was Albert Wood, a prominent 
farmer of that township. Utnto Mr. and 
Mrs. West were born six children, the eldest 
being Eli. W^illiam Weslc)-, a machinist of 
Dennison, Ohio, has three living children, 
Henr\-. Roy, and John, and has lost two. 
Lettie is the wife of C. G. Wilson, a farmer 
of jNIadison county, Ohio, and has two living 
children, Ross and Estella. and has lost 
three. Isaiah is married and is a stationary 
engineer of Columbus. James, a farmer of 
^ladison coiinty. is married and has three 
children. Marie, Ruth, and Stella. Emma, 



the youngest, died in early childhood. The 
mother of this family passed away June 28, 
1866, and was buried in Vernon cemetery. 
For his second wife ?Ienry West chose Eliza 
Brocker, a widow with two sons and a 
daughter. By the second marriage three 
sons were born : Lewis, of \'ienna Cross- 
roads, who is married and has two children, 
Reuljen and Jessie; Clark, of Moorefield, 
Ohio, who has one daughter. Bertha; Fos- 
ter, .of Summerford township, Madison 
county, who has two children, Bertha and an 
infant. Henn,- West was buried in Vernon 
ceir.etery, while his second wife was laid to 
rest in the Arbnckle cemetery. 

Eli ^\'est Avas educated in the comn:on 
schools and, being the eldest of his father's 
family, had to assist in the support of the 
younger children. At the age of eighteen 
he left home and Ijegan to work elsewhere, 
although he still aided the family by giving 
all his wages. For several years he followed 
farm work and thai turned his attention to 
blacksn-ithing, working as an apprentice 
from 1866 until 1891, in the service of John 
Lellis, of Catawte. On the 22d of Decem- 
ber of the latter year, he purchased the shop 
he now owns and has since conducted a 
prosperous business in general blacksmith- 
ing, rqmiring and wood-working, having 
a liberal patronage. 

In Springfield in 1878 Mr. \\'est married 
Miss Lydia Stipes, who was born in Cataw- 
ba, August 5. 1858, and is a daughter of 
Thomas and Mar\- Stipes. Her father was 
lx>rn in Virginia in 1822, and when a lad 
became a resident of Logan county, Ohio. 
His parents had died in the Old Dominion 
and he was thus left an orphan. He was 
Ixxmd out to the family of Thomas Melvin, 
who brought him to Ohio, where he leamed 
the blacksmith's trade, which he followed 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



793 



until after the Civil war broke out, when he 
went to the front in the Union ranks as 
a member of the Eighth Cavalry and died 
on the field from' disease contracted in the 
service. His wife was born in Pleasant 
township in 1825, a daughter of Archie 
and Sarah Tvunyan. She was left without a 
mother at an early age and was reared by 
her graaidmotlier. Unto Mr. and Mrs. 
Stipes were born five children. Lavinia is 
tlie wife of Matthew Meer, of Catawba. 
]\Irs. West is the second in order of birth.. 
]\Iary V., born in 185 1, became the wife of 
John Lellis and died in 1893. They had 
one son, AndreA\-. and a granddaughter, 
Ella. Sarah, born October 19, 1855, became 
the wife of John Baumgardner and died Au- 
gust I, 1819, leaving seven children: Fred, 
Zelda, Jennie, Lawrence, Nancy, Cecil and 
Earl. Frances became the wife of Benjamin 
^^'hite. She was born July 29, 1847, ^"^1 
died April i. 1900, leaving five children: 
Xettie, George, Lillian, Maude and Har- 
land. Unto Mr. and Mrs. West have been 
biirn five children : Clola, born August 8, 
1879: I\Iary and ^Millie, twins, bom January 
7. 1884; Lottie, born Augatst 13, 18S6; and 
Lettie. born Septemiber 30, 1889. All were 
born in Catawba and educated in the public 
schools. 

Mr. West erected his present attracti\-e 
home in 1896. He and his wife are mem- 
bers of the Protestant Methodist church, in 
which he is sendng as trustee and class- 
leader. Formerly he \\as Sunda}--school 
superintendent and is no-w a teacher in the 
Sunday-school. In politics he is a stanch 
Republican, known as an active and helpful 
working memljer of the party. He has 
sen'ed as a delegate to- county coaiventions, 
has been a niemljcr of the schooi board of 
Catawba for six vears, was constable of his 



to\\nship for one year, was mayor of the 
village for one year and has several times 
been a member of the council. Li all of these 
ofiices he has discharged his duties with 
promptness and fidelity. 



BENJAMIN F. PRINCE. A. .M. Ph. D. 

Professor. Benjamin Franklin Prince 
has been a residait of Spring-field for more 
than a third of a centuiy and has been so 
closely and prominently connected with the 
educational and n:oral interests of the town 
during that time that no history of the com- 
munity would be complete without the record 
of his career. It is a widely acknowledged 
fact that the most important work tO' which 
a man can direct his energies is that of 
teaching, whether it be from the pulpit, from 
th.e lecture platform, or from the school- 
room. Its primary object is ever the same, 
— the de\-elopment O'f one's latent powers 
diat the duties oif life may be bravely m.et 
and well performed. The intellectual and 
naoral nature are so closely allied that it is 
difficult to instruct one without in a measure 
influencing the other, and certainly the best 
results are accomplished when the work goes 
hand in hand. In this work of moral and 
intellectual training Professor Prince is 
taking an important part, being at the pres- 
ent tim.e professor O'f history and political 
science in Wittenberg College. 

Professor Prince is a native of Cham- 
paign count}', his birth having occurred on 
tlie 1 2th of December, 1840, in that portion 
of Ohiix He, hoiwever, comes from an old 
Virginian family. The paternal grandfa- 
tlier, Adam Prince, was a native of the Old 
Dnmiiiion. having removed from the Shen- 



794 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



andoah valley in \'irginia to the state of 
Kentucky in 1805. There he resided until 
1809, when he became a resident of Cham- 
paign county. Ohio, casting in his lot among 
its first settlers. With the work of pioneer 
development and improvement he was closely 
associated, for many years bearing his part 
in the general progress. He married Eva 
Buroker, also a native of Virginia, and 
among their children was William Prince, 
the fatlier of our subject. His birth oc- 
curred in Kentucky in 1807 and he was 
therefore only alx>ut two years old when 
brought by his parents to Ohio. In Chajn- 
paign count\- he was reared to manhood and 
there wedded Sarah Xorman, a native of 
that county and a daughter of John and 
Marv ]^Iagdalena Xorman. who removed 
from the Shenandoah valley to Ohio in 1805. 
A great majority of the men of the coun- 
try now prominent in business or profes- 
sional life. ha\-e been farmer lx>ys in youth. 
Such was Professor Prince, and in field 
and meadow he worked in his boyhood days 
when not attending the district schools. 
After he had acquired his early education 
he engaged in farming in connection with 
his brother. Peter ^^■. Prince, but believing 
that he would find other occupations m.ore 
congenial, he left the farm. Pie desired 
further educational training and entered 
\\'itten1>erg College of Springfiekl. where he 
was graduated on completion of the literary- 
course in 1865. He then took up the study 
of theology in the same institution and was 
graduated in that department in 1866. His 
scliolarship. ability and excellent dqx>rt- 
n-.ent comn:ended him to the faculty 
who then oft'ered him the position of 
a teacher in the preparatory department. 
Subsequently he became professor of 
natural history in the college and still later 



was made professor of Greek and histor}' 
and afterward of history- and jx^litical 
science, now occupying the chair which has 
charge of these branches of advanced learn- 
ing. 

In 1869 Professor Prince was united in 
marriage to Miss Ellen Sanderson, of 
Springfield, who was born in Lebanon, 
Pennsylvania, and in her early girlhood 
wan with her parents to Philadelphia, 
where she was reared. Her father. John P. 
Sanderson, was at one time the editor of the 
Philadelphia Xews and was a warm jiersonal 
friend of Abraliam Lincoln and of Simon 
Cameron, then secretary of war. In the fall 
i)f 1 86 1 he was appointed lieutenant colonel 
in the regular army, was afterward advanced 
to the ]X)sition of colonel, and then re- 
moved to St. Louis. Missouri, where he died 
in 1864, while serving his coiuitn,- with the 
rank designated. The home of Professor 
and Mrs. Prince has beai blessed with four 
children : Gracella. w ho is assistant librar- 
ian in the Wittenljerg College : Flora ; Wal- 
ter, who is a graduate of Wittenberg Col- 
lege, read medicine and was graduated in 
the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, and 
is now engaged in the practice of medicine 
in Springfield; and Mabel. 

Professor Prince is a men.ber of Clark 
Lodge, Xo. 10 1, F. & A. :M.. and has been 
a prominent factor in the intellectual and 
social circles of the city and in church work. 
He is to-day the president of the Clark 
Countv Historical Society and is a life mem- 
l)er of the .State Archeological and Historic- 
al Society, being also one of the trustees 
and a member of the executive committee of 
the latter body. He holds membership in 
the American Historical Association and in 
the .\merican Philological Association. For 
n\e vears he was the president of the Clark 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



795 



County Sunday-schooil Association was for 
se\-en years a member of the State Sun— 
(lay-scliool Association, of Ohio and a 
n'.emlljer of the local board of the 
Young- ]\Ien's Christian Association. It 
would be almost tautological in this connec- 
tion to enter intoi any series of statements 
as sho\\-ing our subject to be a man of broad 
general mformation or of humanitarian 
principles, for these have been shadowed 
forth between the lines oi this review. He 
is a gentleman of stroaig and foixeful indi- 
viduality, of pronounced views, and yet there 
is in him an abiding sympathy, a ready char- 
ity that never fails, and has won for him 
the wanu regard as well as the friendship 
and respect cf those with whom he has been 
associated. 



JOSEPH DOTY LITTLE. 

Joseph Doty Little, a soldier of the Civil 
war, is now living retired from active busi- 
ness cares, save that he is eng-aged in tlie 
developing of a thresher of his own inven- 
tion. He has long been associated with me- 
chanical interests in Springfield and through 
his inventions has largely advanced indus- 
trial methods. He was born in Monmouth 
count}-, Xe\\- Jersey, March 30, 1840, and is 
a son of Thomas Little, whose birth oc- 
curred in the same state in 1816. The lat- 
ter was a fan-ner by occupation. After 
reaching mature years he wedded Lydia N. 
Little, also a native of New Jersey. He died 
in 1852; his wife in 1S42. Of their two 
children the daughter died in infancy. 

Joseph D. Little, the elder child, became 
a studait in a boarding school at Freehold 
and afterward in Lawrenceville, New Jer- 
sey, pursuing an elective course. He was 
left an orphan when a little lad, his mother 



d>-ing when he was two years of age, the 
father when the son was twelve. His tmcle, 
Arthur W. Little, who became his guardian, 
was an extensive silk importer of Philadel- 
phia, Pennsylvania, and our subject entered 
his store when sixteen years O'f age, work- 
ing in the retail department for three years. 
At the age of nineteen he entered the whole- 
sale department and was thus emplojed un- 
til after the beginning of the Civil war, when 
he oiifered his services toi the government, 
enlisting in the Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cav- 
aln,- under Colonel Palmer, in August, 1862. 
He participated in the battle of Antietam 
and the regiment burned the bridge at Har- 
pers Ferry. Their colonel was then in the 
rebel lines as a spy. The Fifteenth Pennsyl- 
\-ania was an unattached con-imand doing 
skirmishing duty. It was composed O'f an 
intelligent class of men above the common 
walks O'f life and was O'ften therefore se- 
lected ior special duty. In the battle of 
Stone River Mr. Little was captured and 
was imprisoned at Atlanta, Georgia, and at 
Richmond, being incarcerated in the latter 
city in the smallpox hospital. Later, how- 
ever, the prisoners were transferred to^ Lib- 
by prison, where our subject was paroled 
in April, 1863. They were then placed in 
the hospital at Annapolis and transferred to 
Philadelphia, where Mr. Little recei\-ed an 
honorable discharge in the same year. 

After leaving the army he went toi Mun- 
cie, Indiana, w'ith his uncle. John L. Little, 
with whom he was engaged in the dry goods 
business for three years. This was an un- 
cle on the mother side and the Littles in 
lx3th the paternal and maternal lines were 
connected with mercantile pursuits. In 
1866 our subject went toi Dayton, where he 
began working for a cousin in the agricul- 
tural implement business. In 1869 he came 



796 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



to Springfield and entered the anploy of tlie 
Cliampton works in their new shops, as- 
sisting in fitting up the machinery for Mr. 
^Vhiteley. He possessed natural mechanical 
ability, but had had no experience in that 
line, yet he soon adapted himiself to the 
new work and shoAved that he could easily 
master the duties entrusted to him. For 
three years he remained \\ii\\ the company 
and then became a traveling salesman for 
the firm of Rinehart, Ballard & Company, 
manufacturers of threshing machines, trav- 
eling over the states where the machines 
could be used. After leaving the road he 
was promoted to the position of superin- 
tendent of the shops, acting in that capacity 
for some time. In the meantime he con- 
structed two practical threshers of his own 
designing. In 1882 the business was dis- 
olved, both partners dying, and Mr. Little 
took charge of the books and settled up the 
estates for lx)th men. The following year 
he organized the Springfield Fertilizer Com- 
pany, which \\as formed as a stock company 
and he acted as general manager from the 
opening of the business. The enterprise 
was conducted until 1901 on a wholesale 
scale, shipments being made throughoxit 
Obio and Indiana. The product was sent 
out in two-hundred pound sacks and Mr. 
Little invented and patented a device for 
one-hundred pound sacks in order to lessen 
the labor. He always recognized the im- 
portance and value of new machines which 
would assist in the manufacture of his fer- 
tilizer and the business proved a successful 
venture. Since his retiremait in 1901 he 
has been engaged in developing another 
thresher, which is entirely original. He is 
well known in business circles as a good 
jnanagcr. practical, enterprising and pro- 
gressive. 



In this city, in 1875, occurred the mar- 
riage of Mr. Little and Miss Lucy Rinehart, 
a daughter of James W. Rinehart, who was 
tb.e senior member of the firm by which our 
subject was employed. Her mother bore 
the maiden name of Caroline Pennock. 
Three children have been torn unto our sub- 
ject and his wife: Arthur Workman, who 
is a student in the General Electric College 
at Schenectady, New York; Josq>h Driun- 
n:ond, in the Naval Academy at Annapolis, 
]\laryland ; and Elizabeth, at home. She is 
a graduate of the seminarj- on East High 
street and is now a teacher in the public 
schools of Springfield. The wife and niother 
died and Mr. Little was again married in 
1896, his second union being with ]\Iarla 
Rinei art, a cousin of his first wife and the 
widow of Mitchell M. Benson. By this 
marriage there is one daughter, Agnes R. 

]\Ir. Little and his wife hold men.bership 
in the Third Presbyterian church and his 
ancestors were adherents of the same faith. 
In political views they were fonnerly Whigs 
and afterward Republicans, and our subject 
is a strong adherent of the Republican party 
and its principles. For three years he served 
as a member of the city council, covering 
the time when the city hall was erected. He 
is a manljer of the board of education, hav- 
ing first been appointed to fill a vacancy, 
while latei- he was elected to the office foi^ the 
term that will expire in 1903. He has fre- 
quently been a delegate to city, county and 
judicial conventions and is deeply and ac- 
tively interested in everything pertaining to 
the growth and success of his party. He 
belongs to Clark Lodge, F. & A. M., and 
also to the chapter and council of Masom-y. 
and he resides at No. 319 North Limestone 
street. In his life he has exemplified man>- 
of the traits of his Scotch, Irish and Eng- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



lish lineage, having the thrift of the first, 
the versatihty of the second and the adapta- 
biHty and perseverance of the third race. 
It is these quahties that have made him a 
successfnl man of business, who through his 
own efforts has attained a creditable poisi- 
tion among the well-to-do residents of 
Springfield. 



LE\MS SKTLLINGS. 

In Green township, about a cjuarter of a 
mile from the place of his present residence, 
Lewis Skillings was born on the 24th of 
July, 1 83 1. He is a son oif Lewis and Anna 
(Craig) Skillings, and his paternal grand- 
father also bore the name of Lewis. He 
was born near Berlin, Prussia, in 1750 and 
\\'hen a young man he went to England, 
whether on a business or pleasure trip is not 
krowi:. While, there, however, he was 
pressed into the English army without any 
opport^init}! of communicating with his fam- 
ily and was forced on board a vessel to be 
sent to America to fight for the British in 
tile Revolutionary war. When near the 
coast of Alaine he and a comrade, Mr. 
Hooper, left the ship and swam ashore, land- 
ing in the Pine Tree state. He had pre- 
viously learned the shoemaker's trade and 
soon found work at that vocation. While 
in Maine he became accjuainted with Han- 
nah Bladgen, whom he afterward married. 
We next hear of him as a farmer in the 
southern part of Stokes township, near New 
Sliaron, Franklin county, Maine, where some 
of his children were 'born. From there he 
renioved to Anson, near where resided Mr. 
Hooper, with whom he had escaped from 
the British vessel. His home bordered the 
road betweai Madison and North Anson, 



Maine. He settled on a farm and while 
there was killed by a limb of a tree falling 
upon him, June 23, 1S02, and was buried in 
a cen-.etery on Sandy river. His wife li\-ed 
to the advanced age of ninet\'-four years, 
passing away in 1857. 

They were the parents of seven children, 
of whom Lewis Skillings, the father of our 
subject, was the eldest. He was boor in 
1789, and after his father's death the care 
of the family devolved upon him and he pro- 
vided for their support until he was twenty- 
two years of age. This duty was then as- 
sun:ed by his yoiunger brother, while Mr. 
Skillings came to the west, landing in Cin- 
cinnati in 1 810. Foir a tim.e he was in part- 
nership in the business of shipping produce 
down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to 
New Orleans by flatboat. Later he settled 
in Springfield township, Clark cotmty, and 
in Ohio he met and married Miss Anna 
Craig, a daughter of John Craig, who was 
one of the heroes of the Revolutionaiy war 
and was born February 15, 1758. In 1775 
he entered the anny and was discharged in 
1780. He was a son of Andrew Craig, who 
was also a soldier in the war for independ- 
ence, and who was born in Ireland in 17 10. 
In the year 1718 he crossed the Atlantic to 
America and in the spring of 1776 he joined 
the colonial forces in order to aid in win- 
ning American indejjendence. He died in 
the fall of that year on the retreat from 
Canada. The father of oiur subject became 
a member of the Methodist Episcopal church 
on his nineteenth birthday and for twenty 
years he served as a class leader in the 
Fletcher church, exercising a strong influ- 
ence in behalf of Christianity. His wife 
^\•as born near Onion river, Connecticut. 
March 29, 1792, and with her parents came 
to Ohio in 1807, the family establishing 



79c 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



iheir home in Clark county in 1808. Lewis 
Skillings was a p("K>r man when he arrived in 
Ohio, but lie became wealthy, owing to his 
careful business management, his persever- 
ance and diligence and his honiorable deal- 
ings. He was also very liberal with his 
nieans, generous to the poor, and at the 
time of his death he left one thousand dol- 
lars on interest for the Ijenefit of Fletcher 
Chapel, to Ije used after twentv' years. His 
ix>litical support was given the Whig party 
and later he Ijecame a stanch Rqniblican. 
In his family were the following children, 
of whom all reached years of maturity : 
Mary, who became the wife ol James Lay- 
lx)urn; Hannah, the wife of William Mc- 
Kinney; Sarah, who married Abel Lay- 
bourn : John, who died at the age of twenty- 
five years; Lewis, whose name introduces 
this review ; and Eljen, who married Susan 
Run_\-on and after her death wedded Phcebe 
Paulin, while his third wife was Lue ^liller. 
Lewis Skillings, whose najnie introduces 
this record, reared upon the home farm 
antl acquired a fair common school educa- 
tion. At theiige of eighteen he began earn- 
ing money for himself, though he remained 
at home until twenty-five years of age. In 
the meantime, with what .he had saved, he 
bought one hundred and five acres of land. 
constituting a part of his present fann. All 
of the improvements ujx)n the place he has 
made and these stand as monuments to his 
thrift and enterprise. He brought as a bride 
to his home IXIiss Martha A. Hammond, 
their marriage being celebrated on the 20th 
of December. 1855. She was born in Har- 
mony township, a daughtei- of Calvin and 
Laura (Bennett) Hammond, both of whom 
were nati\es of New York and had come 
to Ohio with their respective parents. After 
their marriage they settled near Vienna. 



where Mrs. Skillings was reared to woman- 
hood. Unto our subject and his wife have 
been born se\en children : Fremont mar- 
ried Celia Garlough and died, leaving three 
children, his widow now living in Spring- 
field ; Quincy died at the age of eighteen 
months ; Laura became the w ife of Tliomas 
Row and and is now living with her father ; 
Rolley married Rosa Finch and they have 
four childreii; Autice married Claude Rice 
and is living in Green township : Carrie be- 
came the wife of Harley Kirkham and is 
living in Harmony township ; and Xora died 
at the age of se\en months. 

A stanch Republican in politics, ^Ir. 
Skillings keq:)S well informed on the issues 
of the day, Ixit has ne\'er been an office 
seeker. He voted for ^^'infield Scott in 
1852 and in 1856 cast his ballot for Fremont. 
He is a member of the Free \\"\\\ Baptist 
church and is interested in all that pertains 
to i)rogress and improvanent along material, 
social, intellectual and moral lines. In his 
business affairs he has prospered and is to- 
day the owner of nearly five hundred acres 
of valuable land. He represents one of the 
old pioneer families of the count}" and has 
borne his part in carrying forward the work 
of de\'elopment and improvement, w hich was 
liegun by his pioneer ancestors, always mani- 
festing the same love for his country and 
interest in her welfare as was shown by his 
ancestors who fought for the independence 
of the nation. 



^lAXLEY GOODFELLOW. 

Manley Good fellow was b<>rn on a farm 
on Beaver creek in Clark county in 1843 
and throughout his entire life has Ijeen iden- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



"99 



tified with agricultural pursuits. He is the 
oldest sou of Thomas Goodtellow and 
grandson of Moore Goodfello-w, who \\as 
born ni Ireland and at an early day in the 
de\-elopment O'f this portion of the state 
came to Clark county, settling on a tract of 
laud on Beaver creek, which was covered 
with tim'ber. He cleared away the trees so 
that the sunlight fell upon the ground, which 
he plowed and pla:nted, in due course of 
time reaping good harvests therefrom. They 
were the parents of eight children, one of 
those being Rachel, now a widow, of Spaf- 
ford. Kurd is a resident of JMadison coun- 
ty, O'hio. The grandparents and several 
members of their fam.ily are buried in the 
Wragg cemetery. 

Thomas Goodfellow, the father of our 
subject, was also born on the old home- 
stead on Beaver creek, in ome of the first 
brick houses erected in Hamiony township, 
his natal day beinjg in the year 1816. He 
was educated in the common schools and 
reared under the parental roof. He after- 
ward became the owner of the farnr on Bea- 
ver creek and later purchased a small tract 
of land to the west. He then removed to 
that place and it was there that his children 
were born. Throughoiit his business career 
he carried on farm.ing and succeeded in his 
work soi that from time to time he was 
enabled to add toi his land and ultimately 
liecame the possessor of seven hundred acres, 
all in Harmony toavnship. Much of this he 
himself cleared and erected thereon good 
Ijuildings. He followed general farming 
and everything about his place was neat and 
thrifty in appearance, indicating his careful 
supervision and his progressive methods. 
He married Miss Mary Sexton, who was 
born in Canada in 1825, but some time prior 
to her marriage had located in Clark coimty. 



Ohio. UntO' them were Ijorn eight children, 
O'f wliom six are yet living: Manley, of 
this review: John, who owns a farm in 
Harmony township, but is now living in 
Denver, Colorado: Andrew, who is t^e own- 
er of what is known as the Boyd farm, in 
Harn-.ony township; Alice, 'the wife of Will- 
iam Shorey, a resident of Pleasant town- 
ship ; Dora, the wife of David Snaveley, of 
Springfield township; and Clara, the wife 
of William, Roberts, of Moorefield town- 
ship. The father's death occurred in the 
spring of 1896, and thus passed away one 
of the honored pioneer settlers of the coun- 
ty, who for eighty years had resided with- 
in its borders, witnessing its growth and de- 
\'elopment throughout a long period and 
noting the changes that occurred as it 
niierged from primitive conditions to take 
its place among 'the leading comities of 
Ohio. He was a Republican in, his political 
ai^liations from the time of the organiza- 
tion of the party until his death and took a 
deep interest in its growth and success. For 
many j-ears he filled the position of justice 
of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair 
and impartial. He held the office of school 
director and was likewise township trustee, 
and in all the offices which he filled he was 
prompt and faithful. He gave his support 
to church work and to all enterprises which 
he believed would prove of general good to 
the people of the connty. He had many 
friends among the older people of this sec- 
tion of the state and by all was always held 
in the highest regard for his sterling worth 
and upright character. 

Manley Goodfellow, whose name intro>- 
duces this record, acquired his education in 
a select school, which he attended one win- 
ter, and in the public schools of Harmony 
township. At an early age he began work- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



ing in tlie fields and assisted in the labors 
of cultivating the crops through the sum- 
mer months, while in the winter seasons he 
pursued his studies. He has always re- 
mained at home co-operating with his father 
in the farm work and becoming familiar 
with every department of the business and 
with the best methods of conducting the 
work. Several years before the fatlier's 
death the son became the practical man- 
ager of the farm and he received as his share 
of the estate one hundred acres of land, to 
which he has since added until he now owns 
three hundred acres, nearly all of which is 
under cultivation. He has cared for his 
mother since the death of the father. His 
time and energies are devoted almost e.x- 
clusively to his farm work, in wliich he has 
niade a success. In politics he is an earnest 
Republican, having firm faith in the princi- 
ples of his party, yet he has never soiight 
office nor cared to figure tefore the public 
as an official. He has contributed of his 
means to church and charitable work and 
is deq^ly interested in everything pertaining 
to the general good of the comnnmity and to 
the suljstantial i)rogress of the countv. 



GEORGE W. BYMASTER. 

George \\'. Bymaster. who served his 
cfxmtry as a soldier of the Civil war. and 
is now engaged in the dairying business on 
tlie National pike, two miles from Spring- 
field, was born in Pennsylvania in 1833 ''"'^' 
is a son of Christopher B\niaster. In 1852 
he removed fri>m the Ke\stone state to 
Clark comity and here began working as a 
farm hand by the month, being thus em- 
ployed until 1862. In that year he offered 



his services to the government and aided 
in crushing- out the rebellion in the south, 
joining Company G, Ninety-fourth Ohio In- 
fantry, in the month of August. He sened 
continuously until May, 1865, and partici- 
pated in the following engagements : Tates 
Ferry, Tunnel Hill, Buzzard's Roost, Hoov- 
er's Gap, Pigeon Gap, Chickamauga, Chat- 
tanooga, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, 
and a fifteen days' skirmish around Resaca. 
There he was womided, having the muscle 
of his right arm shot away, while the bul- 
let also' jjenetrated his left side. He was a 
brave and loyal soldier, never faltering in 
defense of the old flag which now floats so 
proudly over the united nation. 

After his return from the amy Mr. By- 
master engaged in farming as soon as he 
had sufficiently recovered his health. This 
was in 1867 and he continuously carried on 
agricultural pursuits until about 1893, when 
he embarked in the dairy business, which 
he has since 'successfully conducted under 
the firm name of Bymaster & Son. his home 
Ijdng two miles from Springfield on the Na- 
tional pike. In his work he is energetic, 
follows progressive methods, and everytiiing 
about his place is neat and thrifty in ap- 
pearance, while the products of his dairy are 
of such excellent quality that he finds a ready 
sale on the market for them. 

Mr. Bymaster was united in marriage to 
Miss Mary Jane Tilton. a daughter of David 
and Barlxira ( Garver) Tilton. of .\ddison, 
Ohio. TheT,- now have five children. Will- 
iam Irvin married Emma, a daughter of 
Samuel Nawman, and at his death left five 
children. Pearle>'. Clyde. Hazel. George 
Russell and \'erna. William Irvin died in 
1 90 1 at the age of forty years and his fam- 
ily is now living in Illinois. Forrest C. 
married .Alice Logan and is living in Clark 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



80 r 



coun-ty, Kansas. David C. is a resident oi 
North DaI<ota. Ida is at home with her 
paraits. Charles O. wedded Mary Powell 
and is in partnership with his father in the 
dairying btisiness. They have two children, 
Paul G. and Rnth L. Mr. Bymaster is a 
strong Republican in his political views and 



was appointed township trustee in February, 
1902, while in April, of the same year, he 
was elected to the office which he is now 
capably filling. He belongs to Powell Post, 
No. 381, G. A. R., and to the Methodist 
church and is well known as an enterprising 
and reliable citizen of his community. 



HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL 



Y CLIFTON M. NICHOLS. 



Tlie beautiful and prosperous city of 
Spring-field is the capital of Clark county, 
and one o^f the handsomest and most en- 
terprising cities of Ohio, and the coimtry 
of which it is tlie chief and only city, is fa- 
mous for its physical beauty, its fertile fields 
and its ample deposits of limestcwie. A hun- 
dred years ago our predecessors, the red 
men, roved at will over tlie hills and plains 
of the vallej-s of the two Miamis and Mad 
ri\-er, with the regions of the Lagonda and 
smaller affluent streams. This territory in 
its wildness was. we are sure, ranarkably 
beautiful, and uncultivated as it was, certain- 
ly productive. Here Indian corn, or maize, 
responded to the touch of the aborigines, un- 
couscioius of its royal birth and its coming 
kingdoiii ; fed as it was by the wealth of the 
rich mold and fostered by generous rains 
and a sunny, balmy air, it grew to generous 
proportions, and when matured, browned 
and parched made toothsome and whole- 
some food, fit not only for a savage, but for 
a prince. Tlien the Indian had but to gash 
the integument of the sturdy and towering 
maple to start the flow of delicious fluid, 
from which was made the finest flavored and 
most wholesome sugar the world has ever 



produced. Then a royal appetite, whetted 
by active, out of door life, and unspoiled by 
luxurious habits, made of roasted bear meat 
and venison from the forests and broiled 
fish from the streams, most delicious food, 
thoroughly masticated by strong and perfect 
teeth, in a region and at a period when and 
where dentists, with their instruments of tor- 
ture, were unknown. What would thou- 
sands of those who are considered our most 
fortunate people now give for such appe- 
tites, such digestion and such delicious food 
as O'ur dusky forefathers enjoyed? But, 
alas, noi amoiunt of wealth can buy these 
blessings. 

If the aborigines found the region be- 
tween the Miami rivers, and adjacent to 
j\lad river, a goodly land, is it at all a matter 
of wonder that those sturdy and intelligent 
men of the olden time, David Lowry and 
Jonathan Donnell — the last named (like 
George Washington, whoi visited the Ohio 
country as early as 1749, a surveyor — 
should, coming as they did from Pennsyl- 
vania in 1795, decide to make their home 
in such a region of richness and beauty? Or, 
that others in the course of time, from east- 
ern states should join them, or that in 1799 



804 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



the genn of a city should be planted on the 
banks of the fair Lagonda? Or that the 
village of Springfield should be laid out in 
1801 ? As a matter of coiu'se there should 
be a tavern, and Griffith Foos erected one of 
logs in 1803. 

The products of the cultivated soil of 
Clark county in those early days were corn, 
potatoes, oats and wheat. The corn not need- 
ed for the food of the pioneers could be sold, 
and the potatoes could be eateii on sight, 
but the wheat to be utilized must Ise convert- 
ed into flour, lliere came, therefore, the 
pressing need for the man with a white hat. 
Therefore, in 1804, nearly one hundred 
years ago, the first flouring mill was erected. 

There were mighty hunters in those days 
and the skins of bear and deer and a few 
domestic animals then existing could only 
be preserved and made useful by being made 
into leather and the man for the hour 
proved to be Cooper Ludhnv. who came here 
from Cincinnati and built a tannery in 1805. 
Then there must be powder for hunters and 
pioneers, who, in addition to shooting wild 
game, were sometimes forced tO' defend 
themselves and their homes against hostile 
Indians. So John Lingle put up a powder 
mill in 1809. Then followed, year after year, 
other industries ; lumber, woolen and cotton 
mills, etc. In 1827 the Kills paper mill was 
erected. In 1830 the Bretne}- .tannery was 
lyuilt and equipped and is still operated by 
the descendants of the builder. One of the 
most enterprising and ingenious of our early 
settlers, James Leffel, built the first foundry, 
and the establishment, based upon his fa- 
mous water wheel, kmown the world o\er, is 
one of the largest and most flourishing of 
our n.odern manufacturing establishments, 
that of Tames I.eft'el Company, owned by 



John W. Bookwalter, son-in-law of Mr. 
Leffel. 

In 1841 the Barnett flour mill com- 
menced work. It was, comparatively, a 
great industry at that time, and is now more 
extensive in its operations than e\-eT before. 
Tlie Barnett family occupy a most honora- 
ble place in local fame and is still most hon- 
orabl}- represented. 

The printer is always in the \an of im- 
provement, and in 181 7 the Rev. George 
Smith began printing Clark coimty's first 
public journal. "The Farmer." The first 
factory for the pr<xluction of textile goods 
was a woolen mill and was erected in 1817 
by Aladdox Fisher, and in the same jear 
Jacob Woodward, Ira Paige and John Tay- 
lor commenced the prtxluction of cotton 
cloth. In this line the late Charles Rabbitts 
l>ecame afterward quite prominent as a man- 
ufacturer of woolen goods and showed him- 
self a public spirited and useful citizen. .\t 
alxjut the same time Griffith Foos built the 
Pioneer linseed oil mill, and for many years 
after John Foos carried on its ojierations, 
i^ecoming eminent during an active, life-long 
career as merchant, manufacturer, banker 
and good citizen. 

At first Springfield and the territory sur- 
rounding it were a part of Qiampaigii coun- 
ty, but in 1 81 8 Qark county was organized 
and a courthouse built, but it was demolisiied 
in 1878. and the present comely palace of 
justice was erected. An additional build- 
ing has teen constructed at an expense of 
$60,000, for county oflices. 

The completion of the Xatiimal road by 
the Fedei-al government connected b_\- a broad 
and fine thoroughfare the cities of Baltimore 
and Cumterland with Springfield. Ohio. It 
stimulated local enterprise, ojiened up the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



805 



palmy days of stage coaching and was the 
forerunner of the many raih'oad lines now 
centering and passing through Springfield 
and coamecting it with all the great cities 
of the country. Springfield is the most in:- 
portant center of the great Vanderliilt lines 
west of New York. 

In 1848 John A. Pitts, from Buffalo, 
New Yo'rk, built a separator factory, which 
occupied a portion of the present piano plate 
factory of the O. S. Kelly Company. The 
manufacture of reapers and mOiwers was 
commenced by Benjan.in H. Warder and 
partners, under the name of the Lagonda 
Agricultural Works, in 18150, on a portion 
of the tract now occupied, with nearly a 
hundred acres oif additional territory, by the 
immense plant owned by the Warder Bush- 
nell & Glessner Company, which is now one 
oif the largest industrial concerns in the 
country. Ex-Governor Asai S. Bushnell is tlie 
president, his senior, ]\Ir. W^arder, founder 
of the Warder Library, ha\-ing- died in 
Cairo, Egypt, se\'eral years since. lliis 
concern manufactures the Champion reap- 
ers and mowers and employs nearly two 
thousand men a large porticwi of the year. 
In 1852 William N. Whiteley, assisted by 
his brother, Amos, began the manufacture 
of the Champion machines, invented by 
William, and afterward disposed of it to 
the above named company. In 1855 '^'"'^ ^"^^^ 
P. P. Mast and the late John H. Thomas 
commenced the manufacture of grain drills. 
From tins pioneer work in water wheels, 
harvesters and grain drills has grown up a 
group O'f large concerns of various kinds, 
over one hundred and fifty in luur.ber and 
employing nearly ten thi>usand i)ersons, of 
whom not a small proprotio-n are women. 
Their products are sent each year to all jxir- 
tions of North and South .\merica, tu Eu- 



rope, Australia. South Africa and all por- 
tions of the civilized world. 

Springfield, located in the commercial 
and industrial heart of the country, holds 
high rank among the smaller cities of the 
country as a handsome, healthy, well 
ecjuipped and prosperous town, and her 
thriving Wittenberg College, its se\-eral 
departments constituting an actual univers- 
ity, its fine Springfield Sen^inary, its 
high class public schooils and pardchial 
schools; its more than half a hundred 
places for public worship of Almighty God, 
its large and prosperous Young Men's 
Christian Association, at the head o-f which 
is W. J. Frazer, one of the Ijest and strong- 
est men of his class in the country, present 
a most attractive array of institutioais, and oif 
a most useful and wholesome character. 

No city of its size in America, with forty- 
five thousand people (in 1902) has such fine 
public buildings. Of these are the unique 
and beautiful Y. M. C. A. Lmilding, the 
magriificent city ball building, emljracing 
city hall, market house, city offices, etc., over 
two hundred and sixty-five feet long, in the 
heart of the city, and opposite the fountain, 
put up by Oliver S. Kelly, pioneer manu- 
facturer, ex-mayor, and one of otu^ mpst 
honored public men, the building costing 
with its site, two hundred and twenty-five 
thousand dollars ; the Warder Library, al- 
ready alluded to, one of the most tasteful 
striMTtures in Ohio; the Federal building, a 
massive and architecturally fine building of 
stone, secured to us through the elTorts of 
Major General J. Warren Keifer when he 
was a member of Congress ; the Clark coun- 
ty coimthouse, and other fine public 
iyuildings. 

Three strong national banks are located 
in laro-e and fine liuildino's : The First in the 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



massive five-story Bushnell building; the 
Citizens in the Zimmerman annex to the 
five-story Gotwald building, of stone, and 
the Mad River and Lagonda National and 
the Savings Banks in fine buildings of their 
own. The building and loan associations 
are handsomely housed. 

The state homes of the Masons, the Odd 
Fellows and the Knights of Pythias form, 
together, a very attractive feature of the 
city and bring many visitors. Each build- 
ing has a style peculiarly its own, yet all are 
massive and beautiful and equipi^ed with 
all modem conveniences and comfoi'ts. The 
people of Springfield are very proud to 
point to the state homes as largely the prod- 
ucts of their own liberality, public spirit 
and good taste. 

Springfield's new (Mitchell-Thomas and 
Snyder) hospital is another fine building, 
with fine modern equipments. 

THE nOXORED DEAD. 

In the frcmt rank of those eminent men 
who have passed away should be placed 
Hon. Samson Mason, who died in 1869. He 
was at different times a member of both the 
Ohio senate and the house of rq:)resenta- 
lives, served four terms in Congress, and 
was a n'.ajoT general in the Ohio' militia. 
During the administration of President Mill- 
ard Fillmore he served as United States dis- 
trict attorney for Ohio. He was also a mem- 
ber of the constitutional convention 
(1850-51) that formed our present organic 
law. General ^lason was a prominent mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian church of the coun- 
tr}' and produced a profound impressinn by 
his ix>werful addresses during the sessions 
of the general assemlbly. He was \ery 



strong and influential as a public speaker 
and as a citizen. 

General Mason's son, Edward C. was a 
brilliant soldier in the Civil war, and n.ade 
a high record for bravery and skill. He 
rose rapidly in various branches of the ser- 
vice, in various jwrtions of the country, until 
he became a brigadier general in the regular 
army. 

A worth}- contemporary of General 
Mason was General Charles Anthony, who 
died in 1862. He was for several years a 
member of the Ohio legislature, and was for 
four years -United States district attorney 
for Ohio, under General Harrison. General 
Antliony was a good orator and a strong 
man of high character. 

As Generals Mason and Antlmny went 
off the stage, probably the ablest lawyer and 
statesman e\er born in this county m.ade his 
appearance in the presence of Hon. Samuel 
Shellabarger. He was born in ;\lad River 
township, Decembei- 17, 1817, and died at 
his residence in \\'ashing^on, August 7, 
1896. He was at one time a member of the 
Ohio legislature and afterwards served four 
terms in Congress. He was one of the most 
effective speakers in the country. He was 
an honest n:an ; his integrity was never 
questioned. He was a practical and al)le 
statesman. Of him in the trying "recon- 
struction" period, Mr. Blaine said, "He was 
distinguished for the logical and analytical 
character of his mind and without tlie gift 
of oratory and paying little heed to the 
graces of speech, Mr. She!lal:)arger, con- 
quered by the intrinsic strength of his ar- 
gument, which generally amounted to 
demonstrations. His mind possessed many 
of the (inalities which distinguished Mr. 
Lincoln." judge William M. Rockel, in his 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



807 



centennial address, says of him: "After 
retiring- from Congress, he removed to 
Washington for the purpose of practicing 
his profession, and was engaged in many of 
the most important matters of litigation that 
appeared in the supreme court of the United 
States. His industry and faith to duty and 
his country were crowning \-irtues. A high 
example of an able and learned Christian 
lawyer." 

George Spence was an able lauyer and, 
personally, a strong man with a host of 
friends. He was a delegate to the Charles- 
ton convention and was for a long time one 
of the "wheel horses" of the Democratic 
party. 

Judge James S. Halsey was a man of 
popular qualities, and of strict integrity. 

Thomas Kizer was a most prominent 
man in his day. He had much to^ do^ in lay- 
ing out the land in early days and was a 
strong man. He was a native of this cotmty. 

Two men had much to do in building up 
the interests of the city, and commenced the 
manufacture of grain drills in partnership, 
John H. Thomas and Phineas P. Mast, both 
reaching old age. They were the founders 
O'f the grain drill industrv^, and also' took 
a prominent part in public affairs. j\lr. 
Thomas was a Democrat, and if he had what 
was due him, he would have had a seat 
in the United States senate instead of Calvin 
S. Brice. He was a stanch PresWterian. 

Mr. Mast was prominent in religious 
afifairs as well as in business. He was for 
many years a member of the city council, 
and no' member was more faithful in the 
di.scharge of his duties in that body. He 
also held other responsilale positions. He 
was for two years president of the board of 
trade, and he and Mr. Thomas were charter 
men- hers of that bodv. ]\Ir. Thomas was 



presidart of tlie Thomas Manufacturing 
Company, and Mr. Mast, president of Mast, 
Foos & Co., the P. P. Mast & Co., the 
Springfield National Bank, and other or- 
ganizations. 

Samuel A. Bowman was an able and 
most accomplished law^yer and a most prom- 
inent citizen, taking great interest in public 
affairs. He was the founder of the Men's 
Literary Club, and was in a number o^ ways 
a factor in public nio\-ements. He was also 
the founder oi the beautiful Ferncliff cem- 
etery, one of the finest burial places in the 
the country. 

The pioneer of Springfield was James 
Danint, who miglit properly 'be called the 
"Father of the Town," laying out the town 
site. 

The celebrated Indian cluef, Tecumseli, 
was born four miles west o>f Springfield. 

No one of the men who have "gone be- 
yond the flood" is more honored in their old 
city — or more widely honored — than the late 
Benjamin Head Warder, who gave to us 
our beautiful Warder library, with its site 
and equipment. He was of a miost honored 
famil}-. Thompson Warder, of this city, 
and Dr. Warder, of Cincinnati, brothers, are 
also honored men. Benjamin was a pioneer 
mnnufacturer, the father of reaper and 
mower production in Springfield. He was 
a man of fine appearance and bearing, and of 
large and broad culture, and was one of 
nature's noblemen. His great gift to 
Springfield — the Warder library — was \'al- 
ued at over a hundred thousand dollars. He 
died a few years ago in Cairo, Egypt, 
where he went for the benefit of his health. 
Our most liberal benefactors, among 
those who have left us, are John and David 
L. Snyder, to^ whom Springfield is greatly 
indebted for the gift of 225 acres, now 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



known as Smder Park. Xo tract of ground 
coulcl have been better suited for the puqwse. 
One hundred thousand dollars was given as 
a permanent fund, the income to l>e used for 
its improvement and twenty-five thousand 
dollars was givai outright for immediate 
use. The city has made provision also for 
beautifying the tract. Snyder Park is fully 
appreciated by all classes of people, and 
frequented, in all seasons of the year. The 
giant and beautiful trees standing on the 
tract, doubtless hundreds of years old, liave 
been allowed to remain and are the most 
valued features of the tract. The park 
board has shown great taste in its work, 
its members adapting themselves, so far as 
ix>ssible, to- the tastes and desires of the 
people. 

Tt:) the gift of Ross Mitchell, a valuable 
building for hospital purposes, John H. 
Thomas added an annex, costing several 
thousand dollars, and John Snyder added a 
hundred thousand dollars as a permanent 
endowment, the income to lae used for the 
benefit of "the sick poor."' A new and fine 
hospital building has recently Ijeen built. 
The space allowed in this volume is insuffi- 
cient for mention of all the useful and einin- 
ent men who have lived and worked in this 
county for the benefit and welfare of their 
fellow men. 

William A. Rogers was one of the most 
en inent of a former generation, as a lawyer, 
a politician of the best sort, a judge, a legis- 
lator, and a journalist, but was stricken by 
death early in hi? pulilic career. Judge For- 
bert was also^ a judge and a journalist of 
repute, and John M. Gallagher left a fine rqi- 
utation as a legislator and an editor. He is 
conceded by all to have been the mosl emi- 
nent journalist Clark county has ever known. 

Among the most prominent and active 



of our manufacturers of former times was 
William Foos, connected with John W. 
Bookwalter in the firm of Leffel & Com- 
pany, and a leading banker. He was a man 
of fine personal qualities and an able finan- 
cier. He was the founder of the Church of 
Heavenly Rest. 

His younger brother. Gustavus S. Foos, 
was one of the most enterprising and ener- 
getic of our business men and manufactur- 
eis and gave his services largely to the 
puljlic. He served two terms as presiflent 
of the board of trade. Mr. Foos had won- 
derful recupeh-ative qualities and endured 
and overcam.e reverses with a remarkal)le 
degree of success. 

Of our judges, one of great ability and 
elficien.cy was Jan:es S. Goode. one of our 
early mayors. 

Judge William White is well known to 
the ijrescnt generation of our citizens. Judge 
Rockel. in his centennial address, says that 
Judge White "is justly entitled to be desig- 
nated as the greatest jurist that e\'er cam.e 
from this bar. His career is quite remarka- 
ble. " He was born in England. January 
28th, 1822, and came to this country with 
an uncle in 1831. At twelve he was ap- 
l^renticed to a cabinet maker for a temi cf 
niiic years, but after ser\-ing si.K years of 
his apprenticeship he purchased his time by 
giving his notes to his master. He was ad- 
mitted to the bar and ser\ed several terms 
as prosecuting attorney. In 1856 he was 
elected judge of the court of common pleas, 
and in 1864 he was elected judge of the su- 
pren^e court of Ohio. In 1882 he was ap- 
])ointed by President Arthur United States 
district judge for the southern district of 
Ohio, and was confirmed by the United 
States Senate, but died (in 1883) before he 
could take his seat. He was a man of very 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



S09 



popular and sterling qualities and was great- 
ly respected by his fellow citizens of all 
parties. His only son, Charles R. White, 
was chosen judge of the common pleas court 
and at the close of his term was re-elected, 
dying in 1890, in his forty-second year. He 
"was a worthy son of an illustrious father." 

John C. Miller, son of an eminent citi- 
zen. Reuben Miller, was a prominent lawyer 
and office holder, holding the position of 
judge of common pleas during the late years 
of his life. He was a very effective pub- 
lic speaker and took an active part in pub- 
lic affairs. He had many friends and ad- 
n.u'ers. and held high rank as a citizen. 
Judge Miller died September 17, 1900. 

Enoch G. Dial, who died in 1896, was a 
man of fine education and talents, and served 
for a period as protete judge. He was 
editor of the Democratic Expositor for a 
num'ber of years. He was at one time presi- 
dent of the school kept in the four-story 
building on East High street, now occupied 
by the Springfield Seminary. 

During tlie period of the Civil war John 
Bacon and John W. Baldwin were the two 
"leading citizens.'' They were both promi- 
nent bankers, and the last nam.ed was the 
leading merchant. ]\Ir. Bacon stood very 
high in public esteem as a man of stanch 
character and sound judgment. Mr. Bald- 
win showed large interest and was \tvy 
prominent in his participation of public af- 
fairs, and was very influential in his inter- 
est in behalf of the cause of the Union. 
Ranking with these gentleir.en were Henry 
and William Williamson. Their brothers, 
John and James P., were well known. The 
last named was at one time interested in the 
newspaper business. Another brother, Jack- 
son, was a graduate of W'est Pbint, and was 
an officer in the United States armv during 



the Mexican war. The women of the family 
stood high in the community. 

The most eminent of Spring-field's early 
educators were Rev. Ezra Keller, D. D., 
and Rev. Samuel Sprecher, D. D., Dr. 
Sprecher being still alive at the time this 
paper was written. Dr. Keller was the first 
president of Wittenberg College, incorpor- 
ated in 1845. He died in 1848. He ex- 
erted a profound influence upon the com- 
munity and will always be lield in affection- 
ate remembrance. 

Rev. Dr. Chandler Robbins. father of 
the present Chandler Rob'bins, was ano^ther 
eminent educator of the early days. He 
built the brick portion of the Mitchell- 
Thomas Hospital and conducted the Green- 
way Boarding- School for many years. 

The physicians of a locality always occu- 
py a high and warm place among the people. 
Men of education and refinement and usual- 
ly of varied accomplishments, their qualities 
added to their medical knowledge and skill, 
give them high rank. Dr. W. A. Needham 
is remembered by some of our older citi- 
zens. He was born in Shoreham, Vermont, 
and was therefore of Yankee blood an(\ 
training. 

Dr. Isaac Hendershott was a pron:inent 
citizen, a man of fine education and good 
literar_\- qualities and took some part in 
politics. 

Dr. Robert Rodgers was a man of fine 
education of strong, good sense and judg- 
ment and was greatly beloved, and no old 
resident of Spring-field has left behind him 
so large a family of honorable descendants. 
He was liorn in Penns}-l\-ania and was of 
Scotch-Irish descent. 

Dr. Berkley Gillett was a strong charac- 
ter and took active part in public affairs. 
He was bom in \'ermont. and came to 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Spring-Held in 1834. Of him Dr. H. H. 
Seys says, in his Centennial paper : "He 
was a man of strong personality and large 
progressive ideas, and was well and favor- 
ably known by a large constituency throiigh- 
out the county. He was identified with 
many of Springfield's early and Ijest inter- 
ests. * * * He worked with the first 
of his profession." His yoiunger brother 
Har\e_\', lived on a farm in the countiT. 
practicing his profession largely in the 
country. 

Dr. Robert Houston, who li\-ed in South 
Charleston, was eminent in his profession. 

Dr. Alexander Dunlaj) probably had more 
fame outside of the city than any other phy- 
sician. In one line of surgeiT, he was one 
of the most successful practititioners in the 
United States, and was not unknown in 
Europe. He boldly branched out, attempt- 
ing" and accomplishing results that in his day 
were considered wonderful. 

Dr. E. M. Buckingham was one of the 
finest gentlemen who ever ornamented the 
profession of medicine. He had an imixDs- 
ing jjersonal appearance, and he was a man 
of varied and many accomplishments. He 
was a good citizen and took part in public 
affairs. Dr. Seys says : "Dr. E. M. Buck- 
ingham, for more than thirt\- years, held a 
most jjrominent ix>sition -^ * * as 
a physician and a gentleman. All who knew 
him deplored his death. * * * YsX- 
uable aid was rendered by him as volunteer 
surgeon during the war of the Rebellion. 
Dr. Buckingham was of the finest type as 
a physician and a Christian gentleman." 

We cannot do better than to quote our 
Medical Historian, as to a prominent physi- 
cian, Andrew AT. McLaughlin, of Tremont: 
".\n old Doctor of the \\'illiam McClure 
type. The soul of honor, richlv endowed 
by Nature, with limited opjiortunity to ob- 



tain an education, yet he became a power in 
his day and generation. So pure was this 
diction, and because of his ix>nderous 
weiglil, among his intimate professional 
brethren, he was known as AN'ebster's Un- 
abridged;' a gentleir.an beloved and appre- 
ciated by those who know him." 

Drs. Andrew Bruce and George H. 
Bunyan were well known and greatly be- 
loved. 

It were well that we go into scjme detail 
as to pioneer Christian workers in this coun- 
ty. Mrs. Walter Smalwood was one of the 
first and chief oi these. She "was a woman 
of superior intelligence, cultivated manners 
and very active in all matters pertaining to 
the moral and social improvement of the 
little community. She became a prime 
mover and original member of what was 
called the Methodist Society of that time, 
and she continued to la'lxjr in that sphere 
until 1806. when several persons O'f this re- 
ligious affinity organized themselves into 
what should be regarded as the First 
Meth.odist church of Springfield. Whilst 
speaking of this time as one of religious 
dearth and gloom, we have occasion to note 
the life of this Christian woman, especially, 
and to regard her as a sort of morning star 
in the opening up of the religious day. She 
Avas said to have been remarkably gifted in 
prayer, and her choice words and sweet 
voice, melting in its tenderness, were fre- 
quently heard in supplication in seasons of 
social worship." So writes Dr. Isaac Kay 
in his centennial address. Surely such a 
woman's record should be made a part of 
the history of Clark county. 

Rev. Samuel Henkle was the first settled 
minister of the Methodist Episcopal church 
in Springfield. His ministerial career 
covered a period of twenty-eight years and 
he has left a mcmorv that is precious to the 



'HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



older residents of this community. In 1S27 
he edited and pubHshed a reHgiotis paper 
called "Tiie Grospel Trumpet."' He died in 
the year 1S37. 

\Vm. H. Raper was one of the most 
l>rominent of early Alethodists, and Raper 
Chapel, in Dayton, was named in his honor. 

Joshua Boucher was a strong and active 
\Vorker. 

Granville JNloody was a famous Method- 
ist preacher, in 1834, and was a stalwart, 
and, on occasions, a fighting follower of his 
Master. He was ultimately a colonel in the 
Union) army. 

Rando'lph S. Foster was at one time a 
local pastor here — of the old Columbia 
Street church, and is now an honored 
bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church. 
He is also an aitthor of high repute. 

Revs. Charles Eliott and Solomon How- 
ard were among the famous "old-timers" in 
this city. 

Rev. Dr. John F. Alarlay lived in 
Spring-field for many years and no' man of 
his profession was ever more highly belox^ed. 
He was a writer, as well as a speaker, of 
much ability. 

Rev. Ansel H. Bassett, D. D., was a 
pastor of the Methodist Protestant church, 
and was. for man}' }-ears editi^r of the 
Methodist Recorder. Rew Alexander Clark, 
and able and brilliant gentleman, was also, 
for a i>eriod, editor oi the same paper, as 
also was Rev. Dr. Scott. Rev. George 
Brown, D. D.. was an alile pastor of the 
same denomination. 

All who remember Rev. Joseph Clokey, 
D. D'., will recall his career with real affec- 
tion. His long period O'f efficient service as 
pastor O'f the United Presbyterian church, 
and as a Christian worker, place him in 
the front rank of Springfield's clergymen. 

Rev. John S. Galloway was among the 



most noted of the early Presbyterian pastors 
oif this city, and his memory is recalled with 
pleasure. 

Rev. Dr. X. C. Burt seiwed in the Pres- 
byterian church with eminent aljility, and 
afterward went tO' Baltimore; thence to 
France. Rev. Dr. \\'illiam F. Findlay, an- 
other Presbyterian pastor, was a n.an of 
marked ability and much eminence as a 
Christian worker. The same was true of 
Rev. Dr. W. J. McKnight, and of Rev. 
Alexander Proudfit, who died here, highly 
honored and warmly loved. 

Revs. Professors Fred W. and Victor L. 
Conrad were preachers and editors here of 
early days, and were men of great ability 
as well as piety. 

Father Thisse was eminent as pastor of 
St. I^aphael Catholic church. 

Rev. James C. White was the first pastor 
of the Congregational church here, and was 
a man of sterling qualities and marked abil- 
ity. The ablest of his successors was Rev. 
A. Hastings Ross, D. D., one of the strong- 
et men, as a preacher and an author, in the 
Congregational body of the United States. 
No man ever imade a more favorable record 
as a Christian worker than one of his suc- 
cessors. Rev. \Vm. H. Warren, still living. 

One of our most eminent clergymen was 
Thomas A. Morris, bishop of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, who died here. He was a 
man of national fame — uni\-ersally loved. 

Miss Eunice Strong was certainly a 
prominent and efficient educatoir. holding 
\ery high rank in her profession. Many of 
lier old pupils still live to bless her n.emory. 

Rev. James L. Rodgers, connected for 
several years with the Springfield Female 
Seminary, was a man of high character and 
very popular qualities. 

Henry Rodgers. a son of Judge Wni. A. 
Rodgers, was a brilliant young gentleman. 



8l2 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



and was an esteeiiied instructor in Ixjth W'it- 
lenberg College and tiie higli school. He 
and his young wife were killed in the 
famous railroad catastrophe at Aslitabula. 

A distinct and robust figure in the com- 
munity was Colonel Edward il. Doty, of 
the One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio 
Regiment in the Civil war, but he was better 
knuwn as a business man and as a Christian 
worker in a long life of active effort in be- 
half of the highest interests of his fellow 
men. He was an effective public speaker 
and was prominent in Sunday-school and 
clinrch work. 

CL.VRK COUXTY AND TOWNSHIP. 

Clark county was originally a part of 
Champaign county, but by an act o' the 
legislature passed on December 5, 181 7. it 
was constituted a county by itself. Its ter- 
ritory is twenty-nine miles long from east 
to west, and alxAit scA-enteen miles broad, 
containing four hundred and twelve square 
miles. It has ten townships, namely : Pike, 
German. Moorefield and Pleasant bordering 
on the north line ; Springfield located in the 
caiter; Harmony on the east. Bethel in the 
southwest corner, and Mad Rivei", Green 
and Madison on the south. Tlie county was 
named in honor of the famoiis re\-olutionaiy 
general, George Rodgers Clark, who was 
born in Albemarle, Virginia, November 19. 
1752, and who, on August 8, 1780, gained 
a signal victory over the Shawnee Indians, 
led In- Simeon Girty, at New Boston, the 
old Indian town of Piqua, and the birth- 
place of the celebrated Indian chief, Tecum.- 
seh. The historic spot lies five miles west 
of Springfield. General Clark had one thou- 
sand men and one six-pounder cannon, and 
was guided to the spot by the famous Ken- 
tucky pioneer. Daniel Boone. 



•On [Monday, August 9, 1880, the cen- 
tennial anniversary of this battle was ob- 
served with appropriate ceremonies and a 
sham battle, ajid appropiiate and eloquent 
addresses were delivered by the Hon. 
Charles Foster, at that time Governor of 
Ohio, General Wra. H. Gibson, and General 
J. Warren Keifer. The celebration was on 
tlie spot where the battle was fought. Many 
thousands of people were present. 

The township of Springfield is six miles 
wide from north to south, with an average 
length of about eight and one-half miles, and 
has an era of about 32,450 acres. It was 
organized on the 2d day of June, 1818. 
On the 7th day of April, 1805, Robert 
Rcnick and Jonathan Donnell were elected 
the first justices of the peace, and the first 
electiim of township officers was held on the 
6th day of April, 1818. 

Lagonda, now a portion of the city of 
Springfield, was founded by one of Ohio's 
Kiiost famous pioneers, Simon Kenton, in 
the year 1799 or 1800. Kenton built a log 
grist mill here at about that time on a por- 
tion of the site now occupied by the immense 
reaper and mower plant owned by the War- 
der, Bushnell & Glessner Company. Spring- 
field township is agriculturalh' rich and 
al>;unds in vast deposits of lim.estone, from 
which famous white lime is protluced. The 
lime kilns extend west of the city for five 
niles and the territor}- from the city is well 
l)uilt u]). trolley lines extending from the 
city to the suburbs. 

Hie township of Harmony was organ- 
ized on the 2d day of June. 1818. It has 
fi\e small villages — ^^'iseman, near the west 
line, \^ienna Cross Roads and Brighton in 
the northwest comer, Plattsburg near tlie 
center and Lislx>n near the southern lx>rder. 
The Columbus. London and Springfield 
Suburban Railway line has added largely to 



"HE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



813 



the growth and importance of Wiseman, 
Vienna Cross Roads and Brighton. 

\Vm. Coffey built the first cabin in Pleas- 
ant township in May. 1803. William Hunt 
built the first grist mill in 1819, and Na- 
thaniel Cartmell built another in 1822. 

Mooreoeld township was first settled in 
1799 by Simon Kenton and his party from 
Kentucky, was organized in June, 18 18, and 
abounds in fine scenery and rich bottom 
lands in the vicinity of the hills. New 
Moorefield is the township's only village. The 
Marysville branch of the Big Four Railway 
passed through this village. 

German township was organized in 181 8. 
Its villages are Tremoot City, Noblesville, 
Lawrenceville, and Eagle City. Jacob Kib- 
linger built the first sa\\- and hemp mill in 
1806. In this year the people of the town- 
ship had some trouble with the Indians, and 
finall)' made a treaty with them. Tecumseh 
being one of the negotiators. The Detroit 
Southern Railroad has a station at Tremont 
City and the Dayton, Springfield and Ur- 
bana Suburban line passes a mile distant. 

Pike township was organized in 181 8. 
Andrew and Samuel Black were the first 
settlers, in 1805. North Hampton and 
Dialton are the two villages of the township. 

Bethel township is believed to l>e the 
home of the first white man that settled in 
the Miami valley, north of Cincinnati. The 
first school] was built in 1805. The township 
has three villages, New Carlisle, Medway 
and Donnelsville. The Peoria division of 
the Big Four Railroad passed through New 
Carlisle ; also- the Springfield and Southwest- 
ern trolle}- line. The Da}-ton. Springfield and 
Urbana road passes through Medway. and 
the Spring-field and Southwestern passes from 
the village westward. A large power house 
and car barn is located in Medway and Te- 
cumseh Park is a famous feature of the vil- 



lage, which is in proving rapidly. New Car- 
lisle is a beautiful village. It has a fine public 
schoo'lhouse, a newspaper, the Sun. and sev- 
eral mills and factories. It lies in the rich 
valley of Honey creek. The township has 
a high school at Forgy. on the Big Four 
railway. The township yields abundantly 
oif wheat, corn, potatoes and tobacco. 

Mad River's first settler was James Gal- 
loway, who arrived in 1798. JosqMi and 
Robert Layton came in 1801. William Don- 
nell built the first tavern in 181 2. The 
second w-as built of rough stoaie by Franklin 
Cook in 1836. Enon is the only village in 
the township, and the main line of the Big 
Four Railroad passes through it. 

Green township was organized in 181 8. 
Pitchin, Clifton and Coatesville are its vil- 
lages. Tlie Little Miami river passes 
through very picturesque scenery in Clif- 
ton, wdiich village is soon to have a trolley 
line. O. Davis built the first grist mill, 
oai the Little Miami river at Clifton. The 
Inloiws, Stew-arLs, Garloughs, Elders, Todds 
and Alb'ins were the first settlers. 

]\Iadison township was formerly a part 
O'f Madison county, and it was organized on 
April 25, 1818. South Charleston, a beau- 
tiful and prosperous town, has a fine hotel, 
a town hall, good public schools,, churches 
and business houses, and a newspaper, the 
Sentinel, that worthily represents the tOAvn. 

The people of the city and township are 
of good stock, descendants of early emi- 
grants fromj Pennsylvania, Maryland, Vir- 
ginia and Kentucky, and from states farther 
north and east. Many are of Strotch-Irish, 
Scoitch, English, German and Irish blood. 
Few regions of the country can boast of a 
more intelligent and virtuous and progres- 
sive people than th(jse who live in Clark 
county. 

.Supplementing the de\-eliipment of this 



814 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



pintion of tlie county are the Cleveland, Co- 
lumbus, Cincinnati & St. L<juis Railroad, 
running from Cleveland to Cincinnati, with 
tliree branches, from Spring-field to Sandus- 
ky, to Alarysville and to Peoria; and the 
Pennsylvania, the Erie, and the Detroit 
Southern road ( from Detroit to the Ohio 
river). .\ further development has been 
wrought l)y the Daytou, Springfield & Ur- 
bana, the Columbus, London & Springfield, 
and other suburban lines that ha\e greatly 
increased the suburban population, and vir- 
tualh^ united the city and country towns, 
giving each mutual advantages. 

The first public institutions organized 
were schools for the children. Then fol- 
lowed Christian churches, which were built 
in the city and all the townships, and the 
plain, earnest and faithful ministrations of 
the pioneer preachers and pastors laid the 
foundation not alone of public morals, but 
of their legitimate fruit — good citizenship. 
The schotils also were the sources of good 
morals, ixiblic virtue and integrity, and with 
the churches were the promoters of literal- 
ity, patriotism and progressiveness. Then 
followed' closely another great soairce of en- 
lightenment and promoter of progress — the 
newspaper. Tlie Farmer n-.ade its api^ear- 
ance in 1S17, and has made its appearance 
under several names until the present time, 
now api^earing daily as \\ell as weekly under 
the st\le of the Ptess-Republic. In due time 
the Daily Gazette and the Daily Democrat 
cane next, and are still published. All of 
these papers are "set up" by machiner\- and 
print regular telegraphic dispatches. The 
Daily Sun is now in its eighth year. The 
Gennan element is represented by the Jour- 
nal Adler. Springfield has grown to I)e a 
great publishing and literary center. On 
Octolier I, 1877, was first priiitetl a semi- 
UMinthlv journal entitled "Fann and Fire- 



side," by Mast, Crowell & Kirkpatrick. the 
same journal now being published by the 
Crowell Publishing Company. In 18&5 the 
CroAvell & Kirkpatrick Company com- 
menced the publication of an illustrated 
monthly periodical of great beauty and ex- 
cellence, now known as the "Woman's Home 
Companion,'" which periodical has met with 
an extraordinary degree of success, and has 
reached a circulation of nearly half a million 
copies; the "Farm and Fireside" reaching 
over three hundred thousand. The Crowell 
Company has one of the most extensive and 
beautiful plants and one of tlie Ijest equipped 
printing and publishing concerns in the 
world. "Home and Flowers," a monthly 
magazine, made its first appearance in 1897, 
and has already reached a circulation of 
about 200,000. The Floral Publishing 
Company, which issues "Home and Flow- 
ers," and of which D. J. Thomas is at the 
head, prints "Pets and Animals" and the 
"Home Florist" and the "Chautauquan," a 
magazine of great excellence, first issued by 
the Chautauqua Assembly people, and hav- 
ing a world-wide reputation and fame. 
"Farm News" and the "Fann and Garden- 
er" also have large circulations. The "Na- 
tional New Era"' should be added to this 
list. .\ny intelligent person who will inves- 
tigate, if it were possible to do so success- 
fully, the extent to which the millioils of is- 
sues each month reach the people of various 
classes throughout the land, would be aston- 
ished at the result of their work. No city 
in the world of the size of Springfield can 
show so grxid and famous a record in these 
lines as she. Then her group of fine first 
class printing establishments rank with her 
hundreds of immense manufacturing estab- 
lishments in dimensions and excellence. 

This record would be grossly incomplete 
witlio>it n ention of the prompt patriotism 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



shown b}- our citizens in various ways, but 
chiefly in tlie large number of ndble and 
brave men who volunteered, when called 
upon by President Lincoln, to maintain the 
union of these states and defend the flag 
of our common country. The Springfield 
Zouaves, under Captain Edward C. Mason 
(afterward Brigadier Gaieral U. S. A.), or- 
ganized Septemljer loth, i860, was the first 
company in Ohio to offer its services to the 
government on the attack on Fort Sumter. 
Tlie company left for the seat of war April 
17, 1861. Company D, of the Third Ohio 
Infantry, J. C. Vananda,, captain, was mus- 
tered into the United States service on the 
i6th of April at Columbus and was sworn 
in for three years" service on the 3rd of 
May, with General J. Warren Kiefer as ma- 
jor, and Dr. Henry H. Seys was sworn in 
as assistant surgeon, afterward through var- 
ious promotions, becoming successively med- 
ical director in the Fourteenth Corps and 
medical inspectors. Army of the Cumberland. 
Company E, of the Sixteenth Ohio Infantry, 
Captain Philip Kershner. entered the serv- 
ice on the 23rd of April. Henry C. Hawk- 
ins' band joined the company at Columbus, 
and afterward made a grand musical record 
in Virginia Valleys. Company C, First Ken- 
tucky Infantr}-, Ralph Hunt captain, was 
organized at Springfield in April. Tweh'C 
Springfield men, commanded by Lieutenant 
William H. Kauffman, joined the Fifty- 
second Ohio. The Sixteenth Ohio' Battery 
was organized August 20th, 1861. James 
A. Mitchell, in honor of whom Mitchell 
•Post, G. A. R.. was named, was the captain. 
Williaml- H. ^^'ade, afterward member of 
congress for se^^eral terms, was the captain 
of Company K. of the Thirty-first Ohio, or- 
ganized in Camp Chase, at Columbus, in 
August, 1 86 1. 

The local event of the Civil war was 



the creating and organizing of the Fort}'- 
fourth Regiment of Infantry in the Clark 
county fair grounds, Springfield, in the sum- 
mer and autumn of 1861. It left for the 
front amid enthusiastic demonstrations of 
our people on the 14th of October. In 1864 
the regin:ent became the Eighth Ohio Cav- 
alry ; Hugh Blair Wilson was the lieutenant 
colonel. Colonel Israel Stough was captain 
of Company A. He became colonel of the 
One Hundred and Fifty-third Ohio in 1864. 
August Dotze was captain of Company H, 
and was promoted to be major of the Eighth 
Cavalry soon afterward. Wilbur H. Cum- 
mings was captain of Company I. Irving 
Halse}' was captain of Company C, O'f the 
Fifth Ohio; Thomas P. Clarke, of Company 

A, of the Ele\-enth. Richard L. Parker was 
captain of Company E, of the Sixtieth Ohio. 
James Jardine was captain of Conipanv F, 
of the Fifty-fourth. 

Thirty-seven Clark county men were in 
the Fifty-eighth Ohio. 

Colonel Rodney Masoni comm.anded tlic 
Seventy-first Ohio, wliich had a Clark coun- 
ty company. 

Captain Ambrose ^\. Blount commanded 
the Tenth Ohio P.cittery. 

Nineteen Clark coimty men were in the 
Seventy-fourth Ohio Regiment of Infantry 
and Colonel Howard D. John, of Company 

B, joined the Eighty-sixth Obio, which went 
to the front June irth, 1862. 

Captain Perry Stewart's Companv A 
went to the front with the Forty-fourth In- 
fantry, as did Captain N. M. McConkey's 
Compan}\ 

Captain Ambrose A. Blount's Sixteenth 
Ohio Battery was mustered into service on 
the 21st of August, 1862. 

Twenty-two Springfield men ser\-ed in 
the Forty-fifth Ohio. 

In September, 1862, several hundred 



Si6 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Clark county men went to Cincinnati, under 
comn:and of Captain Luther Brown, to de- 
fend the city from Kirby Smith's Confeder- 
ate raiders, a large force coming- within sight 
of our breastworks. These citizen soldiers 
are known in history as "Squirrel Hunters." 

General J. Warren Kiefer was the com- 
mander of the One Hundred and Tenth Ohio 
Infantry. Captain Brown commanded Com- 
pany I. anti Rev. Nathan S. Sn-ith Company 
C, of that regiment. 

Captain Richard Mountjoy was in com- 
mand of Company C, One Hundred and 
Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry. 

Company K, of the First Ohio Heavy 
Artillery, was from Clark cormty. 

The Thirty-fifth Battalion was organized 
in 1863 for "home protection," with Israel 
Stough as colonel, Edward M. Doty as lieu- 
tenant colonel, and Thomas W. Bown as m.a- 
jor, but was finally divided, three com|xinies 
going into the One Hundred and Forty- 
sixth Regiment, two into the One Hundred 
and Fifty-second, and two into the One 
Hundred and Fifty-third. Captain Alfred 
Miller's company became Company D in 
the One Hundred and Forty-sixth ; Captain 
Alfred Bown's company joined the One 
Hundred and Forty-sixth. 

General Asa S. Bushnell's company be- 
came Company E, and Captain Charles A. 
Welch's company Company K. of the One 
Hundred and Fifty-second. Of this com- 
pany the late Benjamin Head Warder, who 
gave the Warder librarj' building, with the 
ground it occupies, to the city of Springfield, 
who died in Cairo, Egypt, was first lieuten- 
ant. Captain A. S. Bushnell, his partner, 
was afterward governor of Ohio for two 
terms. 

Captain J. L. McKinney's men went as 
Comi)any E, and Captain Harrison Cross' 



men as Company F, in the One Hundred 
and Fifty-third. 

Company K. composed of Clark county 
mai, joined in the One Hundred and Sixty- 
eighth Ohio. Clark county men also joined 
the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth, and a 
portion tire One Hundred and Xinety- 
sixth. 

John X. \Vorthington was the leader of 
the Thirteenth Missouri's band, and had a 
number of Clark county men with him. 

Clark county was honorably represented 
in Ohio militar}^ organizations and in the 
regular army and navy. Reed Worden be- 
came a rear admiral, as also did Josqih N. 
Miller, now living. Both of these men ren- 
dered distinguished service to their country. 

After the war the Champion City Guard, 
the Bushnell Guard and a well equipjjed bat- 
tery were formed, the larger portion of 
whom responded promptly to the call for 
tro<:)ps to relieve Cuba and Porto Rico from 
the oppression of the Spaniards, and quite 
a number went to the Piiilippines. General 
J. Warren Keiter went to the front as a 
major general. 

X'ot less than three thousand n-,en in all 
represented Clark county in the Union army, 
^lany fell in the field or died in the hos- 
pitals, and the fine bronze figure of a soldier 
standing in Monument Square was raised in 
their honor. 

In connection with these hundreds of no- 
ble men and women were almost continu- 
ously engaged in gathering hospital supplies 
and forwarding them to the front. Tliese 
deserve honorable mention. But it wmild 
require many large volumes to do justice in 
detail to the soldiers and citizens of Clark 
comity. The restored and enlarged Union 
an<l its large acquisitions over which the 
"starrv fias"" now waves, and will hence- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



817 



forth wave over a united people as an em- 
blem of its integrity and greatness, are the 
fruits of the valor and strength of the Amer- 
ican people, of whom the citizens of "old 
Clark" are an honorable part. 



SPRINGFIELD. OHIO, IN 1903. 

The recent development of the city of 
Springfield, Ohio, in all lines of improvement 
during the past three or four years 
while is quit^ remarkable, it may cor- 
respond ^\•ith the develoimient of many 
American cities, in an era of general pros- 
perity, it is still, for completeness in vari- 
ous respects excelled by few other cities. 
In the first place the cit\- building, embrac- 
ing first the splendid market house, the finest 
in the great state of Ohio, the city hall and 
ofiilces, the council chamber, armorj- hall, 
etc., built a few years ago, on ground con- 
demned and vacated, by the city authorities 
at a cost of $225,000, a massive, commo- 
dious and beautiful structure, extending 
from Fountain Square westward to Caiter, 
is a structure that would be an honor to 
any city in the land. It is the ofi^cial cen- 
ter oif the city, and the city market, on the 
first floor, 165 feet long, with tile floor, mar- 
ble counters, electric lights, and all modern 
features and con\-eniences, is not only a mar- 
ket place, generously supplied with the home 
products, fruits from all countries, but a 
favorite place of social resort, where citi- 
zens of all classes meet in the closest of 
friendly relations ; women with capacious 
market baskets come in fine coaches, driven 
by liveried coachmen, with less pretentious 
carriages and people on foot, throng the 
market, especially on Saturday evenings, 



when the adjoining Fountain space and the 
center of the city for several squares are 
crowded with workingmen and others, out 
for their table supplies for Sunday, and they 
evidently find what they need and desire, 
going homeward at a late hour with satis- 
fied faces and hearts. 

As a work of art, architecturally, the 
Warder library building, surpasses the city 
building. It is a "thing of beauty," and will 
be a "joy" so long as it stands, which will 
probably be for hundreds of years. It is one 
of the Huntington style of buildings and is 
a classic in stone. It is a moaiument to^ the 
taste and liberality of the late Benjam.in 
Head W'arder, who was one of Springfield's 
great manufacturers, philanthropists and 
citizens. The gromul on which it stands is a 
spacious, well kept lawn and in front is a 
piece of fine statuary, brought from- Berlin. 
One passing the building !likes always to 
lake a ''long, lingering look." A model of 
taste and beauty, the spectator, if a man 
or woman of refinement, ne\'er tires. Its 
gro'wing collection oif books is increased con- 
tinually by the city authorities, and is care- 
fully selected by the trustees, so' that it is 
well worthy of the palace that -contains them. 

On the opposite side of the street stands 
another classic in a different style — the La- 
gonda Club house, also an architectural or- 
nament to the city, and also a feature of 
utility. 

On the same side of the street, farther 
along, stands the Federal building, secured 
to the city through the efforts of our form- 
er congressman, ex-speaker of the house of 
representatives, Major General J. W'arren 
Keifer. It is a massive stone building in 
good taste, but its accomm.odations are re- 
stricted by the growing needs of the local 
postoffice department. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



Our fine courthouse and its companion 
structure, recently constructed, on the square 
south for county offices are most creditable 
in appearance, and models of convenience. 
In the coiu'thouse are fine portraits in oil 
by Mr. S. J. Uhl of General George Rodgers 
Clark, who aided the opening of northwest- 
ern Ohio and Indiana to settlemait and per- 
manent occupation. Tlie general courtroom 
has also a strong portrait in oil of the late 
General Samson Mason ly\- Uhl. General 
Mason was oaie of the ablest of our law- 
yers and statesmen and the placing of his 
portrait in the courthouse was most appro- 
priate. The new building is quite as orna- 
mental as the older one. The northeast por- 
tion of the county property — Monument 
Square — has in its center the fine bronze 
monument to the dead soldiers of Clark 
county, heroes of the Civil war. The grounds 
of the several county buildings are beauti- 
fully laid' out with flowers and foliage plants 
and are the source of much pleasure to 
passers-by. 

The Alitchell-Thon^as hospital, erected 
on the Sharpe property, 1903, is an evolu- 
tion. First, Air. Ross Mitchell gave the 
three-story building formerly O'W ned and oc- 
cupied by the late Rev. Chandler Robbins as 
the Green\vay Boarding School, formerly 
famous as a boys' school, for hospital pur- 
poses; then the late John H. Thomas built 
an addition and the institution became 
known as the Mitchell-Thomas Hospital. 
Ultim.ately the late John Snyder left a mill- 
ion dollars to be used for hospital purposes, 
and the present structure now crowns the 
Ijeautiful hill on which the late Judge Will- 
iam A. RcKlgers built a residence, one of the 
prominent features of its day. Afterward, 
for many jears, it was owned and occupied 
by the late Thomas Sharpe. It is now, in 
its completed state, a worthy member of 



Springfield's group of Iieautiful public build- 
ings and no one of tliem is devoted to a 
more humane or worthy purixise. 

One of the most jxipular and useful of 
our local institutions is the Yotmg Men's 
Christian Association, housed in a unique 
and most beautiful building. That is to say, 
it is unlike any other structure in its Dutch 
style of architecture, and complete in all its 
appointments. Its auditorium is ample in 
its provisions for the comfort of the peo- 
ple, and every occupant has a seat that en- 
ables him (or her) to see or to hear all 
that is to be seen or be heard. 



THE FRAXKEXSTEIXS. 

A most remarkable and interesting fam.- 
ily was the Frankensteins. They came from 
(iermany tO' Cincinnati many years ago and 
lived and died in this city. They were born 
artists, and self taught at that. John, the 
eldest, was a sculptor of great merit. He 
spent much tin.e in New York. He brought 
out, in marble, the celebrated ex-governor 
and ex-secretary of state. Hon. \\'illiam H. 
SeAvard, and several other distinguished 
gaitlemen. He occupied for a while a posi- 
tion on Governor Seward's military staff. 

Godfrey X. Frankenstein was a gentle- 
man of eminent literar)- ability aixla land- 
scape painter of original qualities and great 
ability. His work may be seen in the La- 
gonda Club rooms and in the private houses 
of Hon. John Foos, C. I\I. Xichols and other 
citizens, and it is doubtful whether any finer 
landscapes can be found in the country. 
Godfrey kept "near to Xalure's heart." His 
coloring was very fine — really remarkable. 
His panorama of Xiag-ara was indeed quite 
famous; an immense piece of canvas that 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



was exhibited to the deUght of all who saw 
it, in varioius cities of the country. Godfrey 
spent much time abroiad and painted some 
Alpine views oif great merit. 

George L. Frankenstein lived in Spring- 
held many }-ears, and then went to New 
York. He was, for a series of years, editor 
of the Sandusky Daily Register, and after- 
ward became a theatrical critic in New York 
on the Turf, Field and Farm, and also 
painted landscape pictures of high merit in 
addition. 

Gustavus S. Frankenstein, the youngest 
brother, resided in Spring-field, finally dying 
in Cincinnati. He was a jiian of genius in 
various lines. He was a fine painter, his 
work on seacoast, marine \-iews, attracting 
mluch attention. He was really a great 
mathematician, and also an author of some 
fame. 

Eliza Frankenstein was alsoi a painter oif 
decided merit and a lady of culture and re- 
finement. Her younger sister was also' a 
painter. 



GEORGE WALLACE. 

George Wallace was a prominent pioneer 
citizen. He was a railroad builder and con- 
tractor and constructed the I\Iad River Rail- 
road, nmv the Springfield & Sandusky 
branch of the Big Four system of roads. 
He was a man of high character. He was a 
native oif Scotland. 



DAVID THATCHER. 

David Thatcher came- to Springfield 
from Cincinnati and was a gentleman of a 
large degree of pulilic spirit. He was \-ery 



prominent in the movement to build the 
original "Lagonda House" hotel, which was 
afterward burned, and the site of which is 
occupied by the Bookwalter Hotel. He was 
a gentleman of veiy popular qualities. ]\lrs. 
Thatcher is now living. 



PETER A. SCHINDLER. 

A man oif great and wide influence for 
good in many Avays was Peter A. Schindler. 
He built up the great English Lutheran 
Sunday-school until it had oi\'er one thou- 
sand pupils and teachers. He ,was an old- 
fashioned singer, with a strong voice and 
stirring enthusiasm: Mr. Schindler was 
born on a farm near Middletown, ALaryland, 
October 15, 1S20. His father, Jobn Schind- 
ler, was born in Germany, in 1790, and died 
in this city, as did his son, at a good old 
age. John Schindler's father and mother 
died on the ocean trip and were buried at 
sea. John was the only survivor of the 
passengers, but found his way to the linme 
of an uncle, in Frederick county, Maryland. 
He left Ma.ryland for Ohio in 1852. Peter 
A. Schindler at an early age evinced much 
musical genius. In October, 1850, Peter also 
came to Ohio, teaching \'ocal music in the 
city and county. After spending a few years 
in the furniture trade, Mr. Schindler en- 
gaged in the manufacture of white (a ^Nlil- 
waukee) brick, in the western part of the 
city near the Erie passenger station. A fine 
large block constructed of this style of brick 
may still be seen, in good condition, at Ely- 
lia, Ohio. Afterward he went into the un- 
dertaking business with his son. In 1852 
Mr. Schindler was married tO' his second 
wife, the widow of Rev. Dr. Ezra Keller, 
the first president and fountler of \^'itten- 



820 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



l)crg College. In October, 1889, lie mar- 
ried a third wife, Mrs. Elizal>eth Martin, 
who died Febriiar>- 17, 1890. 



IIOX. DOUGLAS W. RAWLIXGS. 

Hon. Douglas W. Rawlings figured 
largely in the ix)litical affairs of Clark and 
adjoining counties. He was first a member 
of the Ohio house of representatives and aft- 
erward of the senate. He was the principal 
author of what was called the Rjawlings bill. 

^Ix. Rawlings was a veteran soldier in 
the Civil war and served under General But- 
ler along the James and Appomattox rivers. 
He was a gentleman of high personal quali- 
ties and of decided ability. His wife and 
several children survive him. 



WILLIAM R. SMITH. 

William R. Smith was one of Spring- 
field's pioneer railroad men. He was asso- 
ciated with George Wallace in railroad 
building. He was born in the city of Glas- 
gow in 1829. He came to Brockville, Can- 
ada, at an early age and joined a surveying 
expedition and assisted in making a prelim- 
inary survey through the northern portion 
of the states of Xew York and Pennnsyl- 
vania of the Buffalo & State Line Railroad, 
now the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern. 
Mr. Smith afterward entered the employ of 
the Mad River Railroad Company at San- 
duskv. under the direction of Mr. Wallace. 
In Octolier. 185 1, he came to Sprin<gfield 
and became connected with the construction 
dq»rtment of the lines l>etween Springfield 
and Delaware and Springfield and Loudon. 



In the summer of 1854 he visited his native 
land, Scotland. Returning to Springfield, he 
soon l>ecame ticket agent of what was then 
the Mad Ri\er & Lake Erie Railroad Com- 
pany at this point and later took the agency 
, of the Springfield & Delaware road. He af- 
terward becan.e connected with the Little 
Miami road. In 1881 Mr. Smith entered the 
employ of the Springfield Water Works 
Company, and ultimately became secretary 
and superintendent, a post which he filled for 
many years with great fidelity to his duties 
and with great acceptance to the general 
public. 



THO.MAS SHARP. 

Thomas Sharp was born in Cincinnati, 
.\pril j8. 1S14. His father, who was ])orn 
in Holland, carried the name of Sharpen- 
stein. The son n.oved from Cincinnati to 
Springfield and became a pron.inent figure 
in social and business circles. He was orig- 
inally in the retail and wholesale trade, in 
Cincinnati. Visiting Springfield, he was 
attracted by what is now called the Sharp 
proi:)erty on Clifton street, built by the late 
Judge William A. Rodgers. and purchased it. 
ll is the property now occupied by the 
Mitchell-'Ihomas Hospital, a fine architec- 
tural ornament to the city and a useful in- 
stitution. Mr. Sharp was a lil>eral memljer 
of the High street Methodist Episcopal 



ROBERT C. WOODWARD. 

Ivibert C. Woodward was chiefly known 
as the librarian of the Warder public library-, 
which position he occupied for many years. 
He was born in Springfield. June 3, 1829. 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



He was the son of Jacob- S. Woodward and 
Sarah Christie. His father died when he 
was only three months old, but as his mother 
was a capable and ver)^ intelligent Christian 
woman, he was thoroughly and properly 
trained. He was given a good education 
and became a writer of much merit. He was 
at one time a compositor in the Republic 
concern and afterward a news foreman. 
Still later he acquired a commercial educa- 
tion and became a stenographer. He was 
marrietl twice. He was a bookseller in this 
city and at Lima, Ohio'. As a librarian he 
showed an intelligent conception of his 
work and kept abreast of the times. 



JOHN LUDLOW. 



erick, who resides in California; and Charles 
Ludlow", of this city. He was for fourteen 
years treasurer of the Clark County Bible 
Society. For over forty years he was a 
prominent and ei^cient member oi Christ 
Episcopal church. His ,wife was also a con- 
sistart and useful m.ember. 

Mr. Ludlow was one of the projectors of 
the beautiful and matchless Ferncliff ceme- 
tery, was one of its first directors and was 
for man}- years president of the cemetery as- 
sociation. He was noted for his liberality 
and public spirit and has ever been foremost 
in using his means for the development of 
the business interests of the city. He was a 
gentleman of popular c]ualities antl it is not 
known that he CA-er had an eiiemv. 



John Ludlo'W was one of the most useful 
and honored citizens that ever lived in Clark 
county. He was much interested in its his- 
tory, growth and prosperity. His father, 
Cooper Ludlow, was born in New Jerse}-, 
June nth. 1783. John Ludlow was lx>rn 
in this (Clark) county December S, 1810, 
and he gained his education in one of the 
primitive log schoolhouses. He was, how- 
ever, a man superior to his surroundings 
and developed into a strong nian. On reach- 
ing maturity he chose the profession of a 
druggist. He acquired a pharmaceutical 
education in Cincinnati. After several 
changes he became the sole proprietor of the 
pioneer drug store. In 1851 he was elected 
a director of the Springfield Bank and upon 
the death of Judge Oliver Clark became its 
president, filling the; position with honor for 
n:any years. Mr. Ludlow was married Au- 
gust 31st, 1835, to Miss Elmina Getman, of 
Herkimer count}'. New York, and Mr. and 
Mrs. Ludlow had three children : Ellen, 
wife of ex-Governor Asa S. Bushnell, Fred- 



THOMAS BIDWELL FEET. 

Thomas Bidwell Peet was born in Che- 
nango county. New Ytirk. He came direct 
to Ohio and then went to Illinois. Jasper 
W., the father oif Thon:as B., was a business 
man, and first carried on a stove store, and 
afterward a book store, at an early day in 
this cit)'. He died here at about the age 
of seventy-fi\'e years. He had twO' sons, 
Thomas B. and Lucius W. The last named 
died in 187G. Thoanas B. fo'llowed his fa- 
ther in the stove and tin business and ulti- 
mately became a jsartner of C. A. Schuester, 
under the style The Peet & Schuester Com- 
pany. Mr. Peet married Angeline Ray- 
mond, of Chenang-o county. New York, and 
had two daughters, Mrs. Sarah Kershner, 
who died in Colorado, and Mrs. Florence 
M. Raymond, of Los Angeles, California. 

Thomas B. brought Mr. Schuester here 
froin Buffalo and employed him in the stove 
and tinware l.nisiness and the concern was 



822 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



built up to large praix>rtions by the two 
gentlemen. Mr. Peet finallj-, on account of 
ill health, spent soine years in California, 
where he died in 1894. 

\\'hen Thomas B. and his father were 
associated in business they erected the build- 
ing at Xo. 28 South Fountain avenue and 
occupied it from that time. He was always 
an upright business man. At an earlier per- 
iod he was employed by the James Leflfel 
Company as Ixxikkeeper. He was well edu- 
cated. He was a man of domestic habits 
and never sought any prominence, giving 
his whole attention to carrying on and build- 
ing up the interests of his concern. He stood 
high in the business community and had 
the confidence of all. 



WALTER L. WEAVER. 

Walter L. Wea\er, was Ixirn in Mont- 
gon-.ery county, Ohio, April i, 185 1, apd 
was the youngest child of Rev. John S., and 
Amanda Hurin Weaver. His father was a 
prominent minister of the Presbyterian 
church. His mother was a^ daughter of Silas 
Hurin, one of the founders of the town of 
Lebanon, Ohio. He was educated in the 
public schools, Monroe Academy, and A\it- 
tenberg College, graduating from the latter 
institution iii 1870. He immediately began 
the study of the law in the office of Major 
General J. Warren Keifer, and maintained 
himself . while so engaged by newspaper 
work for the Daily Advertiser and' Daily 
Republic. He was admitted to the bar by 
the Supreme Court of his native state, in 
the spring of 1872, since which tim.e he has 
continuously practiced his profession. He 
was elected prosecuting attorney for Qark 
county, Ohio, in 1874, and again elected to 
the same "ffice in 1880, 7882. and 188;. He 



was elected to the Fifty-fifth congress and 
re-elected to the Fifty-sixth congress. At 
the expiration of his second term he returned 
to .Springfield, which has been his home 
since 1865. On the first day of July, 1902, 
he was appointed by President Roosevelt As- 
sociate Justice of the Choctaw and Chicka- 
saw citizenship court, his appointment was 
confinned on the same day it w as m.ade, and 
he is now performing the duties of his office. 



J. M. RUTHRAUFF. 

Rev. John Mosheim Ruthrauff. A. ^L, 
D. D., president ol A'ittai'terg College, was 
born in Stark county, Ohio, January 13, 
1846. Rev. John Ruthrautt is a son of John 
and Lydia ( E\erhart ) Ruthrauff. His fa- 
ther was a native of Pennsylvania and his 
mother was born in Stark county, Ohio. Her 
parents emigrated from Washington county. 
Peiinsyh^ania, to Stark county, Ohio, in the 
year 1808. He spent his early life on a 
farm, attending the public school until the 
age of seventeen, when he attended Green- 
burg Academy. Although but a Ixjy, he en- 
listed , in Company E, Que hundred and 
Sixty-second Ohio National Guard, in 1864, 
and served his country four months as a 
soldier. The following winter he was a 
student in Mount Union College. Dining 
the autumn of 1865-6 he was enrolled in the 
Wittenljerg preparatory departn.ent. He 
spent the winter of i866-"67 in teaching a 
district school, returning to Wittenberg the 
following .spring. He was then a r^ular 
student at Wittenberg until his graduation 
in 1 87 1. One year later he graduated from 
the Theological Seminary and immediately 
went to Louisville, Kentucky, as a home mis- 
sionery, where he organized the first. gener- 
al synod church. \\\ the fall of 1874 he ac- 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



823 



cepted a call to Circleville, Ohio', but re- 
signed two years later on account of failing 
heaJth. During the four succeeding j-ears 
he was pastor of the church at Washington, 
Ohio, going from there to Circleville the sec- 
ond time and reifiaining nearly five years. 

In May, 1879, he was married to Miss 
Sarah E. Morrison, of Constantine, Mich- 
igan. Three children are the result of this 
mai-riage: William M., twenty-one years 
old; Nellie May, eighteen years old; and 
John M., Jr., fifteen years old. 

Going to Dixon, Illinois, as pastor of 
St. Paul's church, in 1885, he remained in 
that capacity ten years. Wliile pastor at 
Dixon iie founded Rock River Assembly, of 
which he was president seven years. He 
was elected president of Carthage College, 
May 31, 1895. This position he filled ad- 
mirably until called to the head of our own 
college, October ist, 1900. 

He was once president of Miami Synod, 
twice president of the synod of nortliem Illi- 
nois, and five times a delegate to the gener- 
al synod. At the time of his election to the 
presidency of Wittenberg College he was a 
member of the committee appointed by the 
college section of the Illinois Teachers' As- 
sociation to draft a uniform scale of require- 
ments for college entrance. 

The students and faculty of Wittenberg 
extend him the glad hand of welcome, and 
most earnestly wish him a continuation of 
his past success. 

He died May 6, 1902, since the above 
w-as written. 



JONAH BALDWIN. 

Jonah Baldiwn, pioneer of an honored 
fraternity, was born in Berkeley county, Vir- 
ginia, February 2, 1777. His father, Will- 



iam Baldwin, came from England, and his 
mother was Jane ncc Hedges. William was 
a tanner. 

Jonah was a saddler, but never worked 
at his trade here, but came bringing saddles 
to sell. ?Ie afterward entered government 
land, located near New Moorefield, where 
he farmed and bought and sold stock and 
drove the stock to eastern markets. 

In early days he was a United States 
commissioner, having charge of the laying 
and constructing of roads in Ohio and In- 
diana. He was a justice of the peace for 
many years and kept a tavern in a house 
located alxjut where Ludlow's drug store 
building now stands. It was the first two- 
story frame house built in the town. 

In 1827 he removed to King's Creek, 
Champaign county, and carried on a large 
stock farm.. He returned to Springfield in 
1835 and removed to Pleasant township in 
1839. 

He Avas educated in tire private schools 
in ^Vinchester. He was strictly temperate 
and much opposed to the use of alcoholic 
liquors in any way. He was positive in 
manner and very strict, honest and con- 
sciousness. He was an Episcopalian in 
religious belief and was a member of the 
first Episcopal church vestry. The first 
church building was located on the south- 
west corner of High and Limestone 
streets. His wife w^as the first person 
confirmed in the church. He was naturally 
religious but never made miuch outw-ard 
profession. He married his first wafe — 
Sarah Scott — in 1809. He had three 
children : Jane, who married Duke Moore, 
of Harrison county, Kentucky; Nancy, 
who married Josephus Perrine and lived 
in Columbusville, Kentuck)^ Joseph lived 
in Springfield. He married Eliza Bacon, 
daughter of John Bacon, for many years 



824 



THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 



president of the First National Bank. His 
second wife was Amelia Needham, daughter 
of Dr. Wm. A. Needham, in 1823. Sarah 
married J. V. Cartmell and resided in 
Springfield. 

Minerva married Rev. J. T. Bail and 
Elizabeth married Rev. W. J. Van Meter. 

Henry is a practicing physician. He 



was one of the organizers of the first Ma- 
sonic lodge, which met in Urbana, and pre- 
ceded Clark Lodge, holding the office of 
junior warden. He read much and was 
well informed and much interested in pol- 
itics, was an old Whig and afterward 
much interested in the Civil war, although 
a very^ old man. He died March 28, 1865. 



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